Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Binge drinking concerns rise as students celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The celebration is not yet over for St. Patrick’s Day. With more festivities to come over the upcoming weekend, concerns about binge drinking inevitably pop up.

According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs, a program ran by the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by people under the age of 21 is in the form of binge drinks. The Centers for Disease Control also reports that people between 18 and 20 years old make up the highest proportion of binge drinkers, at 51 percent.

Though the CDC defines binge drinkers as people who take in excess amounts of alcohol, they note that binge drinkers are not necessarily alcoholics. But the effects of binge drinking, which range from alcohol poisoning to unwanted sexually transmitted infections and liver disease, are still a cause for concern.

Even though Baruch is not notorious for drinking since it is a commuter school, many students here still attest to seeing it. Adam Koniarski, a freshman, said it’s something he sees whenever he goes to a party.

“I used to see a lot of binge drinking happening when I served in the Navy,” said Ivan Serdyuk, a junior and computer information systems major. “But when people decide to drink, they know that there’s a cost and benefit.”

Part of binge drinking is the conscious decision to become intoxicated. For men, it’s consuming five or more drinks, while for women it’s four or more, both within a two-hour period. A recent CDC report showed that men between 18 and 44 years old were more likely to indulge in alcohol than women.

Though many ad campaigns and colleges aim to reduce drinking in general, a recent study done by Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management shows that binge drinking public service announcements in Canada that used repulsive pictures aimed at making students feel guilt or shame for their actions actually ended up meeting resistance.

The reason, as one professor of the study noted, is something called “defensive processing” where people already feeling guilt or shame (about drinking or another problem) disconnect themselves with the image shown to decrease those feelings.

Regardless of reason, some feel that an advertisement or announcement wouldn’t change anything.

“A picture might help out but if a person is going out to have fun I don’t think they’re going to consider a picture,” said Serdyuk.

Koniarski thinks it might help. “It might cause them to turn it down but not stop it … it’ll impact some people.”

As the festivities party on, some students advise others to watch how they celebrate.
“Take it in moderation and have a designated [driver] with you,” said Shanta Jagdeo, a junior and accounting major. Koniarski advises that other students should “know your limits. Don’t go overboard.”

source: http://www.theticker.org

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Recognizing Addiction Signs Early

If you are concerned that a loved one may have a drinking problem or a problem with substance abuse, you’re not alone. Recognizing the warning signs of drug or alcohol abuse early on can make a major difference when it comes to the length of time that it takes for the user to get well….

Professionals Are Drinking The Working Classes Under The Table

Britain’s alcohol epidemic is being fuelled by stressed middle-class drinkers, it was revealed yesterday. As figures showed drink-related deaths more than doubling since the early 1990s, research also revealed that white- collar workers are more likely to consume alcohol every day than the working classes. Most admit their heaviest drinking is done at home, with….

Who Needs Crystal Meth Treatment?

One of the fastest growing drug problems and also one of the most dangerous epidemics in the United States is the use of crystal meth. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive street drug that was once only found to be prevalent in rural areas but can now be found dominating thousands of US cities and towns,….

'A culture of intoxication'

Nova Scotia still has a drinking problem. People in the province still drive drunk, still go on benders at bars, still drink underage and some drink while pregnant. To combat this, last August the provincial Department of Health Promotion and Protection launched a strategy called Changing the Culture of Alcohol Use in Nova Scotia. Almost….

Drug rehabilitation center

Number of drug addicts around the globe is increasing day by day. There is no specific age limit, gender difference or even financial discrimination when it comes to drug addiction. The habit of drug addiction is very fatal and also destroying the morale of the society. Therefore, it is very necessary to provide timely help….