Educato

Resident Ad

(RAs) Need to 

About C

Dr

National Institute on Alcohol A

Nationa

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AN

www.collegedrinking
This brochure for college peer educato

advisors contains highlights from the 

Action: Changing the Culture of Drinkin

The report was developed by the Natio

Health National Advisory Council on 

Alcoholism Task Force on College Dri

The Task Force was composed of colle

alcohol researchers, and students. It co

extensive analysis of the research literat

provide the most up-to-date and credib

information on college drinking, inclu

" The scope of the college drinking p

" The effectiveness of intervention pr

used by schools and communities 

" Recommendations for college presid

researchers on how to improve these 

prevention efforts

The Task Force hopes that you will use 

(and our other materials) to help you u

extent of this problem, speak knowled

and be proactive in taking steps to add

school. The full report of the Task For

supporting documents are available at

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov.

Highlights from:

A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U
A Snapshot of Annual High

R

College Drinking Consequence

The Task Force integrated several national databases and com

statistics that present a new and more complete picture of c

consequences. The first step in addressing this problem is to 

what it is—a public health issue for the Nation, which partic

young adults.

" Death: Over 1,400 students ages 18 to 24 die from alcoho

unintentional injuries including motor vehicle crashes. 

" Injury: 500,000 students ages 18 to 24 are unintentionally 

the influence of alcohol.

" Assault: More than 600,000 students ages 18 to 24 are ass

another student who has been drinking.

" Sexual Abuse: More than 70,000 

students ages 18 to 24 are victims 

of a sexual assault or date rape in 

which alcohol is involved.

" Unsafe Sex: 400,000 students ages 

18 to 24 have unprotected sex and 

more than 100,000 report having 

been too intoxicated to know if 

they consented to having sex. 

" Academic Problems: About 25 

percent of college students report 

academic consequences of their 

High-risk college studen

the following:

" Underage drinking

" Drinking and driving 

where the use of alco

" Drinking when healt

medications make us

" Binge drinking; that 

per occasion for male

*Moderate drinking by pe

defined as no more than 2 

day for men and 1 drink 

High-Risk 

Student D
and papers, and receiving lower grades overall. More than 

slightly more than 25 percent of college students report ac

linked to alcohol use.

" Health Problems and Suicide Attempts: More than 150,0

develop an alcohol-related health problem and between 1.2 

of students indicate that they tried to commit suicide withi

due to drinking or drug use.

" Drunk Driving: 2.1 million students between the ages of 

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 th

an estimated 110,000 students between the ages of 18 and 2

an alcohol-related violation such as public drunkenness or d

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
pgp

" Failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilit

" Specific school problems such as poor attendance, low grad

recent disciplinary action

" Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such 

car

" Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as be

driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hur

while drunk

" Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship p

are caused or worsened by drinking

" Mood changes such as temper flareups, irritability, and defensiveness

" Physical or mental problems such 

as memory lapses, poor 

concentration, bloodshot eyes, lack 

of coordination, or slurred speech

" How can you identif

or dependent drinke

" How is the body affe

consumption?

" What are the drinkin

State and communit

" What are your schoo

and procedures?

" What are the possibl

student breaks the la

Peer edu

should k
Why is the Task Force reaching out to peer ed

" You are trusted by classmates to provide reliable answers an

accurate information, regardless of the health topic.

" You have hands-on knowledge that enables you to interpre

a different perspective.

" You are a very important link between the administration 

body.

" You can assist college presidents in reducing underage/ex

drinking.

" Your input can make college alcohol prevention programs m

A Call to Action for Peer Educators/Resident 

You can help reduce underage and excessive drinking in a va

The following commonsense suggestions, along with your cr

rapport with peers, can be strong tools for you to make a dif

campus. 

" Become involved in the review and assessment of current a

on campus.

" Understand and become active in implementing strategies 

entire study body, the campus and surrounding communit

and the individual at-risk, problem, or alcohol-dependent 

4
and implement interventions. For example, Alcohol Screen

every April—does it happen on your campus? An online sc

always available to you is www.alcoholscreening.org.

