Alcohol consumption, particularly drinking at social events, is extremely normalized in our culture. As a result, for college students and youngsters embarking on university life, binge drinking at parties is often considered a rite of passage. But binge drinking and college students aren’t a good combination—a person can risk death from alcohol poisoning, get into accidents or develop an alcohol use disorder. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, reach out to Lighthouse Recovery for a personalized alcohol rehab program in Florida.
Binge drinking among college students has severe consequences. Nevertheless, studies indicate that binge drinking and heavy drinking are on the rise, leading to short-term and long-term health effects. To know more about the connections between binge drinking and college students, as well as treatment plans for alcohol use disorder, call us at 866.308.2090.
Binge Drinking and College Students
For many students, college represents their first experience of freedom and independence. They may move out of their parents’ homes to a new location, befriend new people, go to parties and experience various facets of adulthood while also balancing the stress of academic life.
College students may turn to binge drinking for a number of reasons, such as:
- To socialize with people at parties
- Out of peer pressure or a need to seem cool to others
- As a negative coping mechanism to deal with stress
- Out of curiosity
- To experience a sense of thrill
However, this can have severe negative consequences. In fact, risky behavior is often associated with binge drinking and college students. Other effects of binge drinking include:
- Lifelong health problems
- Poor academic performance
- Drunk driving
- Unprotected sex
- More prone to injury and accidents
- More prone to violent actions and criminal behavior
- Alcohol-related sexual assault
- Co-occurring mental health disorders
- Personality changes
- Alcohol addiction
- Development of other substance use disorders
The Warning Signs of an Alcohol Use Disorder
In most cases, regular binge drinking among college students is likely to culminate in an alcohol use disorder. Typical symptoms of an alcohol use disorder include the following:
- Binge drinking or heavy drinking on most days
- Unable to cut back on alcohol consumption
- Random outbursts of aggressive or violent behavior, accompanied by changes in one’s personality
- Secretly stockpiling liquor
- Drinking on one’s own
- Loss of positive friendships and relationships due to alcohol consumption
- Drinking and then engaging in dangerous behavior, such as drunk driving
- Being hungover at classes or work, or missing classes and deadlines due to alcohol-related side effects
- A decline in academic performance and loss of interest in other activities
- Difficulty in coping with the stresses of daily life
- Being in denial about the extent of one’s drinking problem
By spotting the early signs of an alcohol use disorder, it is possible to reverse the damage by seeking professional treatment. Moreover, by spreading awareness about the dangers of binge drinking among college students, it is possible to save thousands of lives in a year.
Find the Secret to Sobriety at Lighthouse Recovery Institute
At Lighthouse Recovery, we empower our clients to fight alcohol use disorder and live successful, sober lives. No matter how severe the condition, our expert staff works with each individual at our Florida facility to develop a personalized 90-day addiction treatment plan that includes medication, evidence-based therapies, aftercare, and other holistic practices. From partial hospitalization to intensive outpatient care, we offer a full spectrum of services based on the client’s unique needs, recovery goals, and budget.
It is never too late to seek professional help and change your life for the better. Call us at 866.308.2090 and begin the healing journey today.
