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Causes and effects of underage drinking
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Graduating high school is a big accomplishment, but it is only the beginning of a student starting their own life and being independent from their parents. For most people, the next step after high school is college, and there are many differences between the two. When applying to college, the main factors prospective students look at are required test scores, the necessary grade point averages, and tuition costs. While those are important factors to consider, not many people realize that some schools are more stressful than others, have higher drug and alcohol addiction rates, high sexually transmitted diseases percentages, and crime rates. Although there are also many dangers of college, it is a great way to educate and plan for a successful …show more content…
“Each year an estimated 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol related unintentional injuries” (College Drinking). Death is not the only negative outcome of underage drinking in college; many students who decide to drink underage also have high chances of being assaulted. “Each year an estimated 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking”(College Drinking). Furthermore, students who choose not to drink underage can be at a very high risk of being a sexual abuse victim. “Each year an estimated 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol related sexual assault or date rape”(College Drinking). Not only does the poor choice of underage drinking have a negative effect on your health, but if affects your academics as well. “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.” (College Drinking). The average out-of-state tuition in the country is around $22,203 (College Data) , which is a lot of money to waste by immature and excessive drinking habits. College campuses are also a main location for students to experiment with drugs; the favorite drugs on …show more content…
One in four college students has some type of sexual transmitted disease (Berman). So with the twenty one million college students in the country, around 5.25 million have some type of sexually transmitted disease. “Over half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed each year are among young people aged 15–24 years” (College Health and Safety). The most common sexually transmitted diseases between college students are chlamydia, genital herpes and human papillomavirus, these sexually transmitted diseases are so reoccuring on college campuses because these diseases do not show their symptoms immediately (Berman). Although sexually transmitted diseases are very common among college students there are many resources for students to lower their risk of receiving a disease. Students could get tested frequently to ensure they do not have any infections, also students could enroll in health classes or sexual education courses to expand their knowledge to better protect themselves and their partners. However the best method of making certain one does not get a sexually transmitted disease while in college a student can set a goal to remain abstinent until marriage. If schools put more emphasis on making smarter choices while with someone they do not know well sexually transmitted disease rates
“80 percent of teen-agers have tried alcohol, and that alcohol was a contributing factor in the top three causes of death among teens: accidents, homicide and suicide” (Underage, CNN.com pg 3). Students may use drinking as a form of socializing, but is it really as good as it seems? The tradition of drinking has developed into a kind of “culture” fixed in every level of the college student environment. Customs handed down through generations of college drinkers reinforce students' expectation that alcohol is a necessary ingredient for social success. These perceptions of drinking are the going to ruin the lives of the students because it will lead to the development alcoholism. College students who drink a lot, while in a college environment, will damage themselves mentally, physically, and socially later in life, because alcohol adversely affects the brain, the liver, and the drinkers behavior.
Eighteenth birthdays are a time for celebration and good times. It was my friend’s big day and she wanted just that. She asked her parents for a party, and like most teenagers she wanted alcohol to be involved. In order to keep her house and the people inside it safe, she had to make a few precautions before the party. These rules ranged from keeping the music volume moderate, closing the windows, and warning the neighbors beforehand. The party was under control and everyone was being courteous and controlled. Around midnight, two new guests walked around back through the sliding door and crashed the party. Unfortunately, they weren’t just people we forgot to call, they were police officers, and once they entered they immediately began arresting my friends. Luckily, none of us were charged because the police officers lacked probable cause for entering the house. I thought I would never see that kind of police harassment again. Unfortunately, I was dead wrong.
College student drunkenness is far from new and neither are college and university efforts to control it. What is new, however, is the potential to make real progress on this age-old problem based on scientific research results. New research-based information about the consequences of high-risk college drinking and how to reduce it can empower colleges and universities, communities, and other interested organizations to take effective action. Hazardous drinking among college students is a widespread problem that occurs on campuses of all sizes and geographic locations. A recent survey of college students conducted by the Harvard University School of Public Health reported that 44 percent of respondents had drunk more than five drinks (four for women) consecutively in the previous two weeks. About 23 percent had had three or more such episodes during that time. The causes of this problem are the fact that students are living by themselves no longer with parents or guardians; they earn their own money; students need to be a part of a group, be accepted; and they have the wrong idea that to feel drunk is “cool.”
As the economy evolves and the job market continues to get more competitive, it’s becoming harder to have a successful career without some kind of college degree. This creates a belief in many young students that college actually is a commodity, something they must have in order to have a good life. There’s many different factors that influence this mindset, high schools must push the importance of the student’s willingness and drive to further their education. College isn’t just a gateway to jobs, but it is an opportunity to increase knowledge and stretch and challenge the student which in return makes them a more rounded adult and provides them with skills they might lack prior to
Society puts too much pressure on high school students to attend a 4-year college right after graduation. Though this is an attainable goal for some, a great majority of students are not fully prepared for the demands of college. 4-year schools require an incredible amount of maturity and preparation, leaving very little room for mistakes. Schools often overlook this aspect because their main goal is to get as many students into 4-year college as possible. This is a great goal to have however they send students off to college who aren’t ready to be handle the difficult of their courses while being away from home. My senior year of high school, my family and I came to the conclusion that we were not going to be able to afford four-year college tuition. This upset me at first because I felt like all my hard work and good grades went to waste. I dreaded the thought of going to community college because my who...
