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You’ve landed on this blog because you want to learn more about underage drinking on college campuses. We’re glad you’re here, but before we dive into this rather hot topic, we need to ask you a personal question. It’s a question you wouldn’t normally answer, and the best part is you can answer it silently in your head without fear of anyone hearing the answer! Ready? Okay, here it comes…
How old are you?
The majority of the eyes reading this blog are probably already done with college. In fact, chances are you have children in or about to start college. You either have sent your kids off to move-in day or are planning to this year.
But some of you are actual college students who are wondering how much is too much when it comes to drinking. Whoever you are, and however old you are, you can relate to this Charlotte news video featuring our very own Drug and Alcohol Education instructor, Debbie Insley:
The Party Stigma
According to USA Today, underage drinking and illegal drug use have created a party stigma that has been widely associated with the college years. Many students entering college see alcohol and drinking as a rite of passage. They are all too often undereducated and misinformed about alcohol due to two prevalent circumstances:
- Desensitization to Alcohol: For whatever reason, some kids have been overexposed to alcohol in the wrong environments. They see binge drinking and overindulgence as the “cool thing” to do. In their minds, college is the perfect forum to party hard.
- Limited Exposure to Alcohol: The party stigma has made many parents scared to talk to their children in depth about drinking. By the time these kids move into college, they know very little about how much is too much and what to expect when drinking. Peer pressure can cause them to overindulge, especially when underage, leading to numerous problems from addiction to an eventual DWI charge.
The Truth About Addiction
The Charlotte Observer reported a growing trend in 2012. Teens arriving at college were already struggling to recover from addiction. It unveiled a truth about addiction that many have ignored: the party stigma has stereotyped teens, leaving them lacking the tools they need to avoid falling prey to the allure of underage drinking on campus.
The truth is the national research conducted over the years has indicated that student and underage abuse of alcohol is a major health issue in the United States. Colleges, universities, and our own local community have responded with programs aimed at education, prevention, and treatment.
Governor Pat McCrory launched a program in 2014 called the UNC Charlotte’s Collegiate Recovery Community. Of the 26,000 students estimated to be on campus, roughly 400 are in recovery. The purpose of the program has been to address underage drinking and substance abuse alongside student recovery.
Insley has estimated that anywhere from 500 to 600 students face violations of university alcohol and drug policies each year, and while not all of these students may need a recovery program, it is most certain they need support and further education. “Build it and they will come,” she says. “This is something I truly believe in.” Your presence here, reading this article, is proof of that belief.
4 Things You Need To Know about Underage Drinking
The prevalence of alcohol on college campuses is no secret. According to UNCC.Uloop.com, 80 percent of college kids drink alcohol. Of those, more than 50 percent have partaken in binge drinking within the past two weeks alone.
The real dilemma comes with the shocking realization that due to less than half of the college student body being over 21, schools are left with a choice; they can enforce underage drinking laws on campus or ignore the problem altogether. Regardless of the choice made, there are four things you as parent or student need to know about underage drinking:
- Freshmen are at High Risk: Colleges and Universities see a lot of freshmen leaving school early on due to alcohol or drug related issues. It’s hard for underage students to say no to alcohol because to them everyone else is doing it, they don’t feel like anyone is there to stop them, and, for some, they’ve already been drinking prior to college.
- Myths are Prevalent: The scary truth is that the majority of college age students are more educated about the facts of sex than alcohol and drugs. They believe myths about drinking alcohol. For example, most don’t know that it only takes a 4-ounce drink to start focus and behavior impairment. And if they do know this fact, they probably don’t know what 4 ounces looks like in those popular red solo cups. As Insley points out, education is not advocating or promoting drinking; it’s the best defense against bad decision-making.
- Honesty really is the Best Policy: Insley says that parents who have open, honest conversations with their teens about alcohol and drinking are doing their kids a favor. Open communication provides children with the truth. Arming them with facts helps them make wise decisions. And knowing you are always there to support them, even if only from the end of a telephone line or text message, can help them stand up and say no to underage drinking.
- North Carolina Underage Drinking Laws are Strict: Let’s be clear; the legal drinking age in North Carolina is 21. Most college students hit campus at 18, driving their own vehicles. At the age of 16, a person in North Carolina is considered an adult and tried accordingly. And North Carolina holds a no exceptions underage drinking law. When it comes to underage alcohol abuse, there are no exceptions.
Breaking down The Stigma
One of the strongest reasons underage students consume alcohol on campus is because they believe everyone else is doing it. But they’re wrong. Only 40 percent of students drink on a regular basis, but to an uneducated or misinformed teen, this 40 percent seems like 100.
It’s up to us to break down the stigma surrounding teens and alcohol. It’s up to us to confront underage drinking on college campus and make a difference. We’re here, building a place for those who struggle and want to know more to come. Will you be here?