to Know 

College Dr

National Institute on Alcohol A

Nationa

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AN

www.collegedrinking
In April 2002 a special Federal Task Fo

National Advisory Council on Alcohol 

Alcoholism issued its report titled A C

Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.

Task Force was composed of college pr

researchers, and students. The report w

culmination of a 3-year, extensive anal

literature about alcohol use on college 

including:

" the scope of the college drinking pr

" the effectiveness of intervention pro

used by colleges and communities

" recommendations for college presid

researchers on how to improve inter

prevention efforts

The purpose of this brochure is to high

information from A Call to Action that 

choosing a college for their son or dau

parents better understand campus cult

of the Task Force and additional suppo

are available at www.collegedrinkingpr

Highlights from:

A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U
College Drinking Consequence

What do we know about the extent and impact of alcohol ab

campuses? The recently published data compiled below illus

year the consequences of college drinking are more significan

destructive, and more costly than many Americans realize. I

important to remember that these consequences may affect y

daughter whether or not they drink.

" Death: 1,400 college students between the ages of 18 and 2

from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including moto

" Injury: 500,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 ar

injured under the influence of alcohol.

" Assault: More than 600,000 students between the ages of 

assaulted by another student who has been drinking.

" Sexual Abuse: More than 70,000 students between the ag

are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

" Unsafe Sex: 400,000 students between the ages of 18 and 2

unprotected sex and more than 100,000 students between th

24 report having been too intoxicated to know if they consen

" Academic Problems: About 25 percent of college students 

consequences of their drinking including missing class, fall

doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grad

" Health Problems/Suicide Attempts: More than 150,000 

an alcohol-related health problem and between 1.2 and 1.5 

students indicate that they tried to commit suicide within 

to drinking or drug use.
driving under the influence of alcohol last year.

" Vandalism: About 11 percent of college students report th

damaged property while under the influence of alcohol.

" Property Damage: More than 25 percent of administrator

with relatively low drinking levels and over 50 percent from 

high drinking levels say their campuses have a “moderate” 

problem with alcohol-related property damage.

" Police Involvement: About 5 percent of 4-year college stu

involved with the police or campus security as a result of t

estimated 110,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 

an alcohol-related violation such as public drunkenness or 

the influence. 

" Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: 31 percent of college st

criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and 6 percent for a 

alcohol dependence in the past 12 months, according to q

based self-reports about their drinking.

2
Parents: A Primary Influenc

As a parent you continue to be a primary influence in your s

life. You are key in helping them choose the right college so 

best education possible. At the same time, you also need to e

they go off to college they live in a safe environment. There 

stages in which you, as a parent, contribute in critical ways t

making involving your college-bound son or daughter:

I. Parents of a High School 

Student — Choosing the Right College

" As you examine potential colleges, include in your assessm

about campus alcohol policies.

" During campus visits, ask college administrators to outline i

how they go about enforcing underage drinking prevention, 

school sponsors alcohol-free social events, what other sociali

are available to students, what procedures are in place to not

alcohol and substance abuse problems, what counseling serv

to students, and how energetic and 

consistent the follow-up is on 

students who exhibit alcohol abuse 

and other problem behaviors.

" Inquire about housing arrangements 

and whether alcohol-free dorms are 

available.

" Ask whether the college/university 

employs student resident advisors 

(RAs) or adults to manage/monitor 

dormitories.

The proportion of coll

drink varies depending 

Drinking rates are high

and sororities, followed 

housing. Students who 

ly off-site (e.g., in apar

while commuting stud

their families drink the 

Influence o

Arrangem

Drinking B
sororities on campus, inquire about 

their influence on the overall social 

atmosphere at the college.

" Ask if the school offers Friday 

classes. Administrators are 

increasingly concerned that no 

classes on Friday may lead to an 

early start in partying on the 

weekends and increased alcohol 

abuse problems.

" Find out the average number of 

years it takes to graduate from that college.

" Determine the emphasis placed on athletics on campus an

tailgating at games involves alcohol.

" Find out the number of liquor law violations and alcohol-r

and deaths the campus has had in previous years.

