Health Issues as It Relates Health In High sSchool Education - Essay Example

Executive Summary The aspect of use of alcohol among High School has today become a matter of gravity and is assuming alarming proportions in terms of students' health, future college education and overall well being, in the years to come. This factor has been facilitated by the cheap and easy availability of alcohol, (despite legal restrictions on underage drinking) and fuelled by fallacious thinking that underage consumption of alcohol connotes independence. It is also nourished by the influence of peer groups and student circles, and a congenial underlying environment which encourages drinking, both at home and in school settings. The purpose of this study is to test the effects of alcohol, on High School students, by carrying out an independent Research Experiment, This experiment was preceded by research questionnaires and personal interviews conducted on individual respondents and recorded for later study. The findings of the experiments conducted proved beyond doubt that "alcohol is a powerful drug that slows down the body and mind. It impairs co-ordination; slows reaction time; and impairs vision, clear thinking and judgment....drinking while the brain is growing may lead to long lasting intellectual effects and may even increase the likelihood of delayed alcoholic dependence later in life." (Talk to your child about alcohol, 2007). This tested hypothesis that attributes alcohol as one of the main drugs for substance abuse, in today's high school population has been established, both by the current literature written by eminent scholars and practitioners, and also by independent empirical studies. Research Question: In today's world, heavy use of alcohol constitutes a major health hazard, especially among students pursuing high school education in today's world, which could impair learning skills. Introduction In today's social settings, especially in the field of High School educational pursuits, the use of alcohol, substance abuse and permissive sexual behaviour have become a common phenomenon among school students, especially in the developed world. However, it has been determined by relevant research theorists and practitioners that overuse of these liberties may leave a conspicuous impact on the psyches and physical health, thus adversely affecting the future academic lives of these students, if not their wellbeing. Keeping this in mind, the writer has felt that it would be essential to conduct a probe into a serious concern of high school education, that is, use and abuse of alcohol, since this has a major impact on the health and educational pursuits of students. The designing of this Research study has been carried out for determining the positive, or negative impacts of drinking by high school students, on their learning and academic performance. Importance of this research: Health hazards caused by use of alcohol by high school students has assumed serious dimensions and has adversely affecting academic performance in the student community; it also connotes indisciplined in class behaviour, lowering of ethical and moral standards, sexual permissiveness under the influence of excessive alcohol and a host of other social and physiological problems, besides endangering students' mental health, well being and their future college studies. Despite the fact that social and Governmental organizations have long evolved policies, practices and programs for curbing this social evil, the truth remains that much more effective policy making and implementation needs to be done in these vital areas which have grave socio-economic and medical implications. The research Hypothesis: is based on the premise that alcohol interferes with the functioning of impressionable minds of high school students, causing mental debility & lack of mental co-ordination, affecting academic performance among high school students Aims of the study In order to curb the use of alcohol and its detrimental effects on the high school student population, as a whole, it has become necessary to introduce and implement powerful deterrents and effective legislation in this direction. The aim of this study is therefore, through experiment, to create understanding about the potential effects of high school drinking and how it could be controlled and disarmed before further adverse repercussions take place including impact of their future education in colleges. Analysis of Current literature The current literature available on the subject, by eminent researchers and experts in the field of underage drinking, consider the cause of this drug abuse in different ways. Some researchers consider it according to the characteristics that mark its occurrences, others on its biomedical aspects, and still others, according to its cultural connotations. For instance, Dr.Marie Choquet says that, according to the European School Survey project on Alcohol and Drugs (ESPAD), adolescence normally consume lesser quantities of alcohol than adults do and its incidence is more pronounced in developed countries rather than underdeveloped or non-developed countries. According to her, there is a need for global parameters to be established, not only taking into account, regional and distributive pattern of the habit, but also aspects pertaining to the creation of 'cultural, social and personal factors of moderate consumption' needs to be looked into. (Commissioning the International Center for Alcohol policies. 