Statistical Snapshot of College Drinking

The following information is from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The consequences of excessive and underage drinking affect virtually all college campuses, college communities, and college students, whether they are younger or older than the minimum legal drinking age and whether or not they choose to drink.

• Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking are Common Among College Students1


- Alcohol Consumption: About four in five of all college students drink, including nearly 60 percent of students age 18 to 20.

- Binge Drinking: Approximately two of every five college students of all ages—more than 40 percent—have reported engaging in binge drinking at least once during the past 2 weeks. However, colleges vary widely in their binge drinking rates—from 1 percent to more than 70 percent (Wechsler et al., 1994, 1998, 2000b and NSDUH 2006).

• Excessive Drinking in College Leads to Many Adverse Outcomes2
- Deaths: It is estimated that 1,700 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes (about half among students under 21)

- Injuries: It is estimated that 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol each year (about half among students under 21)

- Assaults: It is estimated that more than 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking each year (430,000 of them by a college student under 21)

- Sexual Abuse: It is estimated that more than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape each year (about half among students under 21)

- Unsafe Sex: It is estimated that more than 400,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 had unprotected sex as a result of their drinking and more than 100,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report having been too intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex each year

- Academic Problems: It is estimated that about 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall

- Vandalism: About 11 percent of college student drinkers report that they have damaged property while under the influence of alcohol

For additional information about college drinking, go to NIAAA’s College Drinking Prevention Web site at: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/.

Notes/Additional Resources


1 Johnston LD, O’Malley PM, Bachman JG, Schulenberg JE. Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2007. Volume I: Secondary School Students (NIH Publication No. 08–6418A). Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2008, p. 26.

2 Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M, Wechsler H. Magnitude of alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18–24: Changes from 1998 to 2001. Annu Rev Public Health 26:259–279, 2005.

Alcoholism: Getting the Facts

For many people, the facts about alcoholism are not clear. What is alcoholism, exactly? How does it differ from alcohol abuse? When should a person seek help for a problem related to his or her drinking? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has prepared this booklet to help individuals and families answer these and other common questions about alcohol problems. The information below will explain alcoholism and alcohol abuse, symptoms of each, when and where to seek help, treatment choices, and additional helpful resources.

A Widespread Problem

For most people, alcohol is a pleasant accompaniment to social activities. Moderate alcohol use--up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people (A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits) -- is not harmful for most adults. Nonetheless, a substantial number of people have serious trouble with their drinking. Currently, nearly 14 million Americans--1 in every 13 adults--abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. In addition, approximately 53 percent of men and women in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives have a drinking problem.

The consequences of alcohol misuse are serious--in many cases, life-threatening. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice box). It can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain damage, and harm to the fetus during pregnancy. In addition, drinking increases the risk of death from automobile crashes, recreational accidents, and on-the-job accidents and also increases the likelihood of homicide and suicide. In purely economic terms, alcohol-use problems cost society approximately $100 billion per year. In human terms, the costs are incalculable.

An Alcoholic Confronts His Addiction

Sometimes the struggle between an alcoholic and his addiction can be fierce. He knows what will happen if he takes the first drink. He remembers all the shame and guilt from all the other times when he gave into it. Yet, at times, the desire is so strong that he just doesn’t care about these things.

When I wrote this dialogue, it didn’t take me long to realize that I was going to have to get to my point and end it soon. Writing this took me back to some of those times when I let the “bottle” win. I wasn’t just seeing an empty whiskey bottle, but the color of the liquid contents as well.

Things like this can be triggers for us alcoholics. It triggers our memories of what we thought were the good times. During one of my conversations with my former therapist Kara, I told her that for me just filling up ice trays was a trigger. I still recall the funny look she gave me. She understood when I explained that I never filled up the ice trays unless I was going to the store for a bottle.


Me: What do you want? Why are you even here?

Bottle: You know the answer to those questions without asking me.

Me: The only answer I have for you is that your promises are empty lies.

Bottle: Now, you know that’s not true. But to answer your question, I’m here because you want me. We’re friends, remember?

