College is always full of fun and thrill, mainly for the fact it is when teenagers get the chance to drink, drive, and be merry. But more often than not, drinking while driving does not lead to a happy ending. As statistics would show, many college students who are under the influence of alcohol suffer deaths and injuries when they decide to step on the gas and get behind the steering wheel. But, is this everything there is to college drinking or alcoholism? The figures will reveal the real picture behind this fearsome phenomenon.

*Around 599,000 college students aged 18-24 suffer unintentional injuries while in a state of intoxication.

*An estimated 1,700 deaths among college students under the same age bracket are recorded every year. The fatalities are victims of unintentional injuries like motor vehicle accidents.

*Over 696,000 college students also aged 18-24 become victims because of other students who are intoxicated.

*Around 400,000 coeds under the same age group engaged in risky and unprotected sexual contacts, while more than 100,000 college students also aged 18-24 admitted they were too drunk to know if their sexual encounters are consensual. Intoxication also leads to other inappropriate sexual behavior among college students. In addition, over 97,000 coeds under the same age group figure as victims of sexual assaults and date rapes.

*Aside from having difficulties with regard to their scholastic grades, many college students also encounter physiological and psychological problems. Over 150,000 coeds develop health diseases due to alcoholism, while 1.2%-1.5% confessed to have suicidal attempts because of problems stemming from intoxication or use of drugs. These students were probably not able to have interventions to address their problems.

The said figures are definitely alarming, considering the extent of damages and effects on college students. As such, urgent measures should be done to curb the problem as soon as possible. Aside from having them enter alcohol rehabilitation centers, they should be given proper counseling, understanding, and love from specialists, as well as friends and families.