Binge drinking is a growing concern in universities across Canada, and it's getting some attention here in Saskatchewan.
Aman Shoker is a dental student at the University of Saskatchewan. He says binge drinking is a state of mind for some students. "If you're new at university, you don't really think about the consequences. You just think binge drinking is okay or normal."
A student-led committee says this perception needs to change. The group is researching binge drinking on campus. They plan to develop an advertising campaign to help students learn their limit and make safer choices.
Katelyn Selanders is on the Student Binge Drinking Prevention Committee. She says the group isn't asking anyone to quit drinking, just to make safe choices. "You need to draw the line from it being just socializing to having a buzz and a couple of drinks, to really getting yourself into trouble. And if we can help students recognize where that line is right away, and stop it before they cross it."
In the first year of this four-year initiative, the group surveyed 1,000 students, held focus groups, interviewed faculty, and is looking into how many campus incidents are alcohol related.
Sam Dunphy is a first-year student, who says copious drinking is commonplace in university life. "At every party you see it happen. There's that one guy or one girl who gets way too drunk every single time and doesn't know their limit."
It didn't take long for the committee's work to get noticed. It's now partnered with the Ministry of Health Mental Health Services, and has paid positions. The idea started as a class project, but it could hopefully end with an awareness campaign to share with other universities.
The group will start up again next semester to continue its research. It hopes this initiative will become a permanent presence on campus until the culture of binge drinking dries up.