" Finally, consider the location of the college and how it may 

atmosphere. 

4

A number of environm

working in concert wit

affect students’ alcohol 

Excessive alcohol use is 

occur in colleges: 

" where Greek systems 

(i.e., fraternities, soro

" where athletic teams 

" located in the North

Paren
gyg 

" Pay special attention to your son’s or daughter’s experience

during the crucial first 6 weeks on campus. With a great d

many students initiate heavy drinking during these early d

and the potential exists for excessive alcohol consumption 

successful adaptation to campus life. You should know tha

third of first-year students fail to enroll for their second ye

" Find out if there is a program during orientation that educ

about campus policies related to alcohol use. If there is on

your son or daughter, or at least be familiar with the name 

who is responsible for campus counseling programs.

" Inquire about and make certain you understand the colleg

notification” policy.

" Call your son or daughter frequently during the first 6 wee

" Inquire about their roommates, the roommates’ behavior, 

disagreements are settled or disruptive behavior dealt with.

" Make sure that your son or daughter understands the penal

drinking, public drunkenness, using a fake ID, driving und

assault, and other alcohol-related offenses. Indicate to them 

asked the college/university to keep you informed of infrac

alcohol policies. [For alcohol policies on college campuses 

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/policies]

" Make certain that they understand how alcohol use can lea

violence, and academic failure.
g

Facing an Alcohol-Related Crisis — Getting A

" Be aware of the signs of possible alcohol abuse by your son 

(e.g., lower grades, never available or reluctant to talk with 

to talk about activities with friends, trouble with campus a

serious mood changes).

" If you believe your son or daughter is having a problem wi

not blame them, but find appropriate treatment.

" Call and/or visit campus health services and ask to speak wit

" Indicate to the Dean of Students, either in person or by em

in the welfare of your son or daughter and that you want t

involved in his or her recovery despite the geographic sepa

" If your son or daughter is concerned about his or her alcoh

or that of a friend, have them check out www.alcoholscree

information about ongoing screening for problems with al

" Pay your son or daughter an unexpected visit. Ask to mee

Attend Parents’ Weekend and other campus events open to 

" Continue to stay actively involved in the life of your son o

Even though they may be away at college, they continue to 

of your family and its values.

6
abuse as one of the greatest problems facing campus life and 

to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges p

recommendations to college presidents, researchers, parents, 

deal with this continuing public health problem in a scientif

way. We encourage parents to continue to educate themselv

and using the following materials prepared by the Task Force

documents on the following page are available in full text at

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov.
Resources

The following materials are available from the National Insti

Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) by mail or through the NIA

(www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov):

Task Force Report

" A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. 

Final Report of the Task Force on College Drinking

Panel Reports

" High-Risk Drinking in College: What We Know and What W

Final Report of the Task Force on College Drinking’s Pan

and Consequences

" How To Reduce High-Risk College Drinking: Use Proven Str

Research Gaps

Final Report of the Task Force on College Drinking’s Pan

and Treatment

Brochures

" What College Presidents Need to Know About College Drink

" What Parents Need to Know About College Drinking 

" What Peer Educators and Resident Advisors (RAs) Need to K

College Drinking

Future Brochures

" What High School Guidance Counselors Need to Know Abou

Drinking

" What Community Leaders Need to Know About College Dri

" What Students Need to Know About College Drinking

8
g 

" Reducing Alcohol Problems on Campus: A Guide to Plannin

Online Resources

" National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

www.niaaa.nih.gov

" NIAAA Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free

www.alcoholfreechildren.org

" NIAAA Kids Web Site

www.thecoolspot.gov

" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov

" National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

www.nhtsa.dot.gov

" Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrat

www.samhsa.gov

" U.S. Department of Education 

www.ed.gov

" U.S. Department of Justice

www.usdoj.gov

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoh

6000 Executive Boulevard, Willco Buildin

Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7003
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism • Nationa

U.S. Department of Health and Human Servi

National Institute on Alcohol

Abuse and Alcoholism

NIH Publication No. 02-5015

Printed April 2002