As the high school chapter is coming to a close, many students have to make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Hopefully, for many that decision is to enroll in a college and attain a higher education. However, as tuition costs rise, students have to take a second look at their options for a better future. A community college is that second look for many because it is the less expensive option. From 2007-2009, enrollment for community colleges has increased by 24 percent (“College costs and the CPI”). Students aren’t choosing a college for educational purposes because they are overwhelmed by financial issues. They are attending community colleges so they will be able to graduate with a lower debt. Some seniors have wanted to attend a certain university all their life and they work toward that goal through grade school; however, they are hindered by soaring tuition for that college. Students should be able to attend a private university if they mee...
In recent studies by U.S News and World Report, college campuses are turning off the tap. In other words banning alcohol entirely. One of the reasons for the banning of alcohol on campus is due to the outstanding reports of alcohol related incidents that have taken the lives of students. September of 97’, Scott Krueger, and eighteen-year-old freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, died from alcohol poisoning while at a Phi Gamma Delta initiation event.(Reisberg, 1) The lack of action taken by MIT caused the students’ parents to sue them for their irresponsibility.(Reisberg, 2) Another accident that occurred due to alcohol was to a twenty-year-old Louisiana State University student named Benjamin Wynne. Wynne had apparen...
In the past few months I have learned a lot about myself. When the incident first occurred I was very angry. I know plenty of people that drink that are under age and they don’t get caught. I kept asking myself why me? At first I was hesitant to change, but the last few months have been eye opening. I have definitely used this situation to my advantage. There are so many things that I have learned about myself. I have used these last few months to really evaluate my life and set new goals for myself. I think this experience has greatly affected my life in more ways then one. I have done many things to change my life. I have seen changes in my personal life regarding my family and my friends. Many people talk about life changing experiences and how it affects them. I think that my life has changed for the good because of this incident. I’m glad that I have used this negative incident to better my life and to change the fate of my future.
A growing number of students on college campuses are taking their life in their own hands each time they consume large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time. This popular method of drinking, called binge drinking, is a social stigma passed down from past generations. Students consider binge drinking a recreational way of life that is reninforced with alcoholic berverage "hangouts" located near college campuses. The fraternity and sorority houses are known for their wild parties. The peer-pressured initiations of thise elite groups of students are binge drinking oriented. Students do not realize the fun they perceive to have during these binge drinking bashes lead to alcohol dependency, serious health problems and ultimately death. For these reasons, college campuses should work towards an lcohol-free campus.
student may not attend class the day after drinking because he or she may be
One of the biggest problems with educational institutions in the United States is alcohol abuse among college students. College students across the United States including Georgia Southern University end up missing class, having unprotected sex, damaging property, and getting injured as a result of abusing alcohol. Also the health risks involved with binge or excessive drinking is very prevalent and risky for any college student who chooses to abuse alcohol. Besides alcohol poisoning, there are many cancers and diseases associated with alcohol abuse that ultimately lead to death. Liver cancer, breast cancer, and skin cancer can all be associated with alcohol abuse (Drinking: A Students Guide, 2001). Also heart and liver disease can be associated with alcohol abuse (Drinking: A Students Guide, 2001). Ultimately the over all wellness among Colleges and Universities in the United States drops dramatically when alcohol is abused. The abuse of alcohol among college students has a direct co...
College success has become a most desirable goal. However, many students struggle through college. In fact, according to the Website Ask.com, approximately 15 percent of college students receive a degree. Because I’m willing to earn a degree like many other successful students, I find that college is the stepping stone to my dream goals. I know that college is difficult, but I realize that attaining my dream of a college education will require me to understand the benefits of what I’m learning, to prepare for obstacles, to seek advice, and to create effective and reasonable strategies will help me achieve my goals.
College students all around must make responsible decisions and smart choices. The moment you enter into a university is the moment where everything that you do will count and effect your future either positively or negatively. Whether the decision is to watch a movie or eat, party or study, every choice made while in college will be the passage way onto the future. Recent studies have shown that more and more college students by the year are taking drugs and drinking alcoholic beverages excessively. Almost all college campuses around the United States are currently in the position to ban all alcoholic beverages on campus and the use of drug paraphernalia.
“Drink your troubles away” seems to be the motto for students these days. What a plethora of college students are doing is consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in a small time frame; in other words; binge drinking. Drinking, in general, has short-term and long-term effects. It can impair your judgment to do basic everyday things or to think critically about certain choices. Alcohol is an addictive substance and can make anyone an alcoholic with the right push. Being young adults, college students need to learn how to take care of themselves as well as their responsibilities. It is understandable why college institutions want to help college students so that no one gets injured. While it is not the responsibility of a school/institution to take care of every drunk student, they should
This leads to a wide spread of college students not being responsible enough to have sex. “According to the C.D.C. everybody who is sexually active should get tested at least once a year for Chlamydia and other diseases” (Sexual Risk Behaviors: HIV, STD, & Teen Pregnancy Prevention). Practicing safe sex is all about being responsible. If you are not ready for the consequence good or bad, then you are not ready to partake in sexual activities. No one is ever ready to be diagnosed with an STD but the way you prevent it, is by practicing abstinence which is the 100% safest way to