Drinking in US Colleges - Assignment Example

Incidence: About one fourth (23%) frequently drank in this manner (3 or more times in the past 2 weeks), up from 20% in 1993. Similarly, the National Monitoring the Future study reported 40% of 1440 full-time 2- and 4-year college students surveyed in 1999, consumed five or more drinks, on a single occasion, at least once in the previous 2 weeks, a larger percentile than founding peer groups, a greater proportion than found among same-age noncollege peers (35%) and high school seniors (31%). (Hingson, et al. 2005).(c) Significance: It is seen that taking 1998-2001 years, in the aftermath of the studies, the US Population aged 18-24 increased by 7%, whereas, the death occurring due to accidents, under the influence of alcohol, increased by 11%.

Again, the US student population in the age group 18–24 increased 3%, but the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths among 18–24-year-old students increased 8%. Thus, it is believed that a 5% increase in the rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths from 14.4 to 15.2 per 100,000 college students [RR = 1.05 (95% CI 0.98, 1.14)] reached but could quite achieve statistical significance. (Hingson, et al). III. Behavioral Dimensions a. Etiology: It is seen that a host of factors, social, socio-economic and psychological, including perhaps, genetic factors, contribute to risk elements attributed to college drinking.

It needs to consider the indirect effects of drinking, like drug consumption, violent behavior towards oneself and others, unguarded sexual union, teenage pregnancies and other impacts of underage drinking. b. Expression: Psychological aspects like decreased attention span, tremor, learning and retention difficulties, self conflicts and social maladjustments could be manifestations of alcoholism. This has been reinforced by research findings that underage brain development could be seriously impaired as a direct consequence of imbibing large doses of alcohol. IV. Psychosocial Dimensions a.

Etiology: Drinking begins at home, or in innocuous peer circles, it reinforces over time due to peer influences, personal characteristics- as an escape route from loneliness, depression, failures or to overcome stressful situations. Over time, it develops full-blown, and gains dependence among college students, disrupting personal lives and studies.b. Expression: Fatal accidents, suicides and homicides, and violent attacks with or without the use of weapons, including sexual assaults, rape and sexual depravities under the influence of alcohol. V. Environmental Dimensions a.

Etiology: The identified environmental strategies fall into three categories: (1) reducing alcohol use and related problems among underage college students, (2) reducing risky alcohol use and related problems among all college students, and (3) de-emphasizing the role of alcohol and creating positive expectations on campus. (Toomey, Lenk & Wagenaar, 2007). b. Expression: Inebriated behavior and conduct that expresses disregard for environmental and social norms.VI. Prevention: Examples of Intervention Programs That Have Been Implemented in the Past.

Counseling in de-addiction centers, psychiatric interventions and medications, group health care professionals interacting with students individually and collectively and finally hospital admission for treatment of alcoholism. Specially designed strategies involving a combination of the above therapeutic interventions would be possible, depending upon the intensity and duration of the condition. What has been successful? a. Primary: Counseling could be used for incipient alcoholism without major side effectsb.

Secondary (Author, year): Advanced psychiatric therapy and medication could be implemented for serious conditions c. Tertiary (Author, year): Hospital admission with intensive de-addiction therapies. VII. Public Health Policy Implications. What are the implications of the research you have done in regards to the policies that might be implemented? (Author, year) The policies that could be possibly implemented would be the banning of alcohol on campus, the need for seeking permits before serving drinks to underage, keeping alcohol bars at safe and far off distances, away from educational institutions, fixing the timings and number of drinks that could be served and its contents and raising the minimum age for permissible drinking, possibly at 21 years.

Alcohol served publicly to underage students etc would invite authoritative action to both the server and the server. It is believed that “the combination of vigorous leadership, institutional resolve, and campus-community partnerships can make a difference.” (A Final Word, 2005).