A matter of concern in America is the abuse of alcohol by college students. It culminates in more than 4600 annual fatalities, impacts students’ academic achievement, induces reckless sexual activity, and lowers the productivity of students as they hit the stage of alcohol dependence. To ensure that colleges and universities create good and upright citizens, the severity of the problem needs full consideration. Teena M. McGuiness and Terri A. Kelly’s post, “Treatment of Alcohol-Dependent College Students” discusses alcohol-related concerns of special interest to college students. It provides valuable details and figures to explain the status of alcohol use by college students. The goal of this paper is to examine the essence of university substance dependence and dependency, as well as the approaches available to manage the problem.
In an attempt to appreciate student life, college goers perceive alcohol intake as a rite of passage. In the article “Treatment of Alcohol-Dependent College Students”, the authors note that 63% of full-time college students were drinkers, 42% were binge drinkers while heavy drinkers accounted for 15%. A good number of students engage in heavy drinking without considering the effect of the alcohol on their brain. There are serious consequences of alcohol abuse such as deaths caused by drunk driving, irresponsible sexual behavior, poor academic performance, and physical abuse (McGuiness & Kelly, 2012).
A high-risk alcohol intake activity is displayed by about a third of college students. The authors believe that these habits relate to the inappropriate intake of alcohol, which not only impacts students’ results, but also drives them to rely on alcohol. College students are prone to begin drinking to the extent of alcohol dependence, associated with external signs and vulnerability to tension, past sexual or physical violence (McGuiness & Kelly, 2012). Treatment or rehabilitation is complicated by sensitivity to stressors such as reminders of trauma which may lead treated people to start drinking again. If they experience extreme stressors, people drink more alcohol. McGuiness & Kelly (2012) also states that the absence of social care also helps raise the intake rate of alcohol. By substance use, people expect to get a day out from the challenges they experience in life.
The report documents recovery services for college students that are more feasible. One technique that aims to recognise the causes of drinking activity, triggers of motivations for abstaining from alcohol use and the focus on the risks of alcohol use is incentive enhancing counselling. Recurrence avoidance requires the detection of stressors such as financial stressors, interpersonal difficulties and environmental indicators (McGuiness & Kelly, 2012). The application of coping mechanisms and steps to curb the impact of the surrounding world is focused on this identification. In classrooms, psychiatric nurses perform vital tasks, such as recognising stressors by contact with students, facilitating active and relevant conversations, helping students heal through suggesting convenient locations, and helping students recognise stressors that contribute to stressors and
How to Cope with them Effectively
As a product of excessive alcohol and addiction, young and energetic young people suffer or do badly in universities. In addition, they establish risky habits that may contribute to legal difficulties. The material from the report provides information to explain the rationale for engaging in the campaign of students for alcohol abstinence and thereby encourage wellbeing. The mortality statistics and the rates of students engaged in irresponsible and heavy intake of alcohol are troubling. This helps to gain focus by highlighting the significance of the problem. By reflecting on the specific risks, the report exposes the dangers of underage drinking. In order to prevent alcohol abuse at an early age, young college students ought to realise the risks of underage drinking. Data is important in influencing young people’s lives so that they can remain safe and lead healthier lives.
The article reflects on substance consumption statistics by college students. This is an advantage as these figures are needed to stress the magnitude of the issue. Not only do the figures stress the magnitude of the issue but also depict the real scenario in colleges and universities so as to initiate federal and state intervention through the education departments. The information provokes the government and states to scrutinize alcohol consumption in colleges. The article also communicates to students to show them the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, it provides interventions that inform the victims of alcohol abuse on the road to recovery. The article also highlights the failed role of education authorities in tackling the problem. It is important to put the education bodies on the spot so as to call them to action. Through this, the article fulfills the role of communicating the issue to a significant player.
The main disadvantage of the article rests on the treatments. It does not break down the treatment options adequately by highlighting how they work. The roles of the affected students on the road to recovery are not adequately covered. Instead, much of the attention is put on the psychiatric nurse. The role of the governments is not also adequately covered. This undermines the fact that proper recovery is a collaborative effort between the parties. The article also contains another weakness from the failure to dwell on the relationship between alcohol consumption and academic performance. Since this article focuses on college students, academic performance is a key concern. More information on the same would help students to fully understand the effect of alcohol abuse or dependency on their academic performance.
I would recommend this article to colleagues. It can be useful to them, friends or their children in the future. The fact that the stressors of excessive alcohol consumption are unpredictable makes it necessary to have information to deal with them. Additionally, the article can be useful to colleagues who secretly suffer from alcohol abuse.
The dangers of excessive abuse are real among students in college and they manifest themselves in the form of drunk driving, poor academic performance, sexual irresponsibility, and aggressive behavior. Excessive alcohol abuse or dependency may be brought by environmental cues in colleges such as peer pressure, past physical or sexual abuse, or lack of self-control. Motivation enhancement therapy and identification of stressors serve as the main treatment intervention and relapses prevention, respectively. The role of psychiatric nurses cannot be downplayed as they help in the recognition of stressors, support, and implementation of the treatment interventions. There is a need for students to observe commitment while undergoing alcohol treatment. Implementation of policies in colleges that prevent drug abuse is absolutely necessary for tackling alcohol abuse and dependency among college students.
References
Kelly, T. A., & McGuinness, T. M. (2012). Treatment of alcohol-dependent college students. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 50(10), 15-18. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20120906-98
