As your child heads off to college, you may be starting to wonder just how they might spend their time while away. In looking at the numbers, there are 168 hours in a week. If your child gets eight hours of sleep each night, spends eight hours in class and studying (Monday to Friday), and four hours of eating and getting ready, that still leaves 44 hours of free time each week. So, what will they do during this extra time?

From the abundance of media messages (like T-shirts that exclaim: “College … the best 6 years of your life” and MTV’s “Spring Break” episodes), many have the perception that students will spend much of that time drinking and partying. Is this the reality?

The first six weeks of the semester are critical and students often set their drinking/ not drinking pattern during this time. The majority of students either choose not to drink, or do so in lower-risk ways. Some students make high-risk choices that can negatively impact their academic success.

Excessive drinking can affect both abstract and critical thinking skills (the skills that are needed for just about every college course). After one night of drinking, these skills can be reduced for up to 72 hours following. So even if a student is “just drinking on the weekends,” their academic focus may suffer and become more difficult than it already is.

Alcohol can also interfere with getting REM sleep. REM is when memory, learning, problem solving, and creativity take place. All of these are important components of overall academic health. Lack of quality sleep may also impact the immune system, leading to sickness and absence from class.

Due to underdeveloped brain functioning in the areas of judgment, reasoning, and caution, students may take risks without realizing the possible consequences. For example, a student may make high-risk choices that result in injury or criminal charges. Acts like furnishing alcohol to minors, using a fake ID, or driving under the influence could jeopardize the chances of getting the career they are aspiring to achieve.

What you can do as a parent of a college student?

— Stay involved — check in with your child often without being overbearing.

— Set expectations for academic performance.

— Encourage your child to develop interests in and outside of the classroom. Getting a job, meeting new people, and trying new things will help them find a healthy balance.

— Familiarize yourself with campus resources like health and wellness programs, counseling services, and substance abuse prevention.

— Find out the school’s policy regarding alcohol/drug use and a parent’s right to know. Federal legislation allows institutions to establish their own policies on “parental notification” regarding disciplinary proceedings.

— Stress that alcohol is a drug that can negatively impact their health and safety.

Even though your child is away at college, remember you still have influence on the choices they make.

For more information, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism College Drinking Task Force at www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov and College Parents of America at www.collegeparents.org/. For local resources, visit www.midcoastcasa.org.

LEE ANNE DODGE is the assistant director of Student Life at the University of Southern Maine and coordinates substance abuse prevention and wellness. She is a member of Maine’s Higher Education Alcohol Prevention Partnership (HEAPP).