Alcohol abuse a serious problem on UCLA campus

One of the biggest health concerns regarding college students
relates to how substance abuse negatively impacts their health and
livelihood. Moving beyond the stereotype of frat boys popping open
a can of booze every five minutes, one can easily lose sight of the
fact nobody is immune to the harmful effects of alcohol.

In the unsupervised college world, where everyone enjoys a large
degree of individual freedom, the temptation to experience new
things can sometimes have negative effects. While most people agree
that moderation is the key, and the responsible monitoring of
alcohol consumption is the best way to ensure one’s health
risks are lowered, a considerable number of college students fail
to practice what they’ve been taught.

Perhaps the biggest lie perpetuated by peers, the media and
personal insecurity is that alcohol provides an escape from
life’s problems. The truth is it often has the opposite
effect, not only on an individual but on his or her loved ones as
well. Getting wasted to chill out or to “get warmed up”
may make you a funny drunk, but it won’t do much else.

While drunken driving and property damage are prominent
consequences of alcohol abuse, the importance of this issue is it
always has the potential to be transformed into a life or death
situation.

According to campusblues.com, around 1,400 college students
between the ages of 18 and 24 die as a result of alcohol-related
unintentional injuries each year, including motor vehicle crashes,
while around 500,000 students are unintentionally injured under the
influence of alcohol. Sexual abuse is also a result of alcohol
consumption; more than 70,000 students are victims of rape due to
alcohol-related sexual assaults. Furthermore, according to a study
published in The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics in
2003, “Alcohol consumption has been identified as one of the
most important risk factors for youth suicide.”

UCLA continues to have considerable problems when it comes to
alcohol. According to a Daily Bruin article, “from 1999 to
2002, the total number of students seen by Student Psychological
Services (for substance abuse) has risen from 2,500 to 2,866″
(“Aid available for overcoming substance abuse,” A
Closer Look, Feb. 11). While the rate of alcohol abuse remains
stable, hovering around 5 percent of the population, the fact more
and more students continue to abuse alcohol is troubling.

The encouragement of irresponsible drinking and lack of
efficient policies to deal with this matter are partly responsible
for the problem. No college is perfect when it comes to combating
alcohol addiction, but the approach an institution takes can often
make a difference in the lives of many. UCLA’s shame is
highlighted in that although it officially prohibits on-campus
students and fraternities and sororities from bulk consumption of
alcohol, underage drinking and mass consumption still take place,
due to either ignorance or willful disregard of policies.

Although our university recently imposed penalties upon
sororities that conducted keg races (with points going to
participants who chugged the most alcohol in the name of
philanthropy), not much will change, since penalties are often
ineffective and nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Moreover,
many leaders, including administrators, appear more comfortable
ignoring the problem than addressing it, to the detriment of those
who need help. By refusing to take a direct approach toward alcohol
abuse, drinking is only encouraged and its effects perpetuated.

The first step to combating alcohol abuse is education and
raising awareness about the issue. The Student Welfare
Commission’s Substance Abuse Committee will pass out free
breathalyzers next week with the completion of a 10-minute quiz.
The tools for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation are
available to anyone willing to change. From SPS to Alcoholics
Anonymous to The Center for Women & Men counselors, students
have many avenues to address a problem that can potentially destroy
their lives.

Even though the lines “I have a problem” and
“Hi, I’m an alcoholic” are cliché and
sometimes laughed at, the first step toward recovery is admitting
one’s helplessness while having a genuine desire to change.
Life doesn’t afford everyone a second chance.

While many of us expect to live forever and have not a care in
the world, we can easily lose sight of how bad habits affect our
lives. Tomorrow offers no guarantees for anyone except the
opportunity to live responsibly and change if necessary. Alcoholism
and alcohol abuse can be helped. If a loved one is struggling with
such a problem, he or she should be confronted and helped before it
is too late.

Marian is the Student Welfare Commission internal affairs
chairman.