SAED – 201 Promoting Safety by Preventing Alcohol and Drug Abuse Alcohol And The Problems Associated With It’s Misuse

Introduction Society & Alcohol: “Drink” Reasons for Drinking Social Standards Associated with Alcohol Problems Associated with Alcohols Misuse

How Does Society Use The Word DRINK? Example: “Let’s go have a DRINK.” No thank you, I don’t DRINK. He has a DRINKING problem. She quit DRINKING for health reasons. You are too young to DRINK.

Reasons People DO Drink Taste Unwind Thirst Celebrate Get Drunk Peer Pressure

Reasons People DON’T Drink Taste Cost Health Accidents Dislike Effects Embarrassment Religious Beliefs Legal

Social Standards Permissive At times, drunk behavior is expected. Moderate Alcohol is a part of life, but to get drunk is not. Abstinent Drinking could cause problems and the risks are not worth it.

Problems Associated With Alcohols Misuse 1.Physical 2.Legal 3.Social 4.Accidents

I. Physical Hangover Nausea Malnutrition Cirrhosis of the Liver Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

II. Laws Related to Alcohol Public Intoxication Minor in Possession Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Implied Consent Intoxication Assault & Manslaughter

III. Social Familial Academic Relationships Sexual Behavior Crime Job

III. Social: College Students Harvard College Alcohol Study (CAS) “Binge Drinking on America College Campuses” –Nationally Representative Survey since 1993 –In 1999 assessed students at 140 colleges and institutions across 40 different states –N = 14,941 –Binge Drinking defined: Males - consumed five or more drinks in a row Females – consumed four or more drinks in a row within the past two weeks Source :

III. Social: College Students College Alcohol Study (CAS) –45% of college students binge drank when drinking –47% drank to “get drunk” –Compared to non-binge drinkers, were more likely to: Miss a class (17 times) Vandalize property (10 times) Get hurt or injured as a result of their drinking (8 times) –Binge drinking also found to contribute to poor academic performance and college dropout rates Source :

III. Social: Texas A&M CORE Survey – Southern Illinois University Carbondale –Specifically designed to be administered to higher education populations –Sample based upon classes intended to be representative of the campus –Administered at TAMU Spring 2002 (Previously in 1994, 1998) –N = 1229 Source: ®

III. Social: Texas A&M CORE Survey Results: –Driven a car while under the influence in the past year = –Consume alcohol 3 x week or more = –Binge Drank in the last two weeks = –Experienced serious personal problems (i.e. injury, sexual assault, inability to stop using)= –91.9% of Aggies believe the average student uses alcohol once a week or more Actually, only use alcohol once a week or more Source: % 34.8% 52.5% 22.8% 56% ®

IV. Accidents Accidents (ALL)2.5 Times greater Alcohol Effects On Different Types of Accidents Motor Vehicle Water Fire & Burns Falls 41% 47 – 65% 37 – 64% 16 Times greater

IV. Accidents Risk of Death After Drinking BAC AGE 16 – – Male = 5 Female = 3 Male = 52 Female = 15 Male =15,560 Female =

IV. Accidents Age% Licensed Drivers % DWI Driver Fatalities Over / Under Representation FATAL Alcohol Crashes by Age - Texas % Over 60% Over 23% Over 22% Under 34% Under

IV. Accidents Why are young people at an increased risk for an alcohol related accident? 1.Less Driving Experience 2.Less Drinking Experience 3.Increased Night Driving 4.Increased Risk Taking