alcohol and your students information for parents, teachers, advisors, friends, and others concerned...
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Alcohol and Your Students
Information for Parents, Teachers, Advisors, Friends, and Others Concerned About a
Student’sUse of Alcohol
Counseling & Psychological Services UC
How much do today’s students drink?
ACHA NCHA-II Fall 2009, >34,000 respondents
Any use past 30 days 59%
If used, median number of drinks 5, male; 3, female driving after any drinks 25% driving after 5 or more 3% median BAC .05 (cognitive effects start at
about.03) alertnesss, concentration, judgment,
inhibition
Some are heavier users
NCHA-II:In past 30 days… used 1-9 days 47% used 10-29 days 11% used all 30 days 0.9%
Last time “partied”: drank 4 or fewer drinks 38% drank 5 or 6 12% drank 7 or more 15%
NCHA-II:
In past two weeks, drank 5 or more drinks in one sitting…
1-2 times 21% 3-5 times 7% 6 or more times 2%
It becomes abuse…
Slutske, 20053184 students ages 19-21
Clinically significant problems 18%Alcohol abuse 11.9%Alcohol dependence 6.1%
esp. problems at home, school, work and drinking then physically dangerous
activities
Harmful effects of drinking
During past 12 months did something later regretted 31% forgot where you were or what you did 27% had unprotected sex 15% physically injured self 15% got in trouble with police 4% physically injured someone else 3% had sex without giving consent 2% seriously considered suicide 2% had sex without getting consent 0.5% One or more of the above 47%
ACHA-NCHA-II
Academic Effects
25% of college students report academic consequences of drinking, including missing classes, falling behind, doing poorly on exams and papers, receiving lower grades
(several studies, reported in NIAAA Snapshot/College Drinking)
“A” average 3.3 drinks per week “D” or “F” average 9.0 drinks per week
Community Effects
On campuses with >50% of students binge drinkers, 68.9% of non-binge drinkers said studying or sleep
had been affected since the beginning of the school year
>696,000 students 18-24 assaulted annually by drinker
11% students have vandalized property while drinking 2.1 million students drive under the influence
(NIAAA)
What is “normal” drinking?
Moderate user…alcohol use does not exceed: Men 2 drinking days per week 14 drinks per week 5 drinks per occasion
Women 1 drinking day per week 7 drinks per week 4 drinks per occasion
What about more than moderate use?
“At-risk” user exceeds the amount but no indication of negative effects
Problem user/abuser exceeds the amount and has negative effects
Dependent user shows abuse and 3C’s: compulsion to use, loss of control, continued use despite consequences
Abuse and dependence
In past 12 months
Abuse (1 or more): drinking has repeatedly contributed to risk of bodily harm, relationship trouble, role failure, run-ins with the law 31% of students
Dependence (3 or more) : not been able to cut down or stop, kept drinking despite problems, spent a lot of time on drinking, spent less time on other pleasurable or important matters, shown signs of tolerance or withdrawal (tremors, sweating, nausea, insomnia when trying to cut down) 6% (NIAAA)
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
NCHA-II:
Students having one or more drinks last time they partied (estimated using number of drinks, how much time, sex, and weight)
> .08 34.3%
> .10 27.1 %
BAC Correlates
Principle effects are on memory, coordination, judgment
Effects can last for substantial time after drinking
REM sleep, hangovers
And it’s not just alcohol…
MarijuanaCocaineAmphetaminesInhalantsSedativesClub DrugsHallucinogensOpiates (pain meds)
What can you do to help?
Ask about usage
Educate
Set expectations
Enforce with consequences—within your role
Refer/require treatment if indicated—within your role
Send home—within your role
If you are concerned…
Ask
ask your student about substance use, explaining purpose is to assist; discuss/plan/troubleshoot
and /or help your student to access simple tools for screening
(AUDIT-C, BAC calculator, Personalized Feedback)
Educate
Discuss personal reasons and goals for college
If substance abuse has been an issue in your family, talk about it
Provide resources about harm reduction and cutting back
Counseling center website www.uc.edu/counseling Life-enhancing workshops “Alcohol and Your
Goals” Self-help information
CAPS services Personalized Feedback Urgent Care Counseling/Treatment
Set clear expectations about behavior in writing
Code of Conduct? Attendance? Academic performance? Safe behavior? Social functioning/rights of others?
Be pro-active…
Notice, communicate, enforce
Pay attention to any signs of low functioning, including missing or being late for classes or other activities, poor grades, isolating, over-partying, decline in personal hygiene, tiredness, odd behavior, self-destructive behavior (cutting, risk-taking), impulsivity, moodiness, irritability, aggression, large weight changes, eating and sleep changes
Bring it up
I am concerned about you/I care about you
I have noticed….
Is there something I might help you with?
Reiterate behavioral expectations, be clear about time frame for improvement, expected behavior (positively worded if you can—what the student should do)
Friendly but not a friend!
Empathy but not enabling
Refer or require* evaluation or treatment
Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety co-occurring disorders are high risk Suicidal thoughts or behavior Black out
Medical emergencies: Withdrawal—may need supervision Alcohol poisoning (unconscious or confused; cold, clammy, pale, bluish
skin; slow or irregular breathing; vomit while passed out; seizure)
*Parents can require; faculty and staff cannot except as part of a University Judicial Affairs process
Taking time off from college to get treatment
If problems are severe or persist Endangering self or others Disrupting learning environment
From a mental health perspective
Treatment follows stages
Pre-contemplationContemplationPreparationAction MaintenanceRecurrent Use
Consultations Welcome
“Faculty, staff, family friends” on our website
Call us for guidance in addressing your concerns with your son or daughter
References
American College Health Association, National College Health Assessment-II, fall 2009 data
www.acha-ncha.org
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), A Snapshot of Annual High-Risk College Drinking Consequences -2007
www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov
Slutske, W. (2005) Alcohol Use Disorders Among US College Students and Their Non-College-Attending Peers. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 321-27.
Counseling Center
Confidential counseling for UC students – individual and group
Free walk-in urgent care services during business hours
Consultation for faculty, staff, family, and friends concerned about a student
Workshops and presentations –
225 Calhoun St Suite 200 (513) 556-0648
www.uc.edu/counseling