Drinking Games and College Students Part 1: Problem Description
Addressing psychiatric and psychosocial issues related to children and adolescents Youth in Mind Teena M. McGuinness, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, Section Editor © 2009 iStockphoto/Roman Pyatyntsev Drinking Games and College Students Part 1: Problem Description ABSTRACT College students seek peer acceptance and op- drinking behavior called drinking games. Re- portunities for social interaction. For many, it gardless of the game type, the goal of this be- may be the first time away from home, away havior is to become intoxicated in a short peri- from the supervision and watchful eyes of par- od of time. Significant consequences and harm ents and other family members. Whether for can result from this dangerous social behavior. fun, thrill, competition, or the need to socialize This article, the first of two parts, will describe with others, approximately two thirds of U.S. the problem; Part 2 will discuss the implications college students participate in the risky binge for community and mental health nurses. Nancy R. Ahern, PhD, RN; and Mary Lou Sole, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN, FCCM JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOCIAL NURSING • VOL. 48, NO. 2, 2010 17 Youth in Mind ing pong, card games, sumption of five or more drinks skills, team, and verbal skills games checkers, and word games at least once during the past 2 (Table). All of the games described Pare safe ways to socialize in weeks), and heavy and frequent are designed to cause intoxication the college environment, right? (i.e., five or more drinks at least in the shortest period of time. Hardly! Often, these games are once and three or more days of combined with drinking and alcohol consumption during What Are the Motivators to promote risky behavior.
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