Heavy Drinking Takes Toll on College Students' Cognition, Study Finds

(Medical Xpress) When college students drink very heavily or to the point of blacking out, they're more likely to report poorer cognitive functioning the next day, like forgetting someone's name or having trouble making decisions, according to new research from the University of Oregon.

The findings, published in Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research, are important because heavy drinking is common among young adults, yet many don't realize its negative effects for both the short and long term, said one of the study's lead authors, Ashley Linden-Carmichael, an associate professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services in the UO College of Education.

Young adults who drink heavily often assume that once they sober up, everything returns to normal. It doesn't, the research shows.

"We're seeing in this study that heavy drinking can affect functioning the next day," Linden-Carmichael said. "Students could have a harder time with their schoolwork, going to a job or navigating friendships, and that could have big implications for their mental health."

Read more.