Me: Friends? You’ve got to be joking! Friends? All the lies you’ve told me. All the misery you’ve caused.

Bottle: You sure didn’t talk this way to me all those times you drank my contents. What? Don’t you recall all the pleasure I gave you? Don’t you recall how I took all your troubles away? I’m simply here because you want these things again.

Me: Have you got an ego or what? I bet you even believe your own lies! Yeah, you gave me pleasure all right. You even took my troubles away. But when I sobered up, where were you then? Oh, you were still here. I could hear you laughing hysterically at me.

Bottle: Laughing? Me, your best friend? Why would I do that?

Me: Yeah, you. And some friend you were. Give me pleasure and take away my problems for a few hours. But then what? For days afterward all the guilt you left behind. Where were you then? Where were you when I suffered through all the things that I allowed you to cause me to do? Let me make one thing clear. I have true friends now that put you to shame! I’m through letting you shame me. Get out!

Bottle: But…

Me: I said get out!

Bottle: You don’t really want that. Wait! What are you doing? No! Don’t smash me, you’re only friend! No! Please…

Me: I know what I want and it definitely is not you!


If you or a loved one thinks you may have a problem with alcohol, please call one of the numbers below or check out these sites for help.

Alcohol Abuse and Crisis Intervention: 800-234-0246
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Helpline and Treatment: 800-234-0420
Alcohol Hotline Support & Information: 800-331-2900

How To Find AA Meetings
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism FAQs
Mayo Clinic--Alcoholism

Our Influence On Children

I wonder how many of us adults ever stop and think about how are actions and words affect our children, grand-children, nieces, nephews and even our friend’s children? They have such impressionable minds that are so easy for us to mold and shape. A lot of times we don’t realize the influence that we have on them.

I was standing in a check out lane at a local grocery store when I noticed a little boy and his grandfather just ahead of me. As they were waiting their turn in line, the boy’s papaw was talking to another person. When it finally became their turn at the checkout, Papaw continued with his conversation and the small boy began his struggle to reach into the buggy and place each item on the counter.

When his papaw realized what was going on, he started to unload the buggy but his grandson quickly protested. He told his papaw that he would do it! So the older man turned back to his conversation.

When the boy was almost finished, I began to wonder about the last item in the buggy. I knew it was much too heavy for the child to move, but in his mind I can imagine that he was picturing himself big enough to move it for his papaw. Finally, his papaw turned around and put the case of beer on the counter.

The Turning Points Of Life

“We stood at the turning point.”

The above quote is taken from the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous chapter 5 called “How It Works. The first part of this chapter is read at the beginning of every AA meeting.

I’ve been thinking about that phrase a lot the past few days and how it applies to my life. In the Big Book, the phrase refers to the fact that alcoholics come to a point in their life where they have to choose whether they’re going to continue drinking or choose recovery.

Before I had my slip and drank again last October 3rd, I stood at a turning point. I had the choice of giving into my cravings or doing something like calling a friend or my therapist for support. I chose to drink.

Whether a person is an alcoholic or not, everyone stands at some kind of turning point every day. We all are faced with numerous decisions to make. When my dad died, I stood at a turning point. My entire world as I knew it changed in an instant. This change was completely out of my control, but yet there were decisions for me to make. How would I choose to handle his death so I could move on with my life?

Having Fun Without Drinking

I received my 3rd month AA chip last night. Monday was 3 months since I had a drink. Three months without having to suffer an emotional hangover with all the guilt. Last night during the meeting, I found myself once again thinking what if I hadn't drank. I would have almost two years. As I said before, sometimes "what if" thinking can be dangerous for addicts. It can lead to regrets and that can lead to another slip. Time to change my thinking!

I owe a lot of my success of not drinking to my friends in AA. Especially Calvin. There's hardly a day that goes by without him calling to check on me. He's always willing to help any way he can.

You ever wonder how a bunch of alcoholics can have fun on New Year's Eve without getting drunk? They get together and play cards for five hours! That's what several of us done that night at Calvin and Sherri's house. Just a friendly game of cards with low stakes. We had lots of fun!

