By Dorothy Augustyniak
Daily Bruin Contributor
College drinking continues to be a serious problem across the
nation, despite the fact that the number of students who abstain
from alcohol has increased, according to a study by a branch of the
the National Institutes of Health.
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol has contributed to
numerous problems, such as car accidents, rape and physical
injuries, according to the study, overseen by The National
Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The study entitled “A Call to Action: Changing the Culture
of Drinking at U.S. Colleges,” released Tuesday, reveals that
college drinking contributes to an estimated 1,400 student deaths,
500,000 injuries, and 70,000 cases of sexual assault each year.
“The harm that college students do to themselves and
others as a result of excessive drinking exceeds what many would
have expected,” said Ralph W. Hingson, the lead author of the
report and professor of social behavioral sciences and associate
dean for research at Boston University School of Public Health.
But the report also mentioned that the number of students who do
not drink alcohol at all increased from 15 percent to 19 percent
from 1993 to 1999.
Some UCLA students do not drink because they are concerned about
risking injury, humiliation and even death.
“I do not understand why students continue to make
drinking such a big deal,” said Mariam Lee, a third-year
psychology student. “I abstain from drinking because I do not
want others to take advantage of me. That is the risk you take when
you decide to participate in drinking at events like parties and
football games.”
However, the report stated that those who abstain from drinking
are hurt by injuries as well as those who do drink.
The NIAAA is currently sending the Task Force report to every
college in the United States as a reminder of the consequences of
college drinking, the statement said.
In the report, the task force came up with recommendations on
changing the culture of drinking on campuses and involving the
surrounding communities.
In order to change the culture, the school must intervene at
three levels, the report said: the individual-student level, the
level of the entire student body, and the community level.
At each recommendation it is the Task Force’s
understanding that no two schools are the same, environmental
influence as well as student character vary from campus to campus.
The surroundings of each campus also have an impact on the
influence on college drinking, the report said ““ and some
students agree.
“Look around Westwood,” said Andrea Chavez, a
third-year mathematics student. There are many places and
influences to drink alcohol, she said.
“No matter how much the accidents are emphasized due to
drinking, it will always be an unresolved problem,” she
said.
For Chavez, the enticements to drink aren’t worth the
risk.
“Alcohol may make a student look sophisticated, but it is
not worth risking your life.”
Other students believe the dangers of drinking are
over-exaggerated.
“I do not see what the big deal is about alcohol,”
said Andy Peranov, a third-year computer science student. “I
control my consumption and never got into any trouble whatsoever. I
usually have some wine, but on a moderate basis to help me manage
my stress.”
Fred Donodeo, spokesman for the NIAAA, said the study was
created in order to address college drinking at a widespread,
national level.
“You hear about the deaths, the spring breaks … but
there was very little research being done (on college drinking) at
the national level,” said Donodeo.
According to Donodeo, the goal was a thorough, long-term
research project that would determine how harmful alcohol is on
campuses.
College presidents, students and alcohol researchers
participated in putting the report together.