When discussing binge drinking with your kids, you might think about those in high school first. Make sure to also focus on students that are in transition to college. Even if your child is still not at the legal age to buy alcohol, once they get to college they will have classmates that are legally able to buy it. There is also easier access to fake ID’s. Many students come to college with established drinking lifestyles, and the transition to college might magnify this habit.
Last year, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released a study that showed that teen binge drinking disrupts brain development and changes behaviors in ways that promote anxiety and excessive drinking. These behaviors can persist into adulthood. But what is binge drinking? Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking excessively in a short period of time; roughly 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women.
According to a national survey, about 60 percent of college students (aged 18-22) drank alcohol in the past month, and nearly 2 out of 3 of them engaged in binge drinking during the same time frame. No matter what age and grade they are, our kids still need our guidance. As they embark on a new chapter in their lives as freshmen, or as they prepare to return for sophomore, junior or senior years, they still need to hear from parents about the dangers of alcohol and what it does to their brain. Let's not forget that the brain is not fully developed until the mid-20’s. Warning your child about binge drinking or just drinking on occasion, can help them identify the danger and could also help them assist a fellow classmate with his/her drinking problems. Here are some more tips to help you in your conversations with college age kids.
