Alcohol

College Alcohol Trends

The trends over the last five years in college health regarding alcohol use are mixed. Many more students are abstaining from alcohol and the students who drink, are doing so in a more responsible manner. But many student who drink continue to be underage. From a legal perspective, this is problematic; from a harm reduction perspective, this is positive. The above is attributable to many factors including a greater awareness of the negative effects of alcohol use, a greater emphasis on education knowing the reality that ‘many students are going to experiment’ with alcohol when they arrive on campus. Increasingly, there is an emphasis on enforcing underage drinking, and adopting clear alcohol policies. The two disturbing trends are drinking games and the “desire to get drunk just to get drunk”. A fair amount of effort continues to go into correcting misperceptions about the amount of drinking on many college campuses.

AlcoholEdu for College Log-In Instructions

AEDU will be available for students in August, 2008.  The instructions will also be availabe in PDF format in August and can be automatically downloaded to your computer.  Please check back for log in instructions and more information.   

Log In Instructions for Students
(over 18 years old or whose parents signed consent
waiver for child under 18)

Log In Instructions for Students
(under 18 whose parents did not sign consent waiver)

Log In Instructions for Parents

Learn what other students are saying about completing AlcoholEdu - quotes from the past essays.

Reminder: If your parents choose to review the course, be assured there is no connection between your login ID and that of your parents.  Our goal is to encourage dialogue between college students and their parents about a potential health issue that exists on many college campuses.

If you have any questions or comments about AlcoholEdu for College, please feel free to contact me.

Alcohol Use at Caltech

The NCHA 2004 Caltech data indicates that 35% of undergraduates and 15% of graduate students reported not drinking alcohol in the previous 30 days (and is consistent with other questions that asked about use within the last school year). The Spring 2004 NCHA Reference Group Summary Report (N=47,202 students) indicate that 17.9% of college students do not consume alcohol. Our undergraduate percentage is significantly higher and our graduate student data is a little lower than the average. By and large, our data suggests the students who drink do so in a more responsible way than many college students.

To learn more about how Caltech addresses alcohol and drug use, please review our Substance Abuse Policy.

If you are an international student attending Caltech, you may find alcohol use different than what you experienced in your home country.  For example, in Europe alcohol consumption is much more socially accepted and the legal drinking age is not strictly enforced.  Conversely, you might find more students in China who do not drink, while in Japan and Korea, some students do enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with dinner.  There is variation regarding alcohol policies, enforcement and consumption around the globe. 

In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21 and it is difficult for Americans under the age of 21 to purchase alcohol.  However, when students attend college, some find it easier to access alcohol, and therefore experiment with alcohol.  As mentioned above, when compared to other colleges and universities, Caltech has a much larger percentage of students who abstain from alcohol.  Nevertheless, some of our students do experiment with alcohol, and a few abuse alcohol.  This is another reason we have all incoming students complete AlcoholEdu for College.  You may not drink alcohol, but we feel it is important for you to have reliable information regarding how alcohol impacts your body and mind, and other knowledge that will allow you to make well-informed decisions about alcohol use.  In addition, we think this program provides you with important skills in dealing with the drinking behavior of some of your peers who may chose to consume alcohol.

If you know a friend whom you suspect may be abusing alcohol, we strongly encourage you to get assistance.  You can contact me and consult with me about how best to help your friend.  You can also offer my name and contact information to your friend as a resource.  It is much easier to talk with someone before the consequences become much more serious. 

I can also offer referrals to appropriate service providers when needed and provide consultation to students who want help planning responsible parties and social events. 

Alcohol

Frequently Asked Questions

"Doesn't everybody drink?"
It often seems as though most students drink, and drink frequently. At Caltech, this is not the case. There is a complete range of drinking behavior on our campus. About 35% of Caltech undergraduate students and 15% of graduate students reported that they do not drink alcohol (National College Health Assessment Survey conducted Spring 2004).  Only 13.5% of undergraduate and 42.5% of graduate students actually drink once a week or more. So why does drinking seem to occur so much more? Think about it. We notice drinkers more. It is less obvious to see that many people are not drinking. A small proportion of those who drink are especially apparent to us when they have a clear reaction to alcohol by becoming moody, loud, argumentative, or physically sick.

"Why do people use alcohol or other drugs?"
There are numerous reasons people use alcohol or other drugs. These may include attempts to reduce stress, feel more comfortably socially, connect with others, forget about problems, numb out, regulate moods and feelings, or to have a mind-expanding experience. However, the use of drugs often creates the opposite effect. Some people, due to biological and genetic factors, find certain substances are especially rewarding to them. This biological susceptibility increases their risk of becoming dependent on the substance.

