Social Issues with College Drinking
Running head: Social issues with College Drinking 1
Social issues with College Drinking Daniel Woods Flathead Valley Community College
Social Issues with College Drinking 2
Abstract
Students who drink, and drink heavily during high school have been found to continue similar drinking habits while attending college. Research has found that during high school, college-bound seniors drink less than their non-college bound peers (O’Malley and Johnston 2002) although both groups increase their rates of heavy drinking after high school graduation, the rates for students in college increase more and actually surpass the rates of their non-college peers. For members of both groups, the rate of heavy drinking peaks when they are around 21 or 22 and decrease steadily thereafter many mature out of engaging in risk behavior, including alcohol use when they attain adult roles and responsibilities, like marriage, parenting, and or full-time employment.
Social Issues with College Drinking 3
Factors Associated with Alcohol Misuse in College
Research has shown that individual and environmental factor are associated with increased risk for alcohol use and misuse among college students, individual factors such as a person’s family history of alcoholism, cognition (i.e., impulsivity, extraversion, emotionality) are associated with alcohol use (Baer 2002) as are involvement in fraternities or sororities and activities such as athletics. Environmental factors that influence collegiate alcohol include type of residence, college size and geographical region, and
Social issues with College Drinking Daniel Woods Flathead Valley Community College
Social Issues with College Drinking 2
Abstract
Students who drink, and drink heavily during high school have been found to continue similar drinking habits while attending college. Research has found that during high school, college-bound seniors drink less than their non-college bound peers (O’Malley and Johnston 2002) although both groups increase their rates of heavy drinking after high school graduation, the rates for students in college increase more and actually surpass the rates of their non-college peers. For members of both groups, the rate of heavy drinking peaks when they are around 21 or 22 and decrease steadily thereafter many mature out of engaging in risk behavior, including alcohol use when they attain adult roles and responsibilities, like marriage, parenting, and or full-time employment.
Social Issues with College Drinking 3
Factors Associated with Alcohol Misuse in College
Research has shown that individual and environmental factor are associated with increased risk for alcohol use and misuse among college students, individual factors such as a person’s family history of alcoholism, cognition (i.e., impulsivity, extraversion, emotionality) are associated with alcohol use (Baer 2002) as are involvement in fraternities or sororities and activities such as athletics. Environmental factors that influence collegiate alcohol include type of residence, college size and geographical region, and
References: Baer (2002), Presley (2002), Knight (2002), Perkins (2002), Alcohol Problems in Adolescents and young Adults Epidemiology Volume 17 (American Society of Addiction Medicine). Allie Grasgreen, Inside Higher Ed. Post 3/30/2011 USA TODAY O’Malley and Johnston (2002) Maturing Out of Problematic Alcohol Use (Monitoring the Future) (MTF) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)