According to the National Institute on alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), all college students experience the effects of college drinking, whether they drink or not. The institute adds that often, students perceive drinking as a ritual integral to their higher-education experience.
Research has found that over 80 percent of college students drink alcohol. Drinking for social and leisurely reasons may not pose problems, but abusive college drinking can lead to various consequences. The NIAAA provides the following information to help college students and their family and friends to develop more awareness about this issue.
Death
Each year an estimated 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes.
Injury
Each year an estimated 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol.
Assault
Each year an estimated 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
Sexual Abuse
Each year an estimated 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
Unsafe Sex
Each year an estimated 400,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 have unprotected sex, and more than 100,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report having been too intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex.
Academic Problems
About one-quarter of college students report having academic consequences because of their drinking, including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.
Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
Nineteen percent of college students between the ages of 18 and 24 met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, but only 5 percent of these students sought treatment for alcohol problems in the year preceding the survey.
Drunk Driving
Each year an estimated 3,360,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 drive under the influence of alcohol.
Other Consequences
These include suicide attempts, health problems, vandalism, property damage, and involvement with the police.
From NIH.gov
