Health and Fitness : Alcohol and your college student

You made it! You gave them a hug goodbye, wiped away your tears, and told them to be safe and have fun. After 18 hard years, you have successfully dropped your kid off at college. While it may seem like you should be able to kick back now (and I am sure you deserve it), did you know that staying active and involved with your child at college can still impact how successful they can be at college?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), your college freshman will establish their drinking habits within the first six weeks that they are at college. It is a time where they are susceptible to heavy drinking from expectations of college and social pressure of trying to fit in. College students have a higher rate of binge drinking than their college peers. Even more interesting, research has shown that students who refrain from drinking often has chosen to do so because their parents have talked to them about the potential dangers of excessive alcohol use and the associated consequences (NIAAA).

If you’re thinking that you haven’t talked to your college student about drinking yet, don’t worry, you still can! Here are some things to consider:

1. It is possible that your college student has had some interaction or experience with alcohol before they go to college. If you are not sure what things to bring up to your child about drinking, discuss with them about:

A. Their previous drinking behaviors

B. What they think about alcohol

C. What they think it will be like with alcohol easily available at college

2. If your college student knows or has a pretty good idea about what career or field they would like to go in, discuss some of the consequences related to excessive alcohol use such assaults, violence, and other health risks. Discuss how one night of high risk drinking can impact risks of losing scholarships or financial aid or one negative citation on a background check can have a huge impact on potential career opportunities.

So kick up your feet and pick up that phone because you have more of an impact on your college student than you might have thought. Help them to develop a solid foundation that will set them up for success while away at college.

For more information on college drinking prevention go to www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov.

Lindsey Elam, CPS

ASAC