Report Claims Increase in College Drinking, Prescription Drug Use

By Erin Peterson

Researchers released a new study this week reporting a rise in the amount of frequent binge drinking and prescription drug use among college students. Some may argue that such activities are a "normal" part of the college experience, but researchers at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University feel that such excessive behavior should not be taken lightly.

The report titled "Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges" implies that many college campuses have created a culture where such behavior is acceptable. Researchers also feel that it is the responsibility of the college administrators to help combat the problem of drinking and drug abuse on campuses. They even include a 10-point plan of action with the report that administrators can implement to prevent and reduce student substance abuse.

Chairman and president of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Joseph Califano, states that, "If they make this a priority they can do something about it." One suggested step is to stop broadcasting alcohol advertisements during high-profile college events like the NCAA basketball tournament.

Califano and his researchers also hope that alcohol-free and drug-free campuses will become the rule and not the exception among colleges. On top of banning smoking and drinking at college sporting events, the report suggests that administrators implement stringent substance abuse policies with more severe consequences for offenders. It also suggests gaining the support and involvement of parents and communities.

Unfortunately, turning to administrators may not be the final answer to the alcohol and substance abuse problems evident at many schools. "Administrators can provide part of the solution, but a campus is not an island," said Kim Dude, director of the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Wellness Resource Center. "It is the responsibility, too, of families, law enforcement, alumni and local business. Part of the problem is the availability of alcohol, the price of alcohol. All of those things have an impact on whether a student drinks."

While much of the research included in the 231-page report has already appeared in other forms, the Center’s compilation emphasizes findings specific to college students. The report analyzes six national studies and also presents new information found in a survey of 2,000 students and 400 administrators that was conducted by the Center.

Researchers found that nearly 23 percent of college students fit the medical classification for substance abuse or dependence. This is triple the amount of the normal population.

Other findings show that the number of students who binge drink frequently increased by 16 percent between 1993 and 2001. Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks on any one drinking occasion, three or more times over a two-week period. There was also a substantial increase in the amount of students who drink 10 or more times a month and also the number who get drunk three or more times per month.

The number of students using marijuana daily has more than doubled since the 1993 study and hundreds of thousands more are abusing prescription drugs like Ritalin, Adderall and OxyContin.

"It’s getting more intense," says Carol Falkowski, director of research communications for the Hazelden Foundation, an addiction treatment and research group. "Drinking games that were happening in private parties or houses or bonfires 10 years ago are now happening in public venues. That to me reflects a sort of larger acceptance of extreme drinking."

Researchers involved with the report feel that this type of excessive drinking should not be tolerated. Roger Vaughn, a Center researcher, said that "Things will work, it’s just having the will and time and money to implement them."