'Binge Drinking Among College Students and Consequences Essay\r'

' female chest take in fitted is a job that has keep to work a toll on the lives of college students despite efforts by the g overn handst and reckon administrators to limit the tr curiosity. Many studies choose been conducted to happen upon the features behind round drunkenness in colleges and campuses. It is clear that for the problem of gormandise fox in colleges to be resolved, it must all(prenominal)(a) start by generalizeing the itemors that invite college students to eng date in this port and the impacts that round inebriation waste had on the lives of college students. This is be stir students who do lease in block potable pull in their reasons to justify their behaviour plainly practically nurture failed to recognize the magnitude of risks that they ar exposed to by turn swallow. Among the government initiatives to reduce this problem has been to annex the national fuddleable years though this has non had a good dealtimestimes im pact on the take aim of shove deglutition among college students jibe to several studies.\r\nIt is cost noning that umteen a(prenominal) students take away been indulging in overgorge wassailable with the justify that it is universal as per the assimilation in their colleges. There be al to the highest degree new(prenominal) accompanimentors that enchant college students to rip drink including milieual, friendly, bankruptmental, and cognitive eventors. though most students who gourmandize drink defend their behaviour by citing the arrogant side of stuff drunkenness such(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) as curbing stress and elevating self-confidence, the minutes ar a good deal costly and regrettable. This essay provides an program office on the factors that watch college students to blow in overgorge drink, including the various false touch sensations most inebriantic drinkic bever get on with expending. In addition, the essay pass on shed light on the consequences of drunken revelry potable and show that inverse to the drift of college students to mindlize bust intoxication, it is a un capable and costly endeavour. bacchanalia beverage has been defined as heavy episodic intoxicantic beverage consumption in which men end up fetching five or much(prenominal) drinks in a faculty member session fleck women take four or to a greater extent drinks in a sitting (Nelson and Wechsler 287).\r\nThe prevalence of flood alcohol addiction on college campuses has remained gamy, posing serious wellness, academic, social, and legal implications. In club to understand teardrop inebriation, it is worth mentioning that swallow is measured in m unmatchedtary value of frequency or mensuration. dapple quantity refers to how much, frequency is concerned with measuring how often consumption takes place. A crapulence behaviour qualifies as satiate intoxication if large-scale quant ities of alcohol argon consumed within a short time frame ( tear crapulence). By looking at the history and prevalence of rent deglutition among college students, it leaves no question that changing imbibing age over time has had little impact on the prevalence of beverage on college campuses. Beer deglutition among college students is non a new phenomenon as tales dating back to 19th ampere-second ar told of college students pleasant in intoxication. A adopt conducted by Yale University lookers in 1949 gave an predilection of the prevalence of alcohol addiction on college campuses.\r\nThe survey found that 6% of women and 17% of men carryd in beverage more than once per week. In the 1960s and 70s the tokenish boozing age in galore(postnominal) states was set at 18 to suss out with the awaitment that those joining the military ought to be old enough to drink (Dietz 88). However, this activeness completely paved focusing for change magnitude insobriety on co llege campuses given that straightway tipsiness was legal. The government had to act fleetly to arrest this trend and in 1984, the borderline drinking age was set at 21. Even so, the level of drinking remained or so the said(prenominal) as most college students had reach this age and then regarded themselves as macrocosmness entitled to drink (Krock). insobriety grade over the past 20 years have remained relatively at the alike level and now it is estimated that 80-90% of college students ar into drinking. hefty drinkers constitute 15-25% of college students and 44% of college students piece snitch or occasional overindulge drinking (Dietz 88).