There is something wrong with our college culture. Getting drunk and partying has replaced working hard and getting good grades, and it’s not necessarily the students fault. A recent Time article was published stating, “American colleges and universities are not doing a very good job of preparing their students for the workplace or post-graduation lives.”
So, what does this mean? Well, statistically it means that about 1,825 students between the age of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related accidents. The study also shows 696,000 cases of assault and 97,000 cases of sexual assault. These numbers are so high it almost seems like college campus are war-zones and not places of learning.
It’s no surprise that alcohol is affecting student’s ability to attend class. About 1 in 4 students admitted to falling behind in class because of their alcohol problems. This leads to poorer test results, and increased tardiness. Even worse, students who struggle with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) have higher rates of unsafe sex, driving under the influence, and suicide.
Perhaps the larger problem is that kids are coming to college with established drinking habits. This is surprising considering that kids are starting to abuse alcohol before they even graduate high school. This is exacerbated by moving away from home and no longer having a strict schedule and parent supervision.
Colleges have taken action by introducing a program called CollegeAIM. The website provides information about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to alcohol interventions. They provide a series of counseling options and policies related to alcohol and its abuse. While it’s probably the most uncool thing for a student to do, we must keep in mind that safety is the most important thing for students.
Don’t get me wrong, drinking can be a fun way to blow off some steam and loosen up a bit. But there must be more attention paid to the safety and intellectual growth of our students. In reality, college students will be the leaders of the future. Do we really want them damaging their brains and their bodies because getting drunk is perceived as “being cool?”