2004). "Choquet argues that researchers examining youth alcohol consumption and strategies to reduce the harms associated with it often overlook this concept of drinking for fun" (Inquiry into Strategies to reduce harmful alcohol Consumption, 2006). Next, the works of Dr Linda Patin Spear, an international authority on alcoholism, in which she lays emphasis, on the impact of early alcohol exposures that, could set future drinking patterns. According to her, adolescents enjoy a higher mental endurance to effects of alcohol, which may encourage them to binge or episodic drinking, with its concomitant ill effects over a period of time. This form of drinking could result in memory lapses in later years, combined with severe losses of retention and recalling, which is essential for school students. For instance, the available evidence suggests that adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of alcohol on both memory and memory-related brain function, while being less vulnerable to other effects of the drug. (White, 2004). According to the cultural theory advanced by Araoz, the underage drinking habits form on the basis of the cultural pattern of the people all over the world, and it would be difficult to institutionalize changes. But what is even more important is that, best practices would have to be adopted, based on the successfully implementation of Health Care Programs by certain countries of the world into their alcoholic behaviour and control mechanism. (Commissioning the International Center for Alcohol policies, 2004). The tables below indicate the trend of drinking among the graders from a current finding. It is seen that 12th Graders, or High School students, constitute the largest proportion of drinkers, even on the pattern for yearly consumption of alcohol. (The Center on Alcohol Marketing & Youth, 2007). Had a drink in the last 30 days Had a cigarette in the last 30 days 8th-graders 17.2% 8.7% 10th-graders 33.8% 14.5% 12th-graders 43.5% 21.6% Prevalence of drinking by grade level: Had a drink, last 30 days Had a drink, last year Been drunk, last 30 days Been drunk, last year Been drunk, ever 8th-graders 17.2% 33.6% 6.2% 13.9% 19.5% 10th-graders 33.8% 55.8% 18.8% 34.5% 41.4% 12th-graders 45.3% 66.5% 30.0% 47.9% 56.4% Drinking among 15-16-year-old students, selected Western countries and United States, 2003 France Ireland Italy Sweden United Kingdom United States Minimum purchase age (any alcoholic beverage or venue)15 16 18 16 18 18 21 Had a drink, last 30 days 58% 73% 64% 51% 74% 35% Had five or more drinks on at least one occasion (binge drinking), last 30 days 28% 57% 34% 37% 54% 22% Been drunk at least once, last 30 days 15% 53% 19% 34% 46% 18% Updated September 2007 Comparative Tables of drinking patterns among school students (The Center on Alcohol Marketing & Youth, 2007). "Underage drinking is a major problem at American colleges, but little is known about the extent of alcohol use in different student groups, in different colleges, and in states with different control policies." (Wechsler et al, 2007). Moreover, recent research has found that "many of the brain areas undergoing dramatic developmental change during adolescence are sensitive to ethanol. Ethanol use during adolescence may alter the developmental processes ongoing in these brain regions and hence may have different consequences than similar amounts of ethanol exposure in adulthood." (Spear, 2007). Another factor that comes to mind is that use of alcohol lessens avenues for academic learning and thus contributes to loss of valuable study time for students. The time spend for pleasure seeking through alcohol sessions could be gainfully used for academic studies or sporting pastimes. In the words of the NIAAA Director, Ting Kai, M.D., underage drinking is a complex and serious public health challenge. In spite of an increased awareness and understanding of the problem, underage drinking rates have remained constant-and unacceptably high-for almost a decade. Clearly, more research remains. The collective capabilities of these distinguished members of the steering committee will help take our thinking to new levels as we continue to work towards science-based strategies in prevention and treatment to safeguard the health of young people." (National Institute of Health, 2004). "The AMA report on the effects of alcohol on the brains of adolescents takes note of a study comparing magnetic resonance imaging of the brains of 14- to 21-year-olds who abused alcohol with those of nondrinkers. That study found that drinkers had about 10 percent smaller hippocampi-the area of the brain that handles memory and learning. Researchers call such a reduction significant and possibly irreversible." (Harmful Consequences of Alcohol Use on the Brains of Children, Adolescents, and College Students, 2007). Considering the gravity of the problem which has been detailed in earlier pages, it is necessary to formulate an effective strategy that could have a wider scope for implementation. Description of an empirical Study In order to substantiate the fact that high school drinking poses health and mental impairment, it has been decided to take up a research experiment involving 30 High School students from the neighboring district as respondents for this experiment. Participant: Thirty High School students (of more or less similar IQs and backgrounds) from the local Public School, 15 girls and 15 boys (out of which 7 girls and equal number of boys are teetotalers) would be tested as participants for this research study. Their average age is 15- 17 years and they have no previous history of alcoholism- related problems. Prior permission and clearance from their parents and high school health care professionals to subject the respondents for research test studies have been sought and obtained. Materials: Prepared questionnaires would be distributed to all participants. The tests and personal interviews (conducted before the tests) and responses to Questionnaires would be recorded live on audio cassettes/CDs. Time and Place of the Research Study: The research experiments would begin at 8.00 A.M. at the Board Room situated on the 2nd floor of the High School premises, on Sunday, 11th November 2007, at 8.00 A.M Procedure: Each respondent would be personally interviewed and answers sought for Questionnaires. They would then be briefed about the entire test procedure before the beginning of the research experiment. This entails first, handing over test questions containing 60 questions to be answered fully in 5 hour duration. At the end of the first hour, each non-drinking respondent would be given a placebo drink, while drinker respondents would be served with alcoholic drinks. They would be asked to proceed answering the test