The Dangers of Binge Drinking

As summer comes to an end, young adults nationwide begin to switch gears and get ready to pack up their cars and head back to college. But for many college students, whether they are at the beginning of their college career or are returning to finish up their final semester, their first weekend back on campus could involve heavy drinking. Binge drinking is a very real, and potentially fatal, danger that many students don’t take seriously. Universities often educate college students, especially incoming freshmen, of the dangers of binge drinking during orientation, but this doesn’t always stop them from doing it.

 "College freshmen are at the biggest risk for binge drinking," says Sandra Hoover, Ph.D., M.P.H., deputy director of A Matter of Degree: Reducing High-Risk Drinking Among College Students, a project administered by the American Medical Association (AMA) in Chicago. "They're away from home for the first time, and they have lots of freedom. They decide that means freedom to get drunk."

By the time they get to their senior year, most students who binge drink have moderated their drinking. But by then, many have already been hurt by bouts of heavy drinking.

Besides the risk of alcohol poisoning and even death, there are numerous risks involved with binge drinking. Here are just a few:

• Accidents. Alcohol impairs sensory perceptions, judgment and reaction time. Of young people who drink, 20 percent say they sometimes drive drunk.
• Date rape. Alcohol is a factor in up to two-thirds of sexual assaults on students.
• Unprotected sex. Heavy drinkers are at greater risk for AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. They also have a greater chance of pregnancy.
• Alcoholism. College students who abuse alcohol could become alcoholics. Chronic alcohol use can damage the liver and heart and increase the risk of some cancers.
• Bad grades. Students who drink the most have the worst grades, according to a study at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

So what can you do?

If you are the parent of a college student, educate your college-age son or daughter about the risks of binge drinking and other substance abuse. Letting your kids know about the real-life dangers involved with binge drinking goes a lot further than just telling them “Don’t drink too much at college.” Here are some other things you can do:

·         Make your attitudes clear. Discuss your expectations for their college lifestyle and academic performance.

·         Show interest. Ask about grades, classes, friendships and other healthy aspects of campus life. Let them know these things are important.

·         Don't give up. What parents say and do really can make a difference. The earlier you start your prevention efforts, the better.

Want more help talking with your kids about alcohol or substance abuse? If you’re a Health Advocate member, you can call your EAP+Work/Life specialist who can provide counseling or help you locate more resources to help you and your family.

Source: http://www.medcentral.org/Main/StaywellProducts/Binge-Drinking

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

This month is Alcohol Awareness Month, founded and sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).  This time, the theme is "Healthy Choices, Healthy Communities: Prevent Underage Drinking."  The NCADD wants to draw attention to the impact that alcohol can have on young people and their friends, families and communities.

Did you know...

• Teens that experiment with alcohol before the age of 15 are four times likelier to become dependent on alcohol than those who wait to drink until they're 20 years old
• High levels of parental monitoring are linked to lower levels of young people drinking during high school and college

If you know or suspect your child or teen has a substance abuse problem...

Health Advocate's EAP experts recommend dealing with the issue as a family by taking the following steps:

• Acknowledge the problem.  Speak with key family members and let them know not only that your child has a substance abuse problem, but that you are looking for support, understanding, and a non-judgmental attitude from them.
• Assess the problem.  Is there a trusted adult, such as a teacher or clergy member, you can turn to for advice and support?  Does your child need help from a professional, such as a counselor, and/or should your child go into a treatment program?
• Work toward a solution.  Make a plan of action.  Put your plan in writing.  Often, having both you and your child sign a contract helps to heighten your sense of commitment to resolving the problem.

Whether your child has a substance abuse problem or not, NCADD also recommends that parents:

• Keep a watchful eye on their children, especially as they enter middle school and high school
• Educate their children about the dangers of underage drinking

Help and support are available

Here are some free and low-cost places and organizations that you or a loved one can turn to for support and help regarding addiction and recovery.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) resources:

• The main SAMHSA National Recovery Month website
• If you need help regarding an addiction, check out this list of SAMHSA hotlines, a treatment center finder, a therapist locator, and more
• Peruse SAMHSA’s list of resources about addiction, treatment, and recovery

Support groups:

• Alcoholics Anonymous–For alcoholics and recovering alcoholics who are seeking support.  Includes a meeting finder to locate AA meetings in your area.
• Al-Anon and Alateen–For those whose lives have been affected by a loved one’s alcoholism.  Learn what to expect at your first meeting, and find meetings in your area.
• Narcotics Anonymous–For those who are addicted to narcotics.  Includes a meeting finder as well as links to recovery literature.

Other helpful information:

• The National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence–includes resources for people in recovery, for parents, for youths, and news articles regarding addiction and recovery.
• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism–includes articles about how alcohol affects your health, how alcohol affects teens, college drinking prevention, and more.
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse–features addiction and recovery resources for young adults, parents, teachers, and medical professionals.  Also offers information on clinical trials.

For more free and low-cost health resources, visit www.HealthcareSurvivalGuide.com.  Also, check with your employer to see if your employee benefits package includes an EAP service, whom you can contact about getting confidential help with work-life issues including a loved one’s substance abuse problem. Your employee benefits package may also include access to an advocacy service such as Health Advocate, which can connect you to medical providers, such as primary care physicians or mental health specialists, who can help with addiction-related issues. Click here to learn about other ways that advocacy can help you.