Talk to Your College Kids About Binge Drinking

Alcohol is the drug of choice on college campuses. Many students are abusing alcohol and combining it with marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, and prescription drugs. Some students have died of alcohol poisoning. Even so, many college students continue to participate in drinking contests and binge drinking.

I'm a GRG -- grandparent raising grandchildren -- and my grandchildren are looking at prospective colleges now. There are many excellent colleges in Minnesota and near-by states, such as Wisconsin and North Dakota. But I was shocked when I read an article on the StateMaster Website, "Alcohol Consumption: Binge Drinkers by State." What states were at the top of the list? You guessed it, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota.

I showed the article to my twin grandchildren. "There's drinking on all campuses," they said. Fortunately, my grandkids are "good" kids and they don't smoke or drink or do drugs.

According to a Kids Health Website article, "Binge Drinking," they are heavy drinkers because they're curious, think it will make them feel good, and believe it reduces stress. "College students are more likely than other people the same age to be binge drinkers,'" the article notes. It goes on to say that bingers tend to be males, white, and attend schools in the Northeast.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says sorority and fraternity members drink more often and drink more than their peers. Years ago, binge drinking used to mean heavy drinking for several days. That has changed. Today, it is defined as five or more drinks in a row for men and four or more drinks in a row for women.

Is your child a high school senior? Is your child in college now? If you haven't done it before, I think you need to have a serious, heads-up talk about binging and drinking contests. I say this because my deceased daughter was a recovering alcoholic. Thanks to her self-examination, years of effort, and regular AA meetings, she turned her life around.

Alcohol abuse can ruin a life. Though your college student may not look like it, he or she values your opinion. Gather some facts on college drinking, write down your talking points, and practice them. Stay on topic and be as brief as possible. Here are some facts to share with your college student.

* Each year, 1,400 college students between the ages of 18-24 die from unintentional, alcohol-related injuries, according to the College Drinking Website.

* More than 97,000 students ages 18-24 are victims of alcohol assault or date rape each year, according to the College Drinking Website.

* Alcohol abuse damages the brain and makes it more difficult for the user to complete a given task, according to the Science Daily Website.

Your child may not use alcohol and that's good. Still, he or she should know the symptoms of alcohol poisoning: slurred speech, extreme confusion, vomiting, seizures, little or no response to pain, losing consciousness, clammy, bluish skin, slowed breathing, and irregular breathing (less than 8 breaths per minute). Your child should also know how to help a friend in trouble.

If a friend has several signs of alcohol poisoning your child can help by calling the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. This number will connect with the local branch of the center. If a friend is not breathing, it's time to call 911. Your child should stay with his or her friend and not induce vomiting, which could cause the poisoned person to choke.

Don't let your child be fooled by the "fun" stories of alcohol abuse. Binge drinking is not something to try even once. Ask your child to avoid drinking contests and parties. Tell your child, again and again, that sober is smarter and could save your life.

Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson