Not many people can say they’ve researched intoxicated college students –– except psychology professor Amy Bacon.
Bacon gave a presentation about the alcohol research she’s conducted at Bradley Monday night, saying she has been drawn to alcohol research since graduate school.
“I was in class where they were recruiting for lab research assistants to do research in this bar lab, [and] my thought was, ‘that sounds like an easy A,’ and it was, but it was what my classes weren’t, which was taking one big problem that I can see in the world around me and systematically evaluating it,” Bacon said. “I tried to stray away and look at anxiety, but I kept getting drawn into this alcohol field, which I find fascinating.”
Bacon is the director of the Stress, Emotion and Alcohol Laboratory at Bradley and has created a “Bar Lab” twice to help students experiment with alcohol’s effects.
“Prior to college, those who are college-bound are drinking much less than those who are not college-bound,” Bacon said. “There’s something about the college situation that increases drinking habits.”
According to Bacon, increased alcohol consumption isn’t inherently bad, as it can cause increased relaxation, enjoyment and social cohesion, but the real problem is binge drinking.
A 2016 survey of Bradley students concluded 25 percent of students said they’ve done something they later regretted after binge drinking, 21 percent have experienced a blackout and 15 percent engaged in unprotected sex.
“But, what I’m interested in is the long term affects,” Bacon said.
According to Bacon, she classifies students who binge drink in college in five ways: One: Students who drink at a problematic level and continue to drink at a problematic level; Two: Students who drink at a problematic level but level out; Three: Individuals who drink at higher levels when graduated; Four: Those who mature and drink at no problematic levels; Five: Students who engage in some binge drinking.
Intoxicated people aren’t the best at relaying data, according to Bacon, so she said her research aims to eliminate external factors that would affect an intoxicated person.
“I try to set up a bar, but it’s a place on campus where you wouldn’t typically drink,” Bacon said. “I’m [only] able to test one variable that could affect drinking habits.”
Taylor Baker, a sophomore psychology major, said while she thinks there isn’t a binge drinking problem at Bradley, she also feels alcohol is widely accepted on campus.
“Alcohol and drugs are not at all frowned upon as they were high school,” Baker said. “On the contrary, they are praised.”
For help with binge drinking, alcohol addiction or other issues, contact the Wellness Office at (309) 677-3381.
