Addiction month is fresh chance for addicts
Dr. Janice Bending offers startling information on college drinking
Melinda Hershey
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Opinion
September was National Addiction Recovery Month, but college students shouldn't just rely on a month to cut back on alcohol, if they decide to do so. However, if it takes a reason like Addiction Recovery Month to get an addict on their way to a fresh start, then go for it.
"If people do not want to become addicts, they need to drink normally now," said Dr. Janice Bending, an Addictions professor at the University of Cincinnati.
But what is normal drinking? One would think having a few beers at a party wouldn't cause too much damage. However, if you drink in college, your drinking behavior may not be considered "normal." You may even be classified as a binge drinker.
"Our United States model recommends that a woman should consume no more than one drink per day, and that a man should consume no more than two drinks per day," Bending said. "And that doesn't mean you can save all of your drinks up during the week and use them on the weekend."
Anything over the daily-recommended limit could be considered binge drinking. I know people who have put away 11 to 14 beers at parties. Would they consider themselves binge drinkers? Not likely. Some students do more than transition into adulthood; many transition into the shaky world of addiction via easily accessible alcohol and little self-control.
Yet, more and more young adults seem to consistently disregard this model, setting themselves up for serious alcohol addictions and possible premature death down the line- or maybe even sooner, especially for women. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) reports that death rates are about 50 to 100 percent higher in female alcoholics than male alcoholics.
As an occasional drinker, these statistics scare me. What girl who goes out on the weekends sticks to one drink at a party? I thought I was safe with having a few beers at a time. Since my family doesn't have a history of alcoholism, I figured I was home free on the addiction front.
"If people do not want to become addicts, they need to drink normally now," said Dr. Janice Bending, an Addictions professor at the University of Cincinnati.
But what is normal drinking? One would think having a few beers at a party wouldn't cause too much damage. However, if you drink in college, your drinking behavior may not be considered "normal." You may even be classified as a binge drinker.
"Our United States model recommends that a woman should consume no more than one drink per day, and that a man should consume no more than two drinks per day," Bending said. "And that doesn't mean you can save all of your drinks up during the week and use them on the weekend."
Anything over the daily-recommended limit could be considered binge drinking. I know people who have put away 11 to 14 beers at parties. Would they consider themselves binge drinkers? Not likely. Some students do more than transition into adulthood; many transition into the shaky world of addiction via easily accessible alcohol and little self-control.
Yet, more and more young adults seem to consistently disregard this model, setting themselves up for serious alcohol addictions and possible premature death down the line- or maybe even sooner, especially for women. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) reports that death rates are about 50 to 100 percent higher in female alcoholics than male alcoholics.
As an occasional drinker, these statistics scare me. What girl who goes out on the weekends sticks to one drink at a party? I thought I was safe with having a few beers at a time. Since my family doesn't have a history of alcoholism, I figured I was home free on the addiction front.
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NancyB
posted 9/26/07 @ 7:55 AM EST
In celebration of September being National Recovery Month, we are pleased to announce our new website www.AlcoholAnswers.org
It is an evidence-based educational/informational site on Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism) and Alcohol Abuse. (Continued…)
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