Schools with strong academics but low alcohol intake

Parents Forum
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<p>Major study finds binge drinking, prescription drug abuse on the rise on college campuses
Posted by Associated Press March 15, 2007 09:27AM</p>

<p>Substance abuse on college campuses is nothing new. But it is taking a more extreme and dangerous form, with higher rates of frequent binge drinking and prescription drug abuse, and more negative consequences for students such as arrests and risky sexual behavior.</p>

<p>That's the portrait painted by a new, comprehensive report tying together a range of recent research on college substance abuse, supplemented with some of its own new survey data.</p>

<p>The report by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, argues substance abuse isn't an inevitable rite of passage for young adults. Rather, it argues a particular culture of excessive consumption has flourished on college campuses, and calls on educators to take bolder stands against students and alumni to combat it.</p>

<p>-- The Associated Press</p>

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<p>"The center found that "the situation on America's campuses has deteriorated" since 1993, CASA President Joseph Califano says."</p>

<p>hmmmmm. </p>

<p>Looks like there might be some correlation there between the Clinton presidency and this situation. (scratching the chin and rolling the eyes).</p>

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<p>united evangelical church university of america</p>

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<p>1983 was right in the middle of my college years. I was at UVa, and the age was 19 for carry out beer, 21 for wine and liquor, and 18 to get into a bar. And then it moved to 21 for everything. Drinking was definitely an issue at school, in fact 1983 was the year that "Easters" was discontinued due to the influx of drinking students from all over the region. There was also a serious accident within a fraternity that year.</p>

<p>I would say the difference between now and then that I have noticed is that there is more awareness because of the internet and cable news etc....about alcohol accidents and issues. It has also become socially unacceptable in some circles--moving slowly along like the smoking issue. Smoking is becoming less accepted by the public. </p>

<p>When my husband was a young Lt. in the USMC, a DUI was career ending. When my father was a young Lt. in the USMC, a DUI didn't do anything to your standing. It takes time for public opinion to change. There does seem to be more of an effort to provide non-alcohol centered programming and events on campus, sub-free dorms, etc...</p>

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<p>People on this board say go into a 'substance free dorm' and believe me that is where you have the hardcore Alkies and druggies who are assigned by their shrinks and parents to be in that dorm. I wouldn't be so naive to think that dorm is going to be 'substance free' as stated. I know this for a fact and that this situation exists at 2 Ivies that I know of!</p>

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<p>Mercer is a dry campus. You can get kicked out if you are caught with alcohol.</p>

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<p>hedoya, I'm interested in this point you make that the hardcore substance abusers are assigned to "substance-free" dorms by their psychiatrists, the courts or their parents, or some combination thereof. I believe you and I've also heard other college kids say the same.</p>

<p>Even when that is true, however, isn't it also true that there are plenty more kids than those hardcores, who just want to avoid a lot of difficulties or distractions from substances? In other words, there's a "tipping point" (not a tipsy point) in every social situation. Do these hardcore sub users stand out in your mind b/c they violate the rule, or do they in fact change the sub-free climate that the others hoped for?</p>

<p>I'm curious. As each approached freshman year at college, I lobbied mildly for sub-free signups with all my kids, but got vetoed 3 times. It wasn't a serious difference between us, but if I were in their shoes I'd have signed up sub-free since they don't use substances except maybe a glass of wine at dinner, sometimes. They worried about the stigma of sub-free dorms as being prudish; and didn't want to not be able to have a friend over if the friend wanted to open a beer in their room. They stayed relatively low-users re: subs, all through college, so their way worked for them.</p>

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<p>It is true that women's colleges have less drinking than co-ed schools. The stats on binge drinking show that more men than women engage in binge drinking and so there is less likely to be a binge drinking culture in an all-female environment. My D had an opportunity to observe college life from living in a college town and that convinced her she wanted a women's college or an all-female floor. She enrolled at one women's college and transferred to another one, and never regretted that choice. She received some teasing from her friends for choosing a women's college, since she is very socially oriented, but she wanted an environment in which she could study when she needed to, without the kinds of disruptions and distractions which are more frequent in a co-ed environment.</p>