Facing The New Year With Apprehension... And Reason To Be More Grateful

I always approach the New Year with apprehension. The reason for this fear comes from wondering about the future and what it holds. For me, thinking about the unknown can be scary.

Without much doubt, I'm not the only one who feels this way. Just think about the millions of dollars of anti-anxiety medicine that's sold each year and the untold number of hours that people spend with their therapists. Not to mention all the alcohol and illegal and prescription drugs that are abused by people trying to escape their fear.

The problem with trying to escape the fears of the unknown future with drugs and alcohol is that it does nothing to help you deal with any of it. When you sober up, those problems are still there and are probably much worse because of the self-medication. In fact, for the addict/alcoholic the reason for fearing the future in the first place is made more real.

The movie "It's A Wonderful Life" comes to mind while I think about this. In that movie, George Baily got to see what life would've been like if he had never been born. I like to play what if a lot. One "what if" is: What if I had been drunk the day my dad had died? What if I had been unable to talk to him several times on the phone that day? What if I had been drunk when the nurse told me he had no vital signs? In fact, if I had been drunk, I never would've answered my phone to begin with. If it bothers me now that I didn't have the chance to be with him when he died, how much more would it be bothering me if I had been unable to be at the hospital with my sister when the doctor pronounced him dead?

I could play this out further. What if I didn't have the memories of talking to him on the phone? Or worse yet, what if I had answered the phone one of those times when he called and I was drunk? That happened several years ago when Mother was still living and I remember how upset my dad got and how it broke my mother's heart.

If I had been drunk that day, not only would I really have had a reason to regret the past, I would fear the future more than I already do. Every time someone close to me dies, I realize how short my own life is. I would have more reason to fear the consequences of continuing in my addiction.

This pretending what if can sometimes be the cause of unnecessary fear and anxiety. On the other hand, it can sometimes be the cause of looking at life a little differently and being more grateful.

Entangled In The Web Of Addiction

In an earlier post, I wrote about addictions being like a spider’s web. I want to add more along this line of thinking.

Spiders have more than one way to trap their prey, but the best method is their web. One of the functions of a web is to trap the prey by entangling it or sticking to it.

A few years ago I was bicycling down a country road when I noticed a spider’s web like the one pictured. As I rode, I thought about two things: The beauty and intricacy of it’s design & what I would’ve felt like if I had rode into it. I’ve gotten spider’s webs on me before and I know that time would’ve aggravated me, to say the least. I would’ve been swiping my face and every where else trying to get that sticky mess off me.

I can only imagine what a fly feels like to be trapped in a web and to see the spider approaching. Struggling frantically, to no avail, to free itself. For the fly, death is literally knocking at the door.

This is exactly what happens with addiction. An addict becomes entangled in its sticky web. Except in the early stages of addiction, the addict doesn’t struggle. He doesn’t want out of his addiction. As far as he is concerned, the addiction has too much to offer him. It gives him too much pleasure. In fact, because of denial, he doesn’t even realize that addiction has spun its sticky web. By the time the addiction has caused him enough pain to want out, it’s too late. The addict is trapped and the more he struggles, the harder it is to get out. For the addict death is literally knocking at the door.

Family and friends can try to persuade him to seek help, but until the addict makes the decision himself, he will continue being trapped.

I recall the first time that a nurse told me I was a binge drinker. I was infuriated at the thought! Binge drinking is what college students do and I was 40 years old. Besides, I didn’t have a drinking problem. Nope! Not me! What I was doing was completely normal.

Deep down inside though, I knew something wasn’t right. Why did I feel so guilty about going to the store to buy a bottle? Why was I worried about what the saleslady was thinking? But to hear someone openly tell me that I had a drinking problem was a whole different matter. I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t accept it. I was in denial. Alcoholism already had me entangled in its sticky web and I certainly didn’t want any help getting out. Death was knocking at my door and I didn’t want any help escaping it.

During part of this time I was attending a mental health program for individual and group therapy. Part of this therapy was seeing an addiction counselor. Part of treatment included going to A.A. meetings.