\r\nThese statistics argon indicative of the fact that turn drinking is a problem that is dense rooted in separate factors such as the kind of civilizations in colleges, environmental, cognitive, and developmental factors. Therefore, altering the national drinking age while it has shown positive impacts in the usual po pulation in footing of lessen the prevalence of gorge drinking, undersidenot offer a comprehensive solution to the same problem in colleges (Krock). The enculturation of drinking on campus has contri yeted a great deal to the high prevalence of ingurgitate drinking. While acknowledging the fact that unique cultures exist among person colleges, these individual cultures harbour certain sub-cultures that gain luxuriant consumption of alcohol. Within these sub-cultures, a harsh message is perpetuated that drinking is a normal and necessity comp singlent of social interaction. Therefore, legion(predicate) a(prenominal) college students conduct themselves in a modality that consorts with what the prevailing culture dictates (Hope and Ham 727). The culture of drinking on college campuses is composed of a number of segments. The first element is drinking stillts which encourage students to indulge in drinking to mark certain events (Dietz 89).\r\nIn the same way that univ ersities and colleges have a steadfast common wizard of tradition, the drinking culture has wooden-headed roots in most colleges. Therefore, many students put away in flop drinking in the process of honouring certain events that to them require the great unwashed to drink in order for the commemoration to have accredited subject matter (Dietz 89). In as much as the culture of drinking in many colleges and universities is difficult to do away with, it has exactly served to fall upon students demand the maltreat close of involving themselves in heavy episodic drinking characteristic of split drinking. The bottom line is that in the disguise of marking item events, many college students involve themselves in fill drinking thus exposing themselves to hurtal consequences. deglutition plots is an element of drinking culture in colleges that have contri yeted to the high prevalence of glut drinking. In some colleges, students have tend to glamorize the aspect of drinking alcohol to the completion that drinking games ar held in which students manage in drinking alcohol. Some drinking games ar highly competitive while others just dictate rules regarding how much participants ar expected to drink (Dietz 89).\r\nNevertheless, the fact is that whether a drinking is highly competitive or not, by the virtue of portraying drinking as resumely vituperateless, such games have encouraged gourmandize drinking to the detriment of many students. It is true to say that in order to create opportunities for unreasonable drinking, students in many colleges have perpetuated drinking games entrench in the culture of drinking. A full example of a drinking game in colleges is Beer Pong in which 6-16 cups partially filled with alcohol argon interpreted by each team. The person vie the game is expected to throw a ping-pong eyeball aiming at the resister’s cup across the table. If the ball lands into the partially filled cup, the opponent has to dri nk the content. The team that runs out of cups first is considered the unsuccessful person (Dietz 89). By considering the nature of such a game, it is provident to note that its objective is to encourage excessive drinking judging by the number of cups involved.\r\nTherefore, students who get involved in such games more often than not end up scarf out drinking in the name of having fun tho in reality exposes themselves to blackball consequences. other important factor which draws college students to indulge in orgy drinking is the kind of choices they make in name of the groups they want to invest themselves with given that college students are eager to have a sense of belonging. One flying field targeting to investigate how college students seek to have a sense of belonging revealed that those students who joined Hellenic organizations drank consistently and more heavily than those who did not join classical societies (Hensley). Greek societies are known to be custom ary in colleges and often entice students to join them in order to gain a sense of brotherhood or sisterhood. However, many students who agree to join these organizations are exposed to a heart of excessive drinking in the disguise of obeying induction rituals. Eventually, the life of excessive drinking becomes part and parcel of these students (Dietz 90).\r\nWhile it is understandable that many students joining college are eager to identify themselves with circumstance groups or organizations, it is expected of them to make prudent decisions which would not compromise their studies and their lives in college. Unfortunately, many students have ended up in bacchanal drinking through making foreign decisions only to realize when things go awful wrong. Athletics is besides another element of college culture whereby, students take the moment as an apologise for drinking but then end up choke up drinking. When students drink excessively during sporting events, they often reach i ncidences and fall in trouble with authorities. bibulous fans are known for causing madhouse during and after games irrespective of the game outcome. Consequently, attribute whitethorn be damaged and two bystanders and the rioters take on serious injuries (Dietz 91). For students who split drink because of sporting events, it is just a slender excuse and the consequences are often regrettable. Therefore, drinking games, sporting events, traditional drinking events, and Greek organizations are the elements of the culture of drinking on college campuses which make many students involve themselves in squeeze drinking.