By Mariam Mesbah
One third of students are drinking at a level that is dangerous to their health, a recent study on alcohol use at Ontario universities has found.
The report, conducted by the Addiction Research Foundation, says 31 per cent of surveyed students consumed 15 or more drinks weekly and 15 per cent of students admitted to drinking an average of 28 drinks a week.
“The levels of drinking are a cause for concern,” said Louis Gliksman, one of five researchers of the study. “People are jeopardizing their health.”
The research was conducted in 1993 at six Ontario universities. Six thousand undergraduate students participated. According to the study, first-year male students living in residence tend to be the heaviest drinkers, while students living with parents consume the least.
“This really speaks to the need to do something in the residence environment,” Gliksman said. “Most universities hold workshops for residence advisors, but more needs to be done.”
More students reported having problems related to drinking, like hangovers, vomiting and memory loss. Gliksman said D students were three times more likely to consume 15 or more drinks a week than A average students.
Those surveyed admitted to missing classes because of hangovers. Fifteen per cent of students reported cutting class in the two months prior to the survey,” he said.
Aside from the physical problems, students said they experienced difficulties resulting from other people’s drinking. 43 per cent reported being insulted or humiliated, and 24 per cent said they have been physically assaulted.
“Nearly 40 per cent of students reported getting into arguments with others who were drunk. Over half the young people surveyed said they are in favor of more spot checks by campus police and education programs,” Gliksman said.
Drug use is also on the increase since the last survey was conducted in 1988. The proportion of students using LSD has more than doubled, from three per cent to seven per cent. The survey showed heroin and crack cocaine use is also on the rise.
The report also shows that while student alcohol consumption levels have remained stable in the past seven years, the number of students who drink heavily has increased. Other ARF studies of Ontario adults and high school students show that both groups are drinking less alcohol than in previous years.
“It will be interesting to see what will happen to these current statistics when those high school students go to university,” Gliksman said.
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