EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is the second in a two-part series examining different drinking trends among CMU students in observance of Alcohol Awareness Month.

A human or a rat – which is more intelligent?

The answer is obvious.

But what about each mammal’s tendency toward alcohol abuse?

That’s a different story.

“Rats are very much like humans – you can’t just give them alcohol and expect them to start drinking,” said Mark Reilly, an assistant psychology professor whose research involves testing rats to learn about the initiation of drug and alcohol use in humans. “But if you add sugar to (alcohol), then not surprisingly, the rats are going to drink to intoxication.

“But when you slowly fade out the sucrose, while some animals still will start drinking (straight alcohol) again, the vast majority stop.”

A recent random, nonscientific survey of 261 students conducted by Central Michigan Life suggests, however, that humans are not as apt to drop the habit.

It revealed that 223 students, or 85 percent, admitted to binge drinking at least once a week, and all but three of the students surveyed admitted to drinking at least once a week.

Ross Rapaport, CMU’s Counseling Center director, said being free from parents, coupled with academic and social pressures, can explain why students turn to drinking.

“I’ve yet to meet someone who says they drink because they enjoy the hangover,” Rapaport said. “For a lot of students, there’s the expectation there that once you get to college, you’re supposed to drink. I think that is a huge reason.”

A dangerous practice

Sarah Campbell, University Health Services director, said recent studies show that each month, 49 percent of full-time college students (about 3.8 million) binge drink and/or abuse prescription and illegal drugs. In 2005, almost 30 percent

(1.8 million) actually met the medical criteria for substance abuse and dependence.

“That’s almost three times the proportion found in the general population,” Campbell said.

In the CM Life survey, 118 students (45 percent) said they drink 1-2 times per week, 122 students (47 percent) drink 3-4 times per week and 21 students (8 percent) drink five or more times per week. Furthermore, 69 students (26 percent) have 4-6 drinks, 94 students (36 percent) have

6-to-9 drinks and 60 students (23 percent) have 10 or more drinks per sitting. The remaining 38 students (15 percent) have three drinks or less per sitting.

Campbell said binge drinking can cause disease, injury, sexual assault and death, of which thousands of cases occur each year.

Dropping out of college is another negative consequence Reilly, Rapaport and Campbell mentioned.

“In a world of increasing competition around the globe, we cannot afford to lose thousands of our best and brightest to the ravages of alcohol and drugs that rob them and our country of their potential,” Campbell said.

Another problem is many people stricken with depression and other emotional problems, referred to as ‘reoccurring disorders,’ use alcohol as an escape, Rapaport said.

“Sometimes an individual with psychological or mental problems will self-medicate with alcohol or drugs,” he said. “It’s important for these people to address the problem and try to get help.”

Rapaport said, while the Counseling Center does not do any long-term rehab, he encourages students to talk with a counselor if they think they have an alcohol problem. The Counseling Center can be reached at 774-3381.

Can the problem be fixed?

Despite the statistics, numerous national advertising campaigns and countless high school and college awareness programs across the country, binge drinking numbers continue to be high, Reilly said.

“It’s amazing; I’ll show my classes all these horrible statistics – they always seem to be shocked at the number of fatalities, sexual assaults,” he said. “But still, it’s like there is a complete unawareness.”

Rapaport said many times, students who binge drink do not know it is OK not to do it.

“If you were to ask people if they care if they’re friends don’t drink, most would say it’s OK,” Rapaport said.

Campbell agreed, saying students need to look at their peers.

“Students need to acknowledge that not everyone drinks to excess or even drinks at all,” Campbell said. “Once they recognize that fact, they realize that it is acceptable to choose not to drink.”

kmacmillan@cm-life.com

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