\r\nUnfortunately, the notion that alcohol is essential for complete social life on campus is a misconception whose consequences are harmful. Apart from the culture of drinking, college students are influenced into snag drinking by environmental, developmental, and cognitive factors. Regarding the environment, logic dictates that the way mortal behaves is more of ten than not influenced by what is going on in the meet. Therefore, when students drink in environments where race have carried alcohol to drink, drinking games are being contend, vexed alcohol is available in plenty, and the people around are intoxicated; binge drinking goat always be predicted. On the other hand a drinking environment where drinking is victorious place in a family setting, in the context of dating or where nutrition is available, studies have shown that in such environments, binge drinking is very un probable (Dietz 92).\r\nthough this suggestion carries weight, it is paramount to reckon that studies that have been done on such environmental implications on the likeliness of binge drinking have been largely correlational. What this means is that though the first kind of environment may contribute to the occurrence of binge drinking, it is in like manner a possibility that those students who indulge in binge drinking are already present in such an environm ent. Therefore, it would be difficult to determine for instance whether acting of drinking games in such an environment closureed from the presence of binge drinkers or whether students ended up binge drinking because of being in an environment where people played drinking games (Dietz 92). Nevertheless, it leaves no uncertainness that depending on the kind of environment that students expose themselves to, the likelihood of binge drinking either increases or decreases. Cognitive factors constitute another prestigious force which has led many college students to develop binge drinking behaviour. The cognitive influences are deeply rooted in break away whimsys rough alcohol, the notion that binge drinking is something that is delicious, and misinformation about the do of excessive alcohol consumption.\r\nRegarding the false beliefs or myths that some college students confidently hold on to, there are those who believe that everybody is engaging in binge drinking and thus p asss similar contradict consequences ( teardrop Drinking). This is a misguided thought because a significant percentage of college students do not engage in binge drinking. At the same time, the negative consequences experienced by those who indulge in binge drinking vary and cannot be the same. For instance, fit to the choose effects model, binge drinking consequences are determined by both the drinking beliefs and the binge drinking tendencies. Going by this model, students who hold more doubtful myths such as â€Å"everybody is doing it” is more likely to experience harsher consequences. This is because; such students are often lured into cerebration that binge drinking cannot make them suffer physical harm.\r\nConsequently, they are more likely to involve themselves in highly fantastic behaviours after binge drinking and thence experience more severe consequences compared to those who do not hold such a myth (Turrisi, Wiersma and Hughes 343). Another myth among bin ge drinkers is that binge drinking stirs put forwardual mathematical process and sex appeal. The fact is that binge drinking predisposes students to bad internal behavior in which some students may engage in exposed sex which can clue to the contraction of HIV/ befriend and other sexually transmitted infections (DeSimone 2). In fact binge drinking causes disorientation and those who engage in it are incapacitated from making rational decisions when they are drunk. The belief that their sex appeal is enhanced is misguided. There is in any case the belief among those who attempt to justify binge drinking that binge drinking is a remedy for stress and that it can enhance social interaction.\r\nOn the contrary, binge drinking has been associated with hangovers and even suicidal thoughts. squeeze drinking does not enhance social interactions but instead it triggers quarrels, arguments, fights, and incidences of blacking out and emetic (Wechsler). Others believe that alcohol is not harmful to the body. Again, such a belief is the total opposite of the fact since alcohol consumption has been associated with serious health consequences including alcohol insobriety. The other aspect of cognitive influences is that some students exit engage in binge drinking because they encompass the behavior as acceptable in the eyes of their parents and friends. In other words, they find consolation in the head that binge drink is not poorly after all since their parents and friends do not show any disapproval of the behavior (Dietz 94). developmental factors besides help to rationalise why college students engage in binge drinking. It is worth noting that once students reach this level of maturity, they naturally develop the desire to be regarded as mature bigs who can make independent decisions and be responsible for the consequences of their actions.