Page 38 - November December Issue
P. 38
Elite Investigative Journal
Alcohol, Nightclubs and College Students: A Lethal Cocktail, pg 38-39
©2014-2015 Press Enter Resolve, LLC
Alcohol, Nightclubs and College Students: A Lethal Cocktail
By William L. Smith, Ph.D
Photo Courtesy of forevertwentysomethings.com
Drugs and alcohol are the most common substances are readily available. This is also true for alcohol-related
abused by teenagers. Alcoholism, also know as crimes and anti-social behaviors on college campuses
alcohol dependence, has symptoms such as craving, across the nation. However, statistics on crimes against
loss of control, loss of memory, physical dependence, college students, especially women, off campus are
and increasing tolerance. Approximately, 10 million not so available. In many large urban cities bars and
current drinkers are under the age of 21, about 4 nightclubs are increasing at a very rapid pace; and their
million are binge drinkers; including 2 million who economic survival depends successfully reaching out to
are heavy drinkers all of them are between the ages the younger patrons, including college students. These
of 16-21 years old. establishments act as a magnet for many college students
who ind them more attracted than the traditional college
One in three college students now drink solely to hang-out. The problem is that many of these nightspots
get drunk. About 30% of women in college reported are hunting grounds for hard-core criminals, pimps and
poor grades with the increased use of alcohol and predators seeking susceptible and available victims,
drugs, and 60% of college women diagnosed with especially those under the inluence of alcohol.
a sexually transmitted disease contacted while they
were drunk. A recent study showed that intoxicated people are more
vulnerable to violent crime because they exhibit more
The absence of ongoing oversight by parents and risk-taking behaviors. For example, they are more likely
caretakers offers college students the freedom to to go out alone at night, visit places where violence is
makes choices, develop personality, and to engage most likely to occur, and intoxicated individuals have
in social experiment. These are all natural and impaired cognitive problem-solving abilities. In other
necessary path to adulthood. However, the road words, these individuals will go places and things that
to adulthood also creates an environment that is they sober peers would not do; or they would not do
susceptible to crime and victimization. Which may when sober.
include opportunity for drug and alcohol abuse,
sexual assault, and hate crimes all common on While doing the research for this article, the local
today’s college campuses and the surrounding television news station announced that the police had
communities. recover the body of the college student who was reported
missing, three days ago after a night of drinking at a
Statistics that support the wide-spread use and abuse popular New York City nightclub. In the past few years
of alcohol by teenagers and college students New York City seems to have more
38
Alcohol, Nightclubs and College Students: A Lethal Cocktail, pg 38-39
©2014-2015 Press Enter Resolve, LLC
Alcohol, Nightclubs and College Students: A Lethal Cocktail
By William L. Smith, Ph.D
Photo Courtesy of forevertwentysomethings.com
Drugs and alcohol are the most common substances are readily available. This is also true for alcohol-related
abused by teenagers. Alcoholism, also know as crimes and anti-social behaviors on college campuses
alcohol dependence, has symptoms such as craving, across the nation. However, statistics on crimes against
loss of control, loss of memory, physical dependence, college students, especially women, off campus are
and increasing tolerance. Approximately, 10 million not so available. In many large urban cities bars and
current drinkers are under the age of 21, about 4 nightclubs are increasing at a very rapid pace; and their
million are binge drinkers; including 2 million who economic survival depends successfully reaching out to
are heavy drinkers all of them are between the ages the younger patrons, including college students. These
of 16-21 years old. establishments act as a magnet for many college students
who ind them more attracted than the traditional college
One in three college students now drink solely to hang-out. The problem is that many of these nightspots
get drunk. About 30% of women in college reported are hunting grounds for hard-core criminals, pimps and
poor grades with the increased use of alcohol and predators seeking susceptible and available victims,
drugs, and 60% of college women diagnosed with especially those under the inluence of alcohol.
a sexually transmitted disease contacted while they
were drunk. A recent study showed that intoxicated people are more
vulnerable to violent crime because they exhibit more
The absence of ongoing oversight by parents and risk-taking behaviors. For example, they are more likely
caretakers offers college students the freedom to to go out alone at night, visit places where violence is
makes choices, develop personality, and to engage most likely to occur, and intoxicated individuals have
in social experiment. These are all natural and impaired cognitive problem-solving abilities. In other
necessary path to adulthood. However, the road words, these individuals will go places and things that
to adulthood also creates an environment that is they sober peers would not do; or they would not do
susceptible to crime and victimization. Which may when sober.
include opportunity for drug and alcohol abuse,
sexual assault, and hate crimes all common on While doing the research for this article, the local
today’s college campuses and the surrounding television news station announced that the police had
communities. recover the body of the college student who was reported
missing, three days ago after a night of drinking at a
Statistics that support the wide-spread use and abuse popular New York City nightclub. In the past few years
of alcohol by teenagers and college students New York City seems to have more
38