paper. Subsequently, at each hourly interval, placebos to non drinkers and real alcohol to the regular drinkers would be served. The effect of alcohol would be assessed at hourly intervals, in terms of the questions attempted and solved and the general state of health of the respondent. Specialized research officials, psychologists and health care professionals would be closely monitoring the outcome of this research study, at each stage on hourly basis. At the end of the session, a comparative analysis of the performance of the drinkers, vis--vis, the non drinkers would be made in terms of the proportion of answers solved by each category - drinkers and non drinkers, with hourly rests. RESULTS: Duration of research experiment Answers attempted by Drinkers (cumulative) Answers attempted by Non-drinkers (cumulative) After the 1st Hour 10 13 After the 2nd Hour 23 25 After the 3rd Hour 30 42 After the 4th Hour 35 53 After the 5th Hour 32 58 There were certain other aspects to this study when 3 girls (drinkers) and 1 girl (non drinker) passed out at the end of the 3rd round. Besides another 2 students (1 boy and 1 girl) fell ill at the end of the 4th round and had to leave the research room. Their answers have been invalidated from the scope of this research study. This experiment has conclusively proved that alcohol dullens young minds and impedes and interferes with their faculty for clear headed thinking, problem solving and use of mental faculties. There has been progressive deterioration of the solving abilities in that the progressive incremental figures, at the end of each hour for drinkers has been 13,7,5, 3 during the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th stages of the experiment which is far below the expected standard figures. Another factor that has resulted from this study is that while the drinkers could muster only 32 answers, the teetotalers had, amongst them answered 58 numbers. Research findings: Thus, the research hypothesis based on the premise: Abuse of alcohol constitutes a major health hazard among students pursuing high school education, has been proved correct. Moreover, recent disturbing research has found that "many of the brain areas undergoing dramatic developmental change during adolescence are sensitive to ethanol. Ethanol use during adolescence may alter the developmental processes ongoing in these brain regions and hence may have different consequences than similar amounts of ethanol exposure in adulthood." (Spear, 2007). It is relevant to mention in this context the words pronounced by Ms. Susan Resneck Pierce, President, University of Puget Sound, and she says" Excessive student drinking contributes to failed academic performance ranging from missed classes to attrition." (Changing the culture of drinking at US Colleges, 2002). Ethical Considerations of the experiment: Since the respondents are underage (average 15 years) it has been deemed necessary to seek parental consent before test experiments. It is also necessary to protect the findings of the interviews and responses to the questionnaires answered by the respondents. Since some of the queries of the questionnaire are of personal nature, it is necessary to ensure confidentiality in its usage, since its contents could be used to malign their images, at a later stage of their school lives. Further, considering the fact that the respondents are underage, due consideration is also being attached to the correct evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of the alcoholic problems, in order that these students could pursue their University Degree programmes and would grow up to become useful citizens who would discharge their responsibilities with sincerity and diligence. Behavioral analysis and Interpretations It has been rightly adjudged that the consumption of alcohol by high school students could be due to a host of reasons, including demands for better grades from parents and teachers, personal stress and a number of psychological, physiological and environment- generated factors. This malaise could not be attributed to any one dependent variable, since a variety of factors, extraneous and internal contribute to the habit. Besides, the age of adolescence is an age transition into adulthood. Therefore, the need for proclaiming newborn adult freedom and social independence asserts itself in many ways and alcohol could just be one manifestation of these difficult transitional difficulties. Further, the need for acceptance by peer groups and circles that inebriate may be another cause for alcohol use by students besides the need to reduce academic stress and pressures from parents, for attaining or enhancing academic achievements. "Rather than blame students for their behavior, or try to persuade them to stop drinking, participants in A Matter of Degree are identifying the environmental factors such as alcohol advertising and marketing, institutional policies and practices, local ordinances-even social and cultural beliefs and behaviors-that converge to encourage alcohol abuse, and work together to create positive changes." (A Matter of Degree, 2007). However, it also needs to be understood that, given the nature and magnitude of this issue, it is necessary to take due perspective of all aspects of the issue before initiating action plans for the future. The best practices for handling this sensitive issue needs to be explored, including use of student therapy sessions and relevant educational workshops. Recommendations and Conclusion: It is believed that this feature of high school life cannot be solved by strong or punitive measures. Some of the best ways for curbing this problem would be to increase the minimum age for drinking and, also increase the legal age for serving and consuming alcohol from the present 18 to 21 years. (What about the drinking age, 2007). By increasing the legal age, it would be possible to differentiate the underage from the legally allowable part of the drinking population in the country. Further, the school administration should enforce individual programmes that could create a social environment that could actively discourage, if not