Is College Drinking on the Rise?

College is often associated with a mixture of going to classes and partying, and most of the students who embrace both aspects of this culture will end up drinking at least once a week. According to a Gallup poll, 67 percent of individuals between the ages of 18 and 34 drink alcohol on a regular basis, and they also consume an average of 5.4 alcoholic beverages each week. In many instances, students will have all of these drinks within a short time period, which can cause serious long-term health issues.

Over-drinking is alarmingly common for college students. In fact, 31 percent of the younger age group that participated in the Gallup poll admitted to at least occasionally drinking too much. However, other studies have shown that most students who choose to imbibe will do so at a vastly accelerated rate from older drinkers, and this can cause endothelium dysfunction; a condition in which the inner lining of the blood vessels do no function normally. Since alcohol’s toxicity has a negative effect on the heart muscles. In addition, the risk of sudden death, heart attack, or a stroke occurring later in life is greatly increased in heavy drinkers.

There’s no sadder sight than to see a bright young life wasted away to careless behavior. College days are full of adventure and memories to be had. Savory those days but put aside the indulgence of excessive drinking.

Photo credit: Sysop1021