<p>I support the previous posters in citing schools like Earlham, Oberlin, and Swarthmore as places where all substance choices are more likely to be accepted, including abstinence. However, it is true that schools like Earlham and Oberlin may be more liberal. Unless your values match, Christian schools are not a good option for avoiding a drinking scene. Many schools offer other viable housing options, like quiet floors or separate honors housing. Finally, it is a good idea to avoid schools with frats or sororities, which institutionalize a drinking culture, especially if the school relies on the Greek system to provide a predominant contribution to the school's social life. </p>

<p>It is one of the most discouraging aspects of working in a college environment ... seeing the ways in which young people risk themselves through substance abuse. A previous poster mentioned that only a few died, but that is minimizing the problem and even one is too many. The damage done to them is more extensive as well. Statistics indicate a link between alcohol use and academic achievement in college. Most rapes and assaults occur when the victim is under the influence. Most unwanted pregnancies occur while the woman is under the influence. Binge drinkers are far less likely to have protected sex. It is encouraging that so many schools are taking a stronge stance on this serious social problem affecting the lives of our children. Their motivation may sometimes be a concern to avoid the bad PR accompanying incidents, but the impact is a healthier environment for students.</p>

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<p>They claim over 1400 students per year die on US college campuses from alcohol-related incidents. I wonder if that is a true statistic? Do you know, Mini?</p>

<p>Also, I believe that Mini has in the past mentioned some data on what sorts of colleges in general have less drinking than others, and, as I recall, LACs (particularly rural/suburban ones) are at the top. I'd like to hear a refresher on that.</p>

<hr>

<p>When I first started to read this thread, I must say I was amused at the number of parents who just listed the college their kid attends as a low drinking place. News flash: We don't really know what goes on.</p>

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<p>hedoya, I'm interested in this point you make that the hardcore substance abusers are assigned to "substance-free" dorms by their psychiatrists, the courts or their parents, or some combination thereof. I believe you and I've also heard other college kids say the same.</p>

<p>I would imagine it depends on the school- I also have the impression that some college kids feel the need to assume that other students drink as much as they do, it makes them feel better about their own drinking.</p>

<p>At my D school- they are quite cognizant that some parents may lobby for this- unless those students want to be there, it won't work & the school tries to divert them to other dorms- They are big on personal responsiblity and won't hassle an 18 year old having wine with his dinner in commons, but they do expect the students in the dorm, to use the honor principle and abide by the structure of the dorm.</p>

<p>The situation at my D school was , we were interested in a quiet place to study. She has ADD, and is easily distracted.
We considered both a quiet dorm and a subfree, but reasoned it would be easier to insure all the students kept substances out all the time, than it would be to get them to quiet down after 10 pm. We also hoped that without substances, that they would be lower key.
She didn't have a drinking problem, she didn't drink till she was a senior and didn't like it- she also waited for 2 months after she turned 21 to buy alcohol legally, and that sat in the fridge for a couple months after that. However, she has alcoholism on her dads side and that was scary. She also had taken a year off after high school, and the pressure to "rebel" to prove she was an "adult" wasn't as strong as with some kids.
She made a lot of friends in subfree, they were there because they had gone through treatment, and needed the support, or they had problems in their own families and didn't want that distraction.
However, my impression has been that apart from 40's night, that day to day life on campus doesn't revolve around drinking.
I have been on campus many times, during the week and on weekends, it has fewer students than her sisters high school, its fairly easy to get a sense of what is happening on campus, and my impression was that fewer students drank regularly than in * mine*.</p>

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<p>;)
I was waiting for someone to come back and tell me that " I really don't know what goes on"
:::::waiting:::::::
and its true I don't know everything taht goes on
but contrary to what my 17 year old thinks- I wasn't born "yesterday"
Before D#1 attended college- I had the impression that there were schools where students predominantly used alcohol and those where they predominantly used marijuana.
I would have labeled Reed as a "pot" school.</p>

<p>But now, it seems that alcohol is still dominant- but it isn't used noticeably, overall, except for "events" like the aforementioned 40's night, and winter ball.
She complained about winter ball- and preferred events where pregaming activity wasn't as obvious.</p>

