Too Many College Students are Majoring in .... Drinking

Data released in 2013 by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) shows that more than 80% of college students consume alcohol. Reflecting a sharp increase, 40% of college students admitted to binge drinking once a month (defined as 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men in a two-hour period), and 20% of college students qualified as having Alcohol Use Disorders.

And the consequences of this excessive alcohol consumption are alarming: The NIAAA also reports that more than 1,800 students die each year from alcohol-related incidents; 600,000 have been injured while drunk and nearly 100,000 sexual assaults have been reported that were linked to alcohol intoxication. One in four say their academic performance has suffered from drinking.

With the beginning of the Fall semester around the corner, here are a few steps parents can — and should — take to help keep your child safe.

Make your own position concerning your student’s drinking clear, exactly what is OK and what is not. According to CollegeParentsMatter.org, zero-tolerance messages appear to be most protective against alcohol use and related consequences, even if students are already using alcohol. In a study that assessed parental alcohol-related messages and the alcohol use among 585 students at a US university, it was found that parental communication of zero tolerance, or complete disapproval, of alcohol use was associated with the safest student behaviors regarding both weekend drinking and experiences consequences. Conversely, parents teaching their college students how to reduce the likelihood of harm if drinking occurs was found to be associated with the highest levels of risk behaviors.

Stay involved with your child so that you can spot warning signs as early as possible — such as lower grades, never available or reluctant to talk with you, unwilling to talk about activities with friends, noticeable mood changes, running through allowance more quickly than usual. If you suspect there is an issue, talk about your perceptions (“You seem to be so tired and distant whenever we talk”), ask questions (“What do your friends think about drinking?”), and show concern (“Mom and I would like to come visit you for a day or so).

When talking about your concerns, communicate positively, rather than being confrontational or placing blame. Students drink for a variety of reasons — reduces stress, makes them less inhibited, peer pressure/fitting in. Taking the time to understand the issues behind your child’s behavior will help you intervene in a positive manner and offer healthier, more constructive alternatives to drinking.

And parents, remember you’re not alone. If you think your college student may be struggling with alcohol abuse, help is just a phone call away. Counselors at campus health centers and substance abuse treatment centers can teach you how to initiate a positive conversation with your child and work with you to get them the help they need.

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