reduce the use of drug by school children. A holistic approach, involving the student community, teachers, social workers, school administration and, most importantly, the parents needs to be taken in order to address a permanent solution to the problem. It is believed that creating awareness and self belief is more important that strict enforcement, since these measures could have contrary results, which may not in total alignment to the fundamental purposes for its enunciation. APPENDIX 1 QUESTIONAIRE (for individual respondents) 1. What was the number of drinks consumed during a drinking session in the past 30 days 2. What was the number of drinking sessions in the last 30 days 3. What was the number of sessions when you drank enough liquor to become inebriated in the last 30 days 4. What was the quantity of drinks consumed during these sessions 5. Since the beginning of the academic year, how often has your inebriation caused you to slacken in studies 6. Since the beginning of the academic year, how often has your inebriation caused you to damage private or public properties 8. Since the beginning of the academic year, how often has your inebriation caused you to injure or hurt yourself 9. Since the beginning of the academic year, how often has your inebriation caused you to injure or hurt others 10. Since the beginning of the academic year, how often has your inebriation caused you to drive outside safe limits under the influence of alcohol 11. Since the beginning of the academic year, how often has your inebriation caused you to miss a class or absent yourself from school 12. Since the beginning of the academic year, how often has your inebriation caused you to do something which you regretted later on 14. Since the beginning of college year, how often has your inebriation caused you to forget where you were or what you were doing under the influence of alcohol 15. Since the beginning of the academic year, how often has your inebriation caused you to have serious health problems which necessitated psychiatric intervention, or hospital stay Note: For the purpose of securing privacy, individual replies to this questionnaire would not be used except for the intended purpose of research studies. The identities of the respondents would be kept private and confidential. APPENDIX 2 Personal Data (to be collected from Respondents) 1. Your Name: Middle/ name: Surname: 2. Local Address: 3. Hostel Address (if any) 4. Contact Phone Number: 5. Name of parents/guardians with addresses and contact phone numbers: 6. Age as on 01st October, 2007: Years: Months: Days: 7. Are you underage for drinking as per law 8. Are you aware of the fact that underage drinking is a cognizable offence 9. Do you drive a vehicle Cycle / Two wheeler / Automobile any other kind of vehicle 10. Have you ever been arrested for driving under the influence of over limit alcohol : 11. What were the results of your arrest and subsequent release 12. Have you ever been hospitalized for conditions caused by alcoholic dependence Give details 13. What were the end results of your treatment and recovery 14. What in your opinion is a safe limit for student drinking 15. Do you maintain limits to your drinking habits How much 16. What would be your advice to younger students resorting to drinking 17. Any other matter of personal significance: Note: For the purpose of securing privacy, individual replies to this questionnaire would not be used, except for the intended purpose of research studies. The identities of the respondents would be kept private and confidential. Reference Talk to your child about alcohol. (2007). College Drinking. Make a difference. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/OtherAlcoholInformation/makeDifference.aspx#Talkingwith Wechsler, Henry et al (2007). Journal of American College Health. Underage College Students' Drinking Behavior. Access to Alcohol and the Influence of Deterrence Policies. Vol.50. No.5. Retrieved November 10 2007, from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/cas/Documents/march02/underage.pdf Spear, Linda Patia (2007). The Adolescent Brain and the College Drinker. Biological Basis of Propensity to Use and Misuse alcohol. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/SupportingResearch/Journal/spear.aspx National Institute of Health. (2004). NIAAA. NIH News. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/UnderAge.htm Harmful Consequences of Alcohol Use on the Brains of Children, Adolescents, and College Students. (2007). American Medical Association. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www.amaassn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/388/harmful_consequences.pdf A Matter of Degree. (2007). Wasted Youth: The facts: The National effort to reduce High-Risk Drinking among College Students. AMA. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3558.html Commissioning the International Center for Alcohol policies. (2004). what drives underage drinking An International analysis. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www.icap.org/portals/0/download/all_pdfs/Other_Publications/Underage_Report.pdf. Inquiry into Strategies to reduce harmful alcohol Consumption. (2006). Final Report. Parliament of Victoria: Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee. P.832. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/dcpc/Reports/DCPC/ Report_Alcohol_Vol2a_2006-03.pdf White, M Aaron. (2004). Substance use and the adolescent brain: an overview with a focus on alcohol. Just the Facts. P 10. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://alcoholprev.colostate.edu/brain.pdf Interagency Steering Committee. (2003). Adverse Effects of Alcohol on the Brain. Research Finding. Retrieved November10, 2007, from http://www.icoe.k12.ca.us/ISC/Underage+Drinking.htm The Center on Alcohol Marketing & Youth. (2007). Prevalence of Underage drinking. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://camy.org/factsheets/index.phpFactsheetID=5 What about the drinking age (2007). Alcohol problems and solutions. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/YouthIssues/1046348726.html Read More