New study sheds light on college drinkers

Alcoholism has long been a factor affecting college students. With various studies and articles constantly being done concerning binge drinking, it is difficult not to notice such a presence amongst the collegiate population.
Recently, the Task Force of the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism released new facts and evidence on college alcohol abuse. The report covered a variety of high-risk college drinking consequences. Among them are death, academic problems and police involvement.
Staggering national numbers reported that “400,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 had unprotected sex and more than 100,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report having been too intoxicated to know if they had consented to sex.” The latter can lead to sexual abuse, of which “more than 70,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape,” according to the report.
Another eye-opener in the report was its conclusion on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Students who attend predominantly Black institutions were among those who drink moderately or abstain from alcohol use.
According to a 1998 “Think Tank Session” with participants such as the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this can be because of “extensive support networks for academic and professional achievement (for example, alumni and booster chapters, predominantly African-American Greek letter organizations, regular all-campus assemblies, and annual founders’ days and homecoming celebrations), high regard for family and spiritual values, a deep sense of shared history and vision, multi-faceted community ties, and pride in African roots.”
Southern University currently has alumni chapters all over the country and all nine of the predominantly African American Greek letter organizations. The University also hosts founders’ day and homecoming celebrations elaborately each year.
Some of these “support networks” and community ties can be contrasted against other institutes that are not predominantly Black. For example, neighboring school Louisiana State University has been in the media several times for binge drinking death and offenses contrary to Southern University.
Among those students who were reported as “the drinkers” were those who were first year students. “The transition to college is often so difficult to negotiate that about one-third of first year students fail to enroll for their second year.”
Living arrangements are also a factor affecting student drinking. “Drinking rates are highest in fraternities and sororities followed by on-campus housing,” states the reports. This is despite the fact that housing regulations at Southern University and other schools clearly state the use of alcohol on the premises is prohibited.
The question posed to the task force and college students is, “Why do students find it so necessary to drink, knowing the consequences of such behavior?” It has been found that most college students see drinking as a “rite of passage.” They just see it as just another part of college life, which is unfortunately seems true, at least for the moment.