Tossing back drink after drink with friends while cheering theTigers on to victory, for many people, is as much a part of thecollege experience as cramming for finals and pledging tofraternities and sororities.
Students should know that chronic binge drinking has seriousnegative long-term effects, said Doug Matthews, University ofMemphis associate professor of psychology, who recently finishedresearch on the effects of alcohol on adolescents.
Drinking more than five drinks in one sitting is what Matthewssaid he considered heavy drinking, and people who drink heavily --five or more times per month are involved in chronic bingedrinking.
While chronic binge drinking is often associated with collegelife, for many people it starts before they even reach high school,during that often-awkward age between 12 and 20 years old, fillingthe gap between childhood and adulthood.
"It's actually stunning when you think about it," Matthews said."More than 10 million adolescents binge drink before they reach thelegal age."
Ease of availability and the fact that alcohol plays such aprominent role American life are key factors in young bingedrinking, Matthews said.
Understanding the effects of alcohol on the body duringadolescence is particularly important because the brain is stillchanging, Matthews said.
"When you add alcohol to the equation, you completely change theend product," he said.
"The brain you end up with is not the one that Godintended."
Also, Matthews noted that while the number of women who bingedrink is up, the number of men who participate in binge drinkingare more likely to become alcoholics than women.
"There is a genetic component in males that makes them two tothree times more likely to become an alcoholic," Matthews said.
The holiday season brings on more drinking. People are either ina festive mood and drink or they are experiencing anxiety anddrink, Matthew said.
"Dealing with finals, graduation and family can exacerbatestress, and alcohol does relieve stress," Matthews said.
With the suspicion that there will be some heavy drinking goingon in New Orleans for the Tigers' first bowl appearance in a longtime, Matthews advises, "The people under age should not drink, andthose who can drink legally should use designated drivers andtaxis."
