OCR Text |
Show Utah by Randy Rowell According to a study of college students in major U.S. universities, between 71-96 percent of students drink. Jurgen Schwermer, Director of the Division of Alcoholism and Drugs, Utah State Department of Social Services, said, "The consumption of alcohol by college students has also increased substantially in Utah over the last 25 years. "Although there is an increase in drinking among students, this doesn't imply that our colleges are filled with alcoholic persons or problem drinkers. It; does mean that a substantial number of young people are drinking, and the .long-range social and economic consequences are largely unknown," he stressed. "The misinformation and ignorance due to lack of knowledge about alcohol aids in the perpetuation of the problems that result from misuse of alcohol," Schwermer said. Researchers have suggested that drinking in high school is a pattern for college drinking, he continued. Six out of ten of the "frequent heavy" drinkers or both sexes said that they had drunk at least once or twice a week while in high school. Likewise, three-quarters of the men and nine-tenths of the no exeption to alcoholism women classified as abstainers in college had not drunk in h.h school. "Other studies reveal that men continue to drink more heavily, more frequently, and with more intention to get drunk than women. Unlike women, who tend to drink in the company of the opposite sex, men tend to drink in the company of other men," Schwermer explained. He notes that the trend towards women becoming more emotionally and economically independent may be partially responsible for the higher increase in women drinkers. "However, there are more social pressures against women who drink heavily, Women who drink excessively are more likely to have emotional problems than their male counterparts. "The feelings of large numbers of students is that drinking and drunkenness are acceptable of even "second nature" behaviors. This seems to support the needs for positive low-key program approaches to curb abusive use of alcohol," said Schwermer. He explained that strong emphasis for all adults must be placed on making "responsible decisions" about drinking which may include the decision not to drink. Students in Utah's colleges Dear Aunt Dorothy Dear Aunt Dorothy: My father is a machinist who was laid off by the B-l bomber cancellation. Military cutbacks cost him his job! Out in the Cold in California Dear Out in the Cold in California: Your father's employer, Rockwell International, was guaranteed total compensation for all expenses and losses from the B-l cancellation. The workers got the ax. It was another case of socialism for the rich and "free market" for the workers. More jobs are created by converting to non-military projects. But planning is necessary. Support a bill for conversion planning presently in Congress (the Defense Economic Adjustment Act). Contact me or your congressional representative for more information. Dear Aunt Dorothy: The Reader's Digest says it's high time to dig deeper fallout shelters because the Russians are way ahead of us in civil defense and are getting ready for a first-strike. And President Carter wants plans to evacuate our cities. What about it? Eighth Grade Reader Dear Eighth Grade: Dig a deep hole and bury all your Digests. They use their own writers for scare articles to keep up the arms race. Our own National Security Council says that 140 million Americans will die in a nuclear war. Both countries would be destroyed. The Russians do have a civil defense program but it is sheer stupidity and won't work. Maybe they have been reading the Reader's Digest. Russians have nicknamed their program "grob," which means "coffin." There is no defense against nuclear weapons. Write President Carter and tell him so. Dear Aunt Dorothy: Aren't the Russians ahead of us in the arms race? Scared in Sarasota Dear Scared in Sarasota: No. The US is twice as powerful as the USSR in tk-i.tructive capabilities. You should be ashamed of yourself for believing that a top-heavy, centralized, inefficient state bureaucracy like the Kremlin could do nny better. How un-American! You've been taken for a scare ride by our bureaucrats who are up to their necks in our public trough. But really, S.S., does it i.iake any difference that we can destroy them 12 times and they can only kill us 6 times? contributed the lO.OOQ persons arrested in 1978 for drunk driving. In Utah in 1978, there are 180 alcohol related traffic deaths. Over 70 percent of inmates at the Utah State Prison are incarcerated for alcohol or drug-related or simultaneous use of either substance, and approximately 60,000 youths in grades 7-12 in Utah have used alcohol. Studies also show that over 25 percent of all City-County jail inmates in Utah are there for public intoxication. "One person in four says alcohol-related problems have adversely affected his or her family life," Schwermer said, adding that 70 percent of all cases of spouse abuse and 45 percent of child abuse cases involve alcohol or drug abuse. "Although knowledge of these facts will not solve the problems, the presence of this information is essential in responsible decision making," Schwermer said. "The answer lies in prevention, whose purpose is to create an awareness of risks and consequences of alcohol abuse and to expand projects and programs which prevent or minimize family disillusions and human suffering. The promotion of health through early identification and intervention is also a solution to the high cost of health care. Prevention and early intervention in alcohol related problems greatly reduce the health care cost by reducing the number of persons retiring hospitalization or intens , v:are treatment. I - j LDS I I j INSTITUTE HORIZONS :S'&. IN THOUGHT THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER: ROBERT S. CLARK (Institute Instructor) EVERY FRIDAY AT 12 NOON AT THE INSTITUTE NEXT WEEK'S HORIZONS SPEAKER: BRENTON YORGASON (Author) HAWAII '79 DELUXE HA WAIIANHOLIDA YS III tASSK j ONE ISLAND $399 - Jun. 4-11, 1979 TWO ISLANDS $519 - Jun. 4-11, 1979 FOUR ISLAND $619 - Jun. 4-14, 1979 TOUR PRICE INCLUDES: Round trip airfare via United Airlines In-flight meal and cocktail service Complimentary flight bag Flower lei greeting Superior hotel ir in hiuc q ninhts nnlnn air conditioned motor "- rnarhns Meals as Indicated in itinerary Transfers m, tofrom airport and hotel All baggage handling. Tour and j5s.H hospitality desk All taxes and service charges personal escort. For more information call : DAVE RICH 731-2441 or FISHBURN WORLD i. i it 1 ' TRAVEL 394-2667 -1 1 ssv' ,,-7 ... . V ' J'-$m "ap.1 |