<p>However- I must add a caveat- that this would be "olde Reed", during my daughters time. When she was a student in sub free- during junior year- I wasn't even allowed to have a bottle of wine I had bought to make clam spaghetti. We had to go to a different dorm. Students took it very seriously & the honor principle worked as long as they did.</p>

<p>But now, with the increase in popularity for Reed, more students are apparently choosing the school who haven't quite "gotten" it yet.
For example- a student who was drunk & fell off his dorm balcony ( not in subfree), and is suing the school.</p>

<p>In olde Reed, that would have been unthinkable, because students are held responsible for their actions as adults are most other places.
But also as long as they are not hurting others- or damaging property etc. they aren't going to be sanctioned.</p>

<p>The CSOs ( community safety officers) are not viewed as police or parents, but mentors, and from what I have seen that is how they act. </p>

<p>During Renn Fayre their job is to keep the high school students out ( as well as the Portland police)-</p>

<p>Its possible that if I had a child who was heavily into drinking/drugging as I had been when I was 16-21, I would have a very different view of the school.
( and if they obviously still needed external structure for behavior not just academics, it wouldn't be my first choice)</p>

<p>But there is so much going on and required at this school, that I still think for the most part it doesn't attract kids who feel that parties should be an important and regular part of college- which seems to be borne out by the numbers of students that will be freshmen this fall & whose parents quizzed me about Reed. They liked the school and while some even applied, no one that I currently am aware of, that I gave advice to, decided on Reed.</p>

<p>USC however is very popular among that group-Im not saying that is a drinking school- I barely know anything about it. But most students I know looking at Reed, have received the accurate IMO impression that it is * intense*, and I think they want a little lighter atmosphere</p>

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<p>Somebody must have mentioned Oberlin here..</p>

<p>Maybe it's true everyone can do what they want, no pressure, etc.</p>

<p>But I can tell you that when my daughter started there she didn't know anything about alcoholic beverages, but somehow she seems to know more now.</p>

<p>Could be that internship in Europe...</p>

<p>So as for "low alcohol intake" I can't say, but I have my suspicions that they're not altogether abstaining either. I hope, and suspect, that they're doing more studying than carousing at least.</p>

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<p>A friend recently suggested to me that there was more heavy drinking at small LACs in isolated locations. I ran that theory by my D who attends such a school, expecting her to argue and defend her school, but was surprised when she thought for a minute and said it was true. She said that her friends at schools in LA or NYC or DC had lots to do, especially on weekends, other than just hang out and drink. I have no idea whatsoever if this is supported by statistics but it's an interesting thought.</p>

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<p>You do hear more about drinking at schools that are isolated- maybe thats why after our yearly rural vacation I am very happy to get back to the city- not that I feel driven to drink- but it can feel confining for some people.</p>

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<p>It is supported by the data. Characteristics of colleges associated with higher than average binge drinking rate include: rural, residential, coed, not religious-affiliated, fraternities/sororities, higher family incomes, more heavily white, heavy in spectator sports. No one factor more than the others, but if you see most or all of these factors in a school, you can infer heavy alcohol use. (I actually don't know of a single exception.)</p>

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<p>How is "binge drinking" defined? And "heavy alcohol use?"</p>

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<p>We've gone through this upteen times before. But if you want to know, go to Google, and google NIAAA February 2004 for binge.</p>

<p>For heavy, it is either two or more drinks a day near daily for 30 days, or three more binge drinking episodes in the past two weeks.</p>

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<p>Drinking a lot.</p>

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<p>Sorry for inconveniencing you. Not everyone reads every single one of your posts, FYI.</p>

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<p>Well, that's what the search function is for. ;)</p>

<p><a href="http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:EW8pxA-yA2sJ:pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Newsletter/winter2004/Newsletter_Number3.pdf+niaaa+binge+february+2004&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:EW8pxA-yA2sJ:pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Newsletter/winter2004/Newsletter_Number3.pdf+niaaa+binge+february+2004&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>An interesting tidbit is that when they redefined "binge" to be more highly specific, they thought it might actually change the percentages of those reporting binge drinking. That turned out not to be true - the two-hour limit brought forth virtually the same responses as "on one occasion".</p>

<p>We do know from experimental data that the percentages of binge drinking virtually everywhere are underestimates.</p>