Alcoholism/Binge Drinking
What is the difference between binge drinking and alcoholism?
Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% (0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter) or higher, usually within 2 hours. Alcoholism is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.
What three college communities are at the greatest risk for excessive drinking?
first-years, athletes, and people in greek life
Around what holidays is drinking worse?
21st birthdays, spring break, halloween weekend, weekends, and Marathon Monday (in Boston)
What prevention strategies can be implemented at the individual level?
1. Skills training with norms clarifications, motivational enhancement
2. Challenging alcohol expectations
Johnny is a first-year college student. His friends go out often and he is scared of being left out, but he has never had alcohol before. His dad was an alcoholic and he is scared to follow in his foot steps. Explain the risk factors that Johnny is facing.
1. Peer Pressure
2. First Taste of Freedom
3. Hereditary vulnerability
What is the difference between mild, moderate, and severe alcholism in the DSM-5?
Mild is having 2-3 symptoms.
Moderat is having 4-5 symptoms.
Severe is having 6+ symptoms.
What are three risk factors for excessive drinking?
- Peer pressure
- first taste of freedom
- hereditary vulnerability
- easy access to a liquor store
How do the drinking habits of people in greek life and people not in greek life differ?
People in Greek life drink more than people who are not in Greek life.
What prevention strategies can be implemented at the community level?
1. Enforcing drinking laws, limiting retail density, raising prices/taxes
2. Responsible beverage service policies, campus coalitions
Jennifer is a junior in college. She has been casually drinking throughout her time in college, but recently she has been consuming more alcohol than usual because it takes her longer to feel drunk and she craves alcohol multiple times per week. She does NOT experience failures in school, social problems, or usage in physically hazardous manner. What degree of alcohol use disorder may she have?
Mild
What are the stages of alcoholism?
1. Binge/Intoxication Stage:
2. Withdrawal/Negative Affect Stage
3. Preoccupation/Anticipation Stage
What is the association between drinking and mental health?
Poorer mental health is correlated with more drinking.
How do the drinking habits of fraterity brothers and soroity sisters differ?
Fraternity brothers drink more than sorority sisters.
What prevention strategies can be implemented at the societal level?
1. Social norms marketing, enforcement of campus policies
2. Safe-ride programs, alcohol-free alternatives
You, a student at BU, are at going to a party when you see someone passed out in the front lawn from alcohol poisoning. You are scared of getting in trouble because you have also been drining, but you don't want to walk awat. What should you do?
1. Call BUPD for help. The Good Samaritan Policy prevents both you and the victim from getting in trouble.
2. (Bonus) Start basic protocol: turn the victim on their side, make sure they are breathing, and stay with them until help arrives.
Name 6 symptoms of alcoholism
Alcohol taken in larger amounts
Persistent desire of control alcohol
Great deal of time spent in alcohol-related activities
Cravings
Failure in work, school, or home obligations
Social or interpersonal problems
Giving up social, occupational, or recreational activities
Alcohol use in situations in which it is physically hazardous
Continued use despite physical or psychological problem
Tolerance
Withdrawals
Is the trend in college drinking increasing or decreasing? What are some potential reasons for this?
Decreasing because of health consciousness, increased awareness of negative affects of alcohol, and rising popularity of cannabis.
What is the long-term effect of drinking in greek life?
Greater risk of alcohol abuse well into the mid-30s for fraternity brothers and sorority sisters.
What are the three most common treatments for alcohol abuse?
Behavioral treatment, medication, support groups
Martha is a 64 year old woman who has been drinking since she was 14 years old. She drinks up to a whole bottle of wine per week, and even more around the holidays. Explain the negative physical, mental, and social effect that drinking this much for this long can have.
Mental: mood swings, impaired cognition and executive function, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and elevated suicide risk
Social: damaged trust, loss of friendships/relationships, isolation, work- or occupation-related disruptions, and finanical strain
Explain the effect of alcohol on the brain, heart, and liver.
Brain: Interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, changing mood, behavior, and coordination.
Heart: Weakens the heart muscle, leading to cardiomyopathy, and lead to high blood pressure, causing arrhythmia
Liver: Cause severe inflammation, and possibly failure
What percetage of full-time college students report drinking, binge drinking at least once a month, and heavy drinking at least once a month?
Drinking: 49.6%
Binge drinking at least once per month: 29.3%
Heavy drinking at least once per month: 6.8%
Why do people in greek life drink more?
- Cultural and social pressures: drinking is a bonding ritual, excessive drinking is normalized, legacy/traditions, and social currency of stories of intoxicated people
- structural and environmental factors: easy access to alcohol, party hosting culture, reduced adult oversight, and hazing/initiation practices
- Poor university/organization response: Sober brother/sister and alcohol trainings do not work in practice
What are 4 of the resources that BU offers to encourage safe(r) drinking practices?
- mental health support
- screening
- recovery support
- Good Samaritan Policy
- Overdose/Prevention Resources
- Required Alcohol Education training
You are the new mayor of Boston and really want to make drinking safer. What interventions can you implement?
1. Enforcing drinking laws, limiting retail density, raising prices/taxes
2. Responsible beverage service policies, campus coalitions
3. Safe-ride programs, alcohol-free alternatives