I’ve heard it said in a lot of A.A. meetings that an alcoholic or addict has to hit rock bottom before they are willing to stop drinking or drugging and begin the climb up. For each person, the “bottom” is different. For some it can be when their family threatens to leave them. It could come when the doctor tells them they have a serious medical condition brought on by their drinking. Some lose their jobs before deciding to stop. Some may decide to stop when they are arrested for driving under the influence. And yet, for some, it takes a harder bottom than these for them to stop. Some people can lose everything and are still entangled in the web of addiction.

For me, my bottom came due to the intense guilt I was experiencing brought on by my drinking. Oh yes, it felt so good to be under the influence of alcohol, but the guilt was eating me alive. Finally and reluctantly, I gradually stopped drinking.

Eventually, I started going to meetings on my own, outside the treatment program. In particular, I started going to meetings that Calvin and Sherri have at their house. I begin to realize that the people there really cared about me. If I was willing to help myself, they would do what they could to help me. They eagerly gave me their phone numbers; telling me to call them any time day or night when I felt like drinking. Or if I had any other problem for that matter.

Little by little as I listened to these people talk and thinking about my own drinking habits, I began to accept that I just might have a problem. Notice that I said “might”. Denial still had me partially trapped in the web, although I wasn’t drinking. My O.C.D also added to my questioning my problem.

I continued going to meetings and I didn’t drink for over a year before I allowed the web of alcoholism to trap me again. But compared to my past drinking, it was short lived.

Notice that I said “allowed”. We drink and use drugs for one simple reason. We choose to. We can also choose to stop. The spider’s web can only hold us if we are willing to stay trapped. When we admit that we need help, then we are ready to take certain step to become untangled.

Confessions From An Alcoholic/Addict

There's a saying in AA that we're only "as sick as our secrets." Well, I have a secret that I need to get rid of. Last month, right after my dad passed away, I visited my pdoc and reluctantly asked her for a prescription of Ativan. I was afraid that she wouldn't give it to me because a couple years ago I had abused it for a little while.

My doc did agree to write the presciption, but said she didn't trust me with it. I agreed with her. She wrote it with the provision that when I got the bottle filled I would bring it to her nurse and let her keep it. I would only get enough for a week at a time. The script was for .5 Ativan twice a day.

Everything went OK for a short time. I took no more than she prescribed. Even then I was hesitant to take as much as it was prescribed. I didn't want to become hooked on it again.

A few days after taking it, I couldn't tell it was working that much. So, I decided to stop taking it. I felt there might come a time when I might really need it and it wouldn't work.

I have this habit of sitting up sometimes all night. I don't want to go to bed. If I could, I'd rather be able to stay up 24/7 and still be able to function properly. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

For the past few nights after I sit up for so long, I begin to get angry about everything. When this happenes, I feel a rage coming on. I want to throw things. So far nothing important. I've resisted the urge so far to trash my apartment.

Either these feelings peaked last night or I just got tired of having them. To make a long story short, I took 5 .5mg of the ativan fairly close together. It mellowed me out some, but didn't come close to giving me the feeling I had gotten a couple years ago. I think then the meds were a little stronger.

What was left, I flushed down the commode. Now I realize there may come a time when I would really benefit from taking the meds right. After all, my grief for dad is still extremely fresh and I don't know where it will take me. I know for a large part, I'm still in denial about it.

The way my thinking works is this. Since I've already abused the pills, I might as well go ahead and get my drug of choice which is whisky and indulge myself. I've only abused ativan and one other drug, hydrocotone for a brief time. My real choice is the whisky.

The thing is, I already feel enough guilt about abusing the pills. I can only imagine how much more guilt I'll feel if I get drunk.

Up until Oct. 2 I had a year of sobriety that I was proud of. Then I gave into the desire to drink... No excuses... I drank because I wanted to. It felt like an overwhelming urge that I got tired of resisting.

I was both open and honest with my counselor and my AA family. I had enough guilt. Lying about it or denying it wouldn't have anything better. I'm grateful for the support that I recieved from all of them.

I just wanted to share this with you and get it out in the open.

Thanks for listening!