Editor’s Note: This story includes mention of sexual assault. Resources are available here. It also includes mention of drug use and addiction. Resources are available here.
It’s well-known that college students drink, regardless of age and legality. It’s also common knowledge that drinking has numerous negative effects on your body and those around you. However, college students often frequent bars and parties and consume dangerous amounts of alcohol each weekend, seemingly forgetting the effects.
I’m not too into the drinking scene, I choose to stray away from it because I don’t like not being in my own mind and having full control. I love a good night out — but it’s hard to enjoy it when everyone around you is drinking and that’s just something you’re not all into. It’s also very easy to succumb to peer pressure because everyone around is doing it and seems to be having a great time. The drinking scene also can take a toll on your social life. My roommate and I became friends with this group of girls at the beginning of the year but were quickly unfriended because we didn’t enjoy going out practically every day of the week as they did. Drinking can take a toll on so much in one's life.
The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that just under 50% of college students drank in the last month — even more troubling, about half of those students participated in binge drinking in the same month. Many individuals drink to fit in because everyone around them is, and they want to seem “cool,” or they drink for the sole purpose of getting drunk.
An article from Alcohol Rehab Guide says, “These outcomes are extremely dangerous and can possibly lead to life-threatening effects, such as alcohol poisoning.” Alcohol poisoning can affect your breathing and heart rate. In some cases, it can lead to a coma or even death. A friend of mine had to get her stomach pumped because of how much she had to drink one night. Luckily, she was fine in the end, but it surely is scary. It was so scary for her that she stopped drinking because it was so traumatizing.
Drinking can cause you to do things that your sober self may not have done otherwise, as alcohol can alter your state of mind. A statistic from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that nearly 700,000 students between the ages of 18-24 have been assaulted physically by someone under the influence. It is also found that one in five women are sexually assaulted while in college, and a majority of these assaults are due to the abuser being under the influence.
Parties can be especially dangerous, as they’re full of individuals that are under the influence. Watch your surroundings and ask for help if needed, and remember the victim is never at fault. Many of my friends, including me, carry pepper spray around as a form of protection, especially at parties, because you never know what may happen. My friends and I haven’t had any issues with assault thankfully; however, I’ve heard countless stories about others who have.
Researchers found that one in four college students report struggling with academics due to their drinking habits. While sometimes it may seem as though college is made for amazing parties and social events, we are also all here to improve our education. Drinking can cause students to stray away from the whole reason they are attending university and can end up putting their future goals at risk. So many of my friends skip class because they drank a little too much the night before, and while skipping every now and then is alright, doing it continuously can cause negative effects.
This article may be full of stuff you’ve heard many times already, or have some new information — however, a reminder is never a bad thing. Most people enjoy a good night out with a few drinks. This article is solely to remind us as college students of the possible repercussions that can come with drinking, as seemingly many of us forget them. As long as you are smart and aware of the number of drinks you are having and the effects, enjoy your night out.
If you need help managing your drinking habits you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national helpline at 1-800-622-4357 for help when it comes to substance abuse or mental health. IU also provides resources as well. You can make an appointment with the substance use intervention services to get safe and judgment-free support. If you are a victim of sexual assault, you can also go to the Student Health Center on campus and receive help through the IU Sexual Assault Crisis Services. These are just a few of the many resource options. College students will continue to drink, but they can do so responsibly.