" Openly support policy changes 

aimed at altering the culture of 

drinking on campus. Many 

university alcohol policies are 

listed on NIAAA’s College 

Drinking Prevention Web site, 

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov.

" Understand and advocate for the implementation of the re

strategies identified in the Task Force’s report, as well as pr

include an evaluation component. 

" Work to improve joint campus–community efforts to limi

risk drinking.

" Read the Task Force’s report (see the Resources list at the e

brochure for the Web Site and mailing address). You will 

scientific reasoning behind its recommendations, and cons

to discuss those recommendations with others. 

The Task Force recommends a comprehensive 3-in-1 Frame

addresses multiple audiences simultaneously. This is explaine

in the full Task Force report, which is available free of charge 

online at www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov.
Additional Information

The Task Force report, A Call to Action: Changing the Cultur

U.S. Colleges, contains information that can help you better 

risk drinking at your school. Highlights include: 

Living Arrangements

The proportion of college students who drink varies dependi

they live. Drinking rates are highest in fraternities and sorori

on-campus housing (e.g., dormitories, residence halls). Stude

independently off-site (e.g., in apartments) drink less, while 

students who live with their families drink the least.

College Characteristics 

A number of environmental influences working in concert w

may affect students’ alcohol consumption. Schools where ex

use is more likely to occur include:

" Schools where Greek systems dominate (i.e., fraternities, so

" Schools where athletic teams are prominent

" Schools located in the Northeast

First-Year Students 

The first 6 weeks of enrollment are critical to first-year stude

Because many students initiate heavy drinking during these e

college, the potential exists for excessive alcohol consumption 

with successful adaptation to campus life. The transition to 

6
enroll for their second year. 

Established Drinking Patterns

Although some drinking problems begin during the college y

students entering college bring established drinking practices 

Thirty percent of 12th-graders, for example, report binge drin

school, slightly more report having “been drunk,” and almost 

report drinking in the past year. Colleges and universities “inh

substantial number of drinking problems that developed earli

Secondhand Consequences of Drinking

Students who do not drink or do not abuse alcohol experien

consequences from others’ excessive use. In addition to physi

assault and damaged property, these consequences include un

advances and disrupted sleep and study. The problems produ

drinking are neither victimless nor cost-free. All students—w

misuse alcohol or not—and their parents, faculty, and memb

surrounding community experience the negative consequenc

drinking culture on U.S. campuses. 

Other Factors Affecting Drinking

" Biological and genetic predisposition to use

" Belief system and personality

" Expectations about the effects of alcohol 

" Availability of alcohol in the area surrounding a campus 
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 Pane

on Prevention and Treatment

Brochures 

" What College Presidents Need to Know About College Drinki

" What Parents Need to Know About College Drinking

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

College Drinking

8
" What High School Guidance Counselors Need to Know Abou

College Drinking

" What Community Leaders Need to Know About College Drin

" What Students Need to Know About College Drinking

Planning and Evaluation Handbook

" 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
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

10
References

Engs RC, Hansen DJ. Boozing and brawling on campus: A n

study of violent problems associated with drinking over t

decade. Journal of Criminal Justice 22:171–189, 1994.

Engs RC, Diebold BA, Hansen DJ. The drinking patterns an

national sample of college students, 1994. Journal of Alc

Education 41:13–33, 1996.

Hingson RW, Heeren T, Zakocs RC, Kopstein A, Wechsler H

alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. colle

18–24. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 63(2):136–144, 200

Knight JR, Wechsler H, Kuo M, Seibring M, Weitzman ER, 

Alcohol abuse and dependence among U.S. college stude

Studies on Alcohol, 2002, in press.

Presley CA, Meilman PW, Cashin JR. Alcohol and Drugs on Am

Campuses: Use, Consequences, and Perceptions of the Campu

Vol. 4: 1992–1994. Carbondale, IL: Core Institute, South

University, 1996. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Findings from the 1999 National Household Survey on Dru

Publication No. (SMA)00-3466. Rockville, MD: Substan

Mental Health Services Administration, 2000.

Wechsler H, Dowdall GW, Davenport AE, Castillo S. Corre

college student binge drinking. American Journal of Publi

85:982–985, 1995.
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. 02-5017

Printed April 2002