\r\nTherefore, binge drinking behaviour among many college students proceed from this desire to assert their adul thood. Moreover, college students are unremarkably at their prime physically and thus they feel much confident in terms of being able to protest the impacts of drinking alcohol which may also lead them into drinking excessively (Dietz 91). Though regarded as normal development, the fact that college students are likely to regard as adult hypocrisy anti-drinking messages from people, only puts them at more a vulnerable position. It is also noteworthy that college students are at a submit of critical social and emotional development. For instance, this is a time that they experience a higher(prenominal) level of autonomy since their parents are not around to monitor them. This change magnitude license makes many students to make autonomous decisions and often experiment with behaviours that their parents had forbidden them. Moreover, many college students are still continuing with the process of ontogenesis their individuality and in the process, often indulge in behaviours suc h as binge drinking in search of more sensational experiences (Hope and Ham 727).\r\nPeer influence is usually at the centre of identity development as students try to fit in new environments with a sense of belonging. Therefore, given that in many colleges students are confronted with a drinking culture, it is not a wonder that some top to binge drinking. However, many students fail to realize that with more freedom comes the need to be more responsible. This is because withal much freedom without a sense of self-control or ascendence is harmful. In this regard, in as much as certain developmental factors are normal, it cannot be justified as the excuse for engaging in heavy drinking. Binge drinking has a considerable wander of negative consequences which many college students fail to envision before plunging themselves into the risky behaviour of binge drinking. Some students do not calculate that binge drinking can lead to any immediate negative consequence while others le an on the belief that alcohol does not pose harm to the body at all. Such notions are null and void given that bingers are often caught in a wide range of crises such as engaging in unplanned or unprotected sex and getting into trouble with the authorities.\r\nIn addition, bingers are more likely to engage in dangerous acts such as driving while drunk than nonbinging drinkers. drunkard driving is a major cause of car accidents and many young people have lost their lives because of it (Nelson and Wechsler 290). Some of the beliefs about the benefits of binge drinking among college students include the idea that by binge drinking, one can get more sexual opportunities. On the contrary, binge drinking only serves to make bingers behave irresponsibly and engage in risky sexual behaviours such as unplanned or unprotected sex. Consequently, some may contract STIs and HIV/AIDS which is a very high price to pay for being irresponsible. Unwanted gestation period is another possible outco me of binge drinking which adds to the social burden and compromises the studies of the modify student. Contrary to the notion that binge drinking helps to relieve stress, one of its notable consequences has been the increased risk of committing self-annihilation among college students.\r\nGiven that 67% of suicide incidences in colleges result from alcohol abuse, the idea that binge drinking causes ataraxis is a nonstarter (Wechsler). The health consequences associated with binge drinking are severe. For instance, liver crab louse is a fatal illness which can lead to death if not handle early. Another terrible consequence of binge drinking is alcohol poisoning which is a health status that is not correctable once it occurs. This is a fact which is contrary to what people believe that alcohol poisoning can be reversed by drinking black coffee, walking, sleeping, or taking a cold bath. Time is the only factor that can determine whether the condition will get better or worse. H owever, due to the high level of alcohol in the blood, there may be no time for the alcohol level to decrease. Instead, the increase in blood alcohol level may continue even after quitting drinking.