In this paper I will discuss the patterns of alcohol and drug use of college students and how do they relate to demographic and social factors. This will be based on a survey done in a college and also based on the report from NSDUH 2006 report, Virginia's College student article by Anderson, D.S and from journal articles and books regarding this important social issue in US.
According to NSDUH report 2006 from 2002 to 2005 in past month alcohol
Usage by 18 to 20 year adult is steady. An annual average of 57.8% of young adults aged 15-20 year old adults taking alcohol in the past month from 2002-2005. As well it found that the male full-time students took alcohol in the past month from 2002-2005 compared to the female full-time students. (60.4 Vs 55.6 percent). In addition the above report also found that in the past month with increasing age the alcohol intake increased from age 18 to age 20. This report also found that students living with parents, grand parents and relatives are less likely to consume alcohol in the past month in 2006 compared to students who are not living with their families or their relatives. This indicates to some extent the demographic variable of age and gender has some relationship in college student use of alcohol intake or likelihood of taking alcohol.
In addition the NSDUH Report 2006 also highlighted the binge drinking which it defines binge drinking as one who takes a high volume of alcohol which puts the drinker at increased risk of alcohol-related problems and who is also a danger to other and have secondary effects. In its report it found that binge drinking of alcohol by college students aged 18 to 20 year olds from 2002-2005 in the past month is steady through the period and with an annual average of 40.1 % involved in binge alcohol usage. In addition it found that within this group of binge drinkers males were more likely to take part in binge drinking compare to females (46.9 Vs 34.4 percent). The rates of alcohol also increased with age for these binge drinkers from age 18 to age 20. As well full-time students who live with parents, grand parents and with relatives have been found less likely to engage in binge drinking compared to who do not live with their parents, grand parents and with relatives. (34.0 Vs 48.5 percent).
This indicates that there is a relationship between binge drinking of young adults in colleges and with demographic variables such as age and gender. That is the binge drinking varies with age and gender and with the family connections and whether they live with parents and their relatives.
The same applies to heavy drinking of alcohol by college students. The trend indicates from 2002 to 2005 the heavy drinking is steady, However the males are more likely to be involved in heavy drinking compared to females on an annual average basis. In addition the report found that the likelihood of heavy alcohol use is reduced when they live with parents, grand parents and with parental relatives. That is the general alcohol use of adult 18 to 20 year old adults in college is related to gender, age and whether they live with their parents, grand parents and with parental relatives. The same applies to binge drinking and heavy drinking. There fore based on this report it is certain there is relationship with demographic variable such as age, gender and whether they live with family and family relationships and the college students alcohol drinking pattern in the category of normal alcohol drinking, binge drinking or heavy drinking.
According to an article by Anderson ,D.S (2001) it highlights that alcohol and drug use of college students have changed over the past decade. However it has concern and expressed concern of heavy alcohol use by college students and drug usage by college students after the college administration has taken so many strategies to reduce alcohol and drug use by college students. For example it highlights the substance usage within 30 days as a measure of regular usage it says that in 1980 81. 8% of college students consumed alcohol compared to 69.6% in 1999.
This is reduction of alcohol consumption by college students on the basis of the above measure. In addition it also has highlighted that on the basis of consumptions of five or more drinks at least once in two previous two weeks the rate was 43.9% in 1980 compared to 40% in 1999. As well it also indicates that the rate on the above basis of five or more drinks at least once in two previous weeks the rate was 42-44 percent over a decade and then it came down in five year period ended in 1996 to 38,3 %.