“How does drinking affect my health?”
Alcohol affects your brain, your body and your self-control.  It depresses your central nervous system and leads to a loss of coordination, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, slurred speech and even blackouts.  Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, which can lead to risky behaviors including unprotected sex.  This may expose you to unwanted pregnancies and/or sexually transmitted diseases.  The average American drinks about 2.2 gallons of ethyl alcohol per year, which equals about 50 gallons of beer, 20 gallons of wine or five gallons of liquor.  Many variables go into how alcohol can impact you (genetics, gender, tolerance, rate of drinking, etc…) but one constant is the rate at which alcohol is metabolized.  The rule of thumb tends to be “one drink per hour". Its important to remember that alcohol is both fat- and water-soluble and affects all the organs and tissues of the body. If your liver is busy getting rid of alcohol, it lags behind in other ways, like maintaining blood-sugar levels to the brain. The stomach lining is irritated by alcohol so go easy on the aspirin.  In summary, if you drink, do it in moderation.  Some useful tips include alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, eating before and during parties; pace your drinks to one per hour and avoid drinking games – they are definitely trouble.  If you want to learn more about alcohol impairment, misconceptions, how gender influences impairment, etc... take a look at this site which includes a BAC (blood alcohol content) calculator.

"Do I have a problem?"
There are numerous questionnaires and self-tests available that can be used to help you decide whether or not you have a problem with alcohol or other drugs. You can take the CAGE or AUDIT test, which is designed to measure substance dependence.  Questionnaires measuring dependence upon alcohol or other drugs might ask about changes in physiological tolerance, blackouts, and delerium tremens, otherwise known as the "shakes." Identifying substance abuse or problem use is another matter. The particular consequences of problem use are not always as apparent. These consequences of course vary from person to person, but some common ones might be feeling guilty or upset after drinking or using, regretting things you did or said while under the influence, becoming unusually emotional (such as crying or becoming very angry), or experiencing a negative impact on your work, academic performance, or personal relationships. The most important determinant of whether or not you have a problem probably relates to why you are asking this question in the first place. What are your particular concerns? Are you uncomfortable with your substance use? Have you noticed any negative consequences? Have others (friends, family, RA, UCC) been concerned about you? An honest evaluation might help you to understand the effect substances are having upon your life.

"If I have a problem, will I be told to stop drinking?"
The solution to problem drinking is not necessarily abstinence. Some people can learn to better manage their use of alcohol so that it no longer results in the same negative consequences for them. Other people have found that they cannot stop drinking once they start, eliminating their chances of learning to manage non-abusive social drinking. In any case, it is not the role of the Health Educator to tell you to stop drinking. Rather, you will be encouraged to evaluate your own situation and determine what you need to do to effect a more positive outcome.  In the end, you will have to decide how you want to live.  Educate yourself - learn the facts, read about alcohol poisoning, understand some of the common consequences students experience; this may help you decide what your next step is.  If you still have questions, contact the me (Health Educator).

"What is so harmful about drugs?"
Alcohol and other drug use carries the potential for drug dependence and long-term damage to one's body, mind, emotions, and relationships. Drugs have various levels of risk for the user, depending upon the particular drug, dosage, route of administration, capacity for interaction with other drugs, environmental context, and individual qualities of the user, such as sex, weight, psychological mindset, and drug tolerance. Chronic drug use can alter brain chemistry, affect organs and other vital parts of one's body, cause or increase depression, and create a devastating tangle of legal, social, and self-esteem problems.

"What is the difference between drug abuse and drug dependence?"
Both drug abuse and drug dependence produce harmful effects; despite these negative consequences, however, the drug is still sought out and used. In cases of drug abuse, substances may be used more sporadically and irregularly. Abusers may "binge" on alcohol or other drugs on certain occasions. Drug dependence is considered to be more severe than drug abuse, because dependence means that tolerance has developed (whether physical or psychological), and cessation of drug use results in withdrawal symptoms.

Portions of this article were written by Deborah Southerland, Ph.D.

Parent's Resources

A parent's guide entitled "Making the Transition - Preparing Your Teen for College's Alcohol and Other Drug Challenges" is a new resource for parents.  The guide contains helpful tips for communicating with your college-bound teen about alcohol and drug use.  At Caltech, we feel parents still matter and you can help your son or daughter by having correct information, thoughtful communication and reasoned discussion of expectations with the goal of helping them develop strategies for making wise choices.

Please visit again in mid-August to access log-in instructions for AlcoholEdu for College, a science-based alcohol prevention program being used at more than 500 colleges and universities.  We encourage you to review the course and begin a dialogue before your child starts college.  If you experience any difficulties accessing AlcoholEdu for College, please contact me for assistance.

Local & Regional Resources