Drinking can kill brain cells.
The effect of alcohol on college academics can be detrimental. Influencing sleep, cognitive ability and general disposition, alcohol may be a typical aspect of college life, but it is largely a negative one.
Alcohol and GPA
According to a report from Harvard's School of Public Health published in "Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning" in 1996, a study conducted by Henry Weschler and associates found that nearly 84 percent of students surveyed engaged in drinking during the school year. The study also indicates that as the number of drinks per week a student consumes increases, his academic achievement decreases. On average, "A" students consume fewer than four drinks per week, "B" students consume between five and six drinks per week, "C" students consume between seven and eight drinks per week, and "D" students consume nine or more drinks per week.
Alcohol Influences Sleep
In a study published in the May 2009 issue of the "Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs," researchers from College of the Holy Cross indicated that alcohol can disrupt normal sleep cycles. Students who drink heavily over time often get less sleep than their peers and tend to be less alert during daytime hours, which can create problems with focusing. In addition, habitual drinking can lead to unhealthy sleep-wake patterns established by going to bed late and sleeping during daylight hours.
Short-term Effects
Alcohol can influence cognitive ability, professors from Duke University Medical Center report in their 2003 book "Buzzed." Their studies show that judgment and memory can be compromised for up to 72 hours after consumption. Though most students believe they are fine once the inebriated state ends, studies have shown that attention span and the ability to learn are negatively influenced for days after alcohol consumption. Heavy drinking can also cause students to forget previously learned material and misjudge emotional and social cues.
Long-term Effects
Chronic drinkers can develop serious health problems such as cirrhosis of the liver and damage to the central nervous system. The researchers of "Buzzed" also reveal that students who develop serious drinking habits can kill brain cells and destroy the connections between nerve cells.
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