I.A.
Alcohol Issues
BACKGROUND:
Recent data from national research studies and an increasing
number of alcohol-related incidents on campuses (here and elsewhere)
that threaten students’ health and safety, suggest that alcohol
consumption and abuse by college students has reached epidemic
proportions. For many years alcohol-related injury and illness
have been a common phenomenon for University students. The observed
frequency and seriousness of the problems seem to be increasing
over the past two decades.
Based on public medical, and statistical records, 17 University
of Virginia students have died from alcohol-related injury or
illness since the 1990-91 academic year, reflecting an average
annual mortality of just over 2 deaths per year. The causes
of death are primarily accidents (e.g. motor vehicle, drowning,
fire, and falls) and suicide (clinical depression is commonly
exacerbated by acute alcohol ingestion).
On average, between 10 and 20 students per week are seen in
the Department of Student Health and/or the University Hospital
Emergency Department with alcohol-related injury or illness.
On a typical weekend, the Emergency Department alone will see
between 5 and 10 students with a variety of alcohol-related
injuries or illnesses. The demographic profile of students visiting
the Emergency Department and Student Health indicate that 70%
of students with alcohol-related injury or illness are under
the age of 21, 60% are male, 60% are Virginia residents, and
the vast majority are Caucasian.
In addition, over the course of an academic term, clinicians
in the Department of Student Health will diagnose approximately
100 new substance abuse cases. Furthermore, students with underlying
psychological conditions commonly have these conditions exacerbated
by alcohol. Finally, consistent with national data and reflected
in the UVa experience, 65% of women presenting with a new sexually
transmitted disease have a recent history of acute intoxication,
and over 50% of victims and/or perpetrators of sexual assault
were intoxicated at the time of the crime.
Statistics compiled by the Institute of Substance Abuse Studies
over the last several years reveal that 45% to 50% of undergraduate
students have participated in binge drinking in the preceding
2 weeks, while 72% to 80% of students had reported drinking
alcohol in the preceding month. Binge drinking is defined for
men by ingesting five or more drinks at one occasion and for
women, four or more drinks at one occasion.
Nationwide, studies of binge drinking have documented increased
risk of accidental injury, illness, poor academic performance,
high risk behaviors, and violence. At the University of Virginia
recent studies have found that binge drinking is equally common
among all undergraduate classes. Binge drinking is predominantly
a behavior of Caucasian students with 57% of binge drinkers
at the University being white, 32% Asian-American, and 22% African-American.
Binge drinking is 40-50% higher among members of the Greek system
than among nonmembers. A significant percentage of both male
and female students admit to engaging in sexual activity when
they ordinarily would not, or feel as if they have been taken
advantage of sexually as a result of binge drinking. In addition,
athletes have a slightly greater tendency to binge drinking
than the general student population. Finally, University binge
drinkers report significantly higher class absenteeism and poor
school performance.
DISCUSSION:
Alcohol abuse is the number one public health hazard for students
at the University of Virginia. To address this problem, a Task
Force has been appointed by President Casteen to study the complex
issues involved and to develop a specific plan for dealing with
alcohol abuse at the University of Virginia.
ACTION
REQUIRED: None.
