Alcoholism & Alcohol Rehab Treatment

Alcoholism: A disease where an individual is alcohol dependent and suffers from these four symptoms:

• Craving: A strong need, or desire to drink
• Loss of Control: Not being able to control when to stop once drinking has begun
• Physical Dependence: Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, perspiration, shakiness, and anxiety after ceasing to drink
• Tolerance: The need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol to reach the same level of intoxication.

These symptoms are classified as diagnostic criteria for alcoholism in the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth addition). Alcoholism is a chronic disease that lasts for a lifetime; it follows a predictable path and has four serious symptoms. One's environment, their social circle, friends, family, and accessibility may affect alcoholism. Alcoholics depend on alcohol as a daily survival necessity such as food or water.

Abusing alcohol and alcoholism are two separate entities, in the sense that one may abuse alcohol but not be physically dependent. However, abusing alcohol is a serious problem and may lead to endangerment of others and oneself. The imperative aspect is to recognize the problem and seek help; by seeking help quickly the chances of success in recovery will be greater.

Alcohol Use and Risks among Young Adults by College Enrollment Status

In Brief

Full-time students aged 18 to 21 had higher rates of binge drinking than nonstudents

Nonstudents were less likely than full-time students to use seat belts while driving

Nonstudents were less likely than full-time students to drive while under the influence of alcohol

Studies suggest that young adults are more likely than older adults to engage in heavy episodic drinking.1 The dangers of excessive alcohol use include increased involvement in fatal vehicle crashes, sexual assault, unprotected sex, violence, property damage, and increased risk of physical and mental health problems.2,3 Studies conducted during the 1990s suggest that excessive drinking and driving under the influence of alcohol are more prevalent among college students than among nonstudents.4

The purpose of this report is to compare the use of alcohol, perceived risks of heavy alcohol use, and risk behaviors related to alcohol use by full-time college students and nonstudents at each age from 18 to 24 using data from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

The NSDUH asks respondents about the quantity and frequency of alcohol use in the past month, symptoms of alcohol dependence or abuse, perceptions of drinking, and behaviors associated with alcohol use over the past year, including seat belt use, driving under the influence of alcohol, and symptoms of alcohol problems. Binge alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion (i.e., at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Heavy alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days; all heavy alcohol users are also binge alcohol users. Daily drinking is defined as drinking on 25 or more days in the past month, regardless of the quantity of alcohol consumed. Alcohol dependence or abuse are defined using criteria specified in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-IV).5

The NSDUH also asks about college attendance. Respondents were classified as full-time students if they reported that they were attending their first through fourth year of college or university and that they were a full-time student. Respondents were classified as nonstudents if their current enrollment status was known and they were not classified as a part- or full-time college student. Part-time students and respondents whose current enrollment status was unknown were excluded from the analysis.


College Enrollment Status
In 2002, there were an estimated 28 million young adults aged 18 to 24, including 9 million (32 percent) enrolled in college full-time.6 The full-time enrollment rate varied by age. Thirty-two percent of 18 year olds were enrolled in college full-time in 2002. This rate increased to 46 percent among 19 year olds and steadily declined at older ages to a low of 14 percent among 24 year olds.

Prevalence of Alcohol Use
Excessive episodic drinking was prevalent among young adults, regardless of college enrollment status. More than 1 in 10 young adults aged 18 to 24 were heavy drinkers, and almost 2 in 5 were binge drinkers (Figure 1). Heavy drinking rates peaked at age 21 for both full-time students and nonstudents. Likewise, binge drinking rates peaked at age 21 for full-time students and nonstudents. Among those younger than 24, heavy drinking rates were 4 to 7 percentage points higher among full-time students than nonstudents, although the difference was not statistically significant for 23 year olds. Full-time students aged 18 to 21 had higher rates of binge drinking than nonstudents, but the difference was not statistically significant for 20 year olds. The rate of binge drinking was similar among full-time students and nonstudents aged 22 to 24. Daily drinking was substantially less common than both heavy and binge drinking, reported by fewer than 2 percent of full-time students and 3 percent of nonstudents.

Alcohol Dependence or Abuse
The rate of past year alcohol dependence or abuse peaked at age 21 for both full-time students (25 percent) and nonstudents (20 percent). The rate of past year alcohol dependence or abuse was higher among full-time college students than nonstudents overall, and the differences were statistically significant for ages 21 and 22.

Risk Beliefs and Behaviors
At least one quarter of young adults between 18 and 24 perceived a great risk in weekly binge drinking. Overall, full-time college students were less likely to perceive great risk in weekly binge drinking, and differences were statistically significant for those aged 19, 20, and 21.

At all ages from 18 to 24, nonstudents were less likely than full-time students to use seat belts while driving. At the same time, nonstudents at each age were less likely than full-time students to drive while under the influence of alcohol, but this difference was not statistically significant among 24 year olds.

see Alcohol
see Addiction
see Drug References
Drug Treatment & Substance Abuse - Addiction Treatment