Students Nationwide Gather to Promote Alcohol Awareness
Kelli Griffiths
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: News
This week, college students nationwide will gather together to celebrate National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. Over 3,000 campuses across the country will have activities and information about drinking alcohol.
Alcohol awareness should be an important topic for college students. The national findings from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health states that 69.8 percent of people 21 years old use alcohol and that college students are more apt to use alcohol than non-college students.
Among adults 18 or older with less than a high school education, 36.4 percent were current drinkers in 2004, while 67.6 percent of college graduates were current drinkers. Heavy drinking and binge drinking have increased within the past year among college students, whereas adults with a high school education or less decreased.
Young adults 18 to 22 enrolled full time in college were more likely than their peers not enrolled full time (i.e., part-time college students and persons not enrolled in college) to use alcohol, binge drink, and drink heavily. Past month alcohol use was reported by 62.4 percent of full-time college students compared with 55.7 percent of persons aged 18 to 22 who were not currently enrolled full time. Binge and heavy use rates for college students were 43.4 and 18.6 percent, respectively, compared with 39.4 and 13.5 percent, respectively, for other persons aged 18 to 22.
These statistics show that SLCC students should be aware of their alcohol consumption. The NCAAW (National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week) gives all students help with this, as does SLCC's Health and Wellness Services. They have posted flyers across campus with statistics about alcohol, and are having special festivities to promote healthy living.
At the Redwood campus Monday, purple ribbons will be handed out in the Student Center. Tuesday and Thursday there is a free alcohol use screening in the Student Center alcove from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The campus is featuring a fatal vision screening and a raffle with prizes at the student involvement center from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m on Wednesday. The Health and Wellness Services will have a smart bar on the quad from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m on Friday.
South City campus is also having some activities. This campus has consolidated their activities to just Wednesday and Friday. They are having purple ribbons and pledge cards, alcohol use screenings, the "fatal vision" impairment experience, and a raffle and prizes on both days. All activities will be in the east foyer. Wednesday's activities will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and Friday's activities will be from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.
All students, even ones that don't drink, could benefit from information about alcohol awareness. With alcohol and drug abuse as prominent as it is today, everyone could know someone who may need help. The NCAAW can help people understand the dangers of drinking. Everyone owes it to themselves and their friends to check it out. See the Health and Wellness Service's website at slcc.edu/hw.
Alcohol awareness should be an important topic for college students. The national findings from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health states that 69.8 percent of people 21 years old use alcohol and that college students are more apt to use alcohol than non-college students.
Among adults 18 or older with less than a high school education, 36.4 percent were current drinkers in 2004, while 67.6 percent of college graduates were current drinkers. Heavy drinking and binge drinking have increased within the past year among college students, whereas adults with a high school education or less decreased.
Young adults 18 to 22 enrolled full time in college were more likely than their peers not enrolled full time (i.e., part-time college students and persons not enrolled in college) to use alcohol, binge drink, and drink heavily. Past month alcohol use was reported by 62.4 percent of full-time college students compared with 55.7 percent of persons aged 18 to 22 who were not currently enrolled full time. Binge and heavy use rates for college students were 43.4 and 18.6 percent, respectively, compared with 39.4 and 13.5 percent, respectively, for other persons aged 18 to 22.
These statistics show that SLCC students should be aware of their alcohol consumption. The NCAAW (National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week) gives all students help with this, as does SLCC's Health and Wellness Services. They have posted flyers across campus with statistics about alcohol, and are having special festivities to promote healthy living.
At the Redwood campus Monday, purple ribbons will be handed out in the Student Center. Tuesday and Thursday there is a free alcohol use screening in the Student Center alcove from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The campus is featuring a fatal vision screening and a raffle with prizes at the student involvement center from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m on Wednesday. The Health and Wellness Services will have a smart bar on the quad from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m on Friday.
South City campus is also having some activities. This campus has consolidated their activities to just Wednesday and Friday. They are having purple ribbons and pledge cards, alcohol use screenings, the "fatal vision" impairment experience, and a raffle and prizes on both days. All activities will be in the east foyer. Wednesday's activities will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and Friday's activities will be from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.
All students, even ones that don't drink, could benefit from information about alcohol awareness. With alcohol and drug abuse as prominent as it is today, everyone could know someone who may need help. The NCAAW can help people understand the dangers of drinking. Everyone owes it to themselves and their friends to check it out. See the Health and Wellness Service's website at slcc.edu/hw.