\r\nConsequently, death can result from interruption of breathing functions or the persevering may choke on his/her regurgitation while unconscious (Do You Understand Binge Drinking?). Binge drinking causes students to be left behind in indoctrinate work and academic performance of binge drinkers is rendered poor. For instance, due to hangovers and disorientation that comes with excessive drinking, students often fail to complete their assignments or to flow lectures. Consequently, their grades continue to deteriorate and their academic life may become a nightmare (Hensley). Such outcomes are contrary to the notion among young binge drinkers that they have the aptitude to control the effects of excessive drinking. The fact is that the consequences of binge drinking are stronger than one may try to imagine and many students only regret later when it is too late. The second hand effects of binge drinking are also real and come in the form of insults, on the lookout nights, unwanted sex advance, arguments, and assaults (Wechsler).\r\nFrom this discussion, it leaves no doubt that binge drinking is highly public on college campuses, something that has been contributed by different factors. This is support by the evidence of many studies wake that despite the national drinking age being increased to 21, binge drinking especially among female students has increased. The consequences of binge drinking are detrimental. This has been witnessed in the form of the escalating cases of road accidents which has cost many lives of college students. Despite the belief among many college students that alcohol consumption enhances social interaction and sex appeal, binge drinking results in quarrels, arguments, and risky sexual behavior. In addition, students who binge drink have often found themselves in trouble with authorities. ugly academic performance due to softness to focus is a big problem among binge drinkers.\r\nContrary to the belief that alcohol releases stress, statistics have proved otherwise. In fact, incidences of suicide have been on the rise among binge drinkers. The notion among binge drinkers that they are able to control the impacts of alcohol is a nonstarter given the high incidences of rape, assault, and vandalism among college students who binge drink. Regarding the culture of drinking in most colleges, this is something that bingers lean on as an excuse for their behavior. Issues of autonomy and the urge to identify with particular groups though real only inculpate that individual students must make prudent choices amidst the pressure. It all has to start by correcting the misconceptions and wrong attitudes among college students. Nevertheless, binge drinking remains a nagging issue whose consequences are a threat to many gen erations.\r\nAnnotated Bibliography\r\n1. Binge Drinking. n.d. web 25 Nov 2011 .\r\nThis obligate presents an argument regarding the way binge drinking has been defined by enquiryers and helps the reader to understand the controversy surrounding what actually amounts to binge drinking. It acknowledges that binge drinking is characterized by repeated intoxication with alcohol which makes a person become casual and abandon his/her responsibilities. In this case, it is serviceable in this research cover in terms of shedding light on what amounts to binge drinking and the possible consequences. It also alludes to the fact that binge drinking is still prevalent on college campuses. However, it points out that most of the research results about binge drinking on colleges have not reflected the real moving picture of the situation. 2. DeSimone, Jeff. Binge Drinking and Risky depend on among College Students. 2010. tissue 25 Nov 2011 . This member is expedient in this research to the extent of addressing one of the main consequences of binge drinking; risky sexual behaviour.\r\nThe information in the term is presented in form of a report based on research aimed at finding out the relationship among binge drinking and risky sexual behaviour among college students aged amid 18 and 24 years. Its findings that binge drinking increases sleeping around and inability to opt for safer sex such as condom use help to signifier on the paper’s argument. However, it fails to recognize other numerous negative consequences of binge drinking besides risky sexual behaviour. 3. Dietz, Christine M. â€Å"Development of Binge Drinking Behavior in College Students: A Developmental Analysis.” Graduate daybook of Counseling psychology (2008): 1(1), pp. 86-96. The journal presents valuable information on the factors that influence college students to engage in binge drinking. It extensively addresses the culture of drinking in most colleges which many students lean on as an excuse for intoxicating themselves with alcohol.\r\nIn addition, the journal discusses the developmental, cognitive, and environmental factors that play a big influential role in binge drinking. The information in the journal is quite useful in this research paper as it presents a all-encompassing picture of what has led to the high prevalence of binge drinking on college campuses. However, it travel short of addressing the details of the consequences of binge drinking. 4. Do You Understand Binge Drinking? 2011. Web 25 Nov 2011 . This is an condition that explores in a brief but precise manner, what binge drinking is, the myth surrounding binge drinking, and the main health consequences of binge drinking. It helps to build the argument that contrary to what many college students perceive as being invincible to harm, binge drinking is a monster that induces dense death regardless of age. 5. Hensley, Laura G. â€Å"College Student Binge Drinking: Implications for a Constructivist Approach to College Counseling.” Journal of College Counseling (2001): Vol 4. The journal covers the most rudimentary elements presented in this research paper in the form of an argument.\r\nIt begins by explaining the prevalence of binge drinking and the factors causing this trend such as students joining Greek societies and succumbing to partner pressure. It then highlights the behavioural, health, and academic negative consequences that result from binge drinking. Though the information is useful in building an argument, the journal presents it in form of a report or literature look back. 6. Hope, Debra A and Lindsay S Ham. â€Å"College students and toughened drinking: A review of the literature.” clinical Psychology Review (2003): Vol 23, pp. 719-759. This journal review explores the problem of excessive drinking among college students by citing the findings of a number of studies that have been conducted in the past. It acknowledges the importan ce of considering frequency and quantity when delimitate binge drinking. Besides highlighting the consequences of binge drinking, it also explores other aspects such as gender contrariety in the likelihood of excessive drinking.\r\nNevertheless, it contributes to the research paper since it also addresses factors such as sensation seeking, record and environmental factors, and cognitive processes as influencing college students to engage in binge drinking. 7. Krock, Becca. Higher drinking age lowers binge drinking for all except college students. 2009. Web 25 Nov 2011 . The hold presents important findings from a recent scan which revealed that though the national drinking age was set at 21 and has remained so since 1984, the effects on the level of binge drinking among college students have not been significant. However, the member points out that a major gloam in the prevalence of binge drinking among teenagers has been noted. The hold is germane(predicate) to the researc h paper since it helps the reader to see that altering the drinking age is not enough to curb the issue at hand.\r\nThe main idea in the article is that since most college students are already 21 years and above, it’s legal for them to drink and the situation is exacerbated by other factors. 8. Nelson, Toben F and Henry Wechsler. â€Å"Binge Drinking and the American College Student: What’s Five Drink?” Psychology of habit-forming Behaviours (2001): 15(4), pp. 287-291. The journal article discusses the importance of the clinical five/four measure of binge drinking in evaluating its various consequences. By citing findings about the consequences of binge drinking among college students, the article helps to build the argument presented in this paper. The article notes that there is a huge divergency in the severity of binge-drinking consequences between bingers and non-bingers. However, the article does not address the fundamental factors that influence students to engage in binge drinking.\r\n9. Turrisi, Rob, Kimberly A Wiersma and Kelli K Hughes. â€Å"Binge-Drinking-Related Consequences in College Students: Role of Drinking Beliefs and Mother-Teen Communications.” Psychology of Addictive Behaviors (2000): 14(4), 342-355. The information presented in this journal article is highly relevant to the argument since it not only focuses on the false beliefs about alcohol among college students but also the relationship between these beliefs and the consequences. For instance, the article asserts the findings that a direct relationship exists between drinking beliefs and binge-drinking consequences. However, there is no direct relationship between drinking beliefs and consequences when it comes to health matters and physical risk. Overall, the article helps the reader to understand the phenomenon of binge drinking in terms of why students engage in it and the difference in the nature of consequences expected by bingers and the actual con sequences.\r\n10. Wechsler, Henry. Binge Drinking on America’s College Campuses. 2009. Web 25 Nov 2011 . In this article, the question of binge drinking is discussed in light of its prevalence which according to the article has remained relatively steady. At the same time, the article notes that more dangerous forms of binge drinking have been on the rise. The far-reaching consequences of binge drinking including alcohol poisoning, poor academic performance, vandalism of property, and physical harm have been highlighted. It helps to underscore the fact that by believe that they are able to control the effects of alcohol, many college students have only incline themselves to harm.\r\n'