Show Spring break is risky business a. a Y Adapted by Jim Heal BeaUs is DRINKING is the number one health problem on college and university cam cam- President Bush included alcohol in inthe inthe inthe the 1992 National Drug Control Strategy citing it as the lithe most abused substance by students The 1991 survey of high school seniors and college students by Michigan's Institute for Survey Research lends credence to this statement by indicating an increase in the number of binge drinkers five or more drinks in a row and daily drinkers in inthe inthe inthe the population College students spend approximately 55 billion annually to purchase gallons gallons gallons gal gal- lons of alcoholic beverages This alcohol consumption can lead to dropouts campus violence risky sexual and even death For example charges of rape against a University University University sity of Richmond student were dismissed last year when the victim testified that she he was too drunk to know she was being sexually assaulted and the defendant testified testified testified tes tes- tes- tes that he was so drunk that he did not realize at first that she was not consenting Last fall a year old University of Idaho student died in his home of alcohol poisoning after consuming large quantities of alcohol at ata a Halloween party the previous night It is estimated estimated estimated es es- es- es that among those currently in college college college col col- col- col lege between and will eventually eventually eventually even even- lose their lives due to drinking The Put On The Brakes program initiated last year by the Office for Substance Abuse a. a Prevention aSAP seeks to raise awareness about alcohol problems on college campuses and to call for action among students college presidents governing boards faculty and ad ad- Its goal is to suggest that through concerted action by all relevant parties parties parties par par- ties a positive impact can occur Over the past few weeks colleges and universities across the country had Spring Break As stated by the Surgeon General last year Spring Break has become synonymous with excessive and binge drinking by our young people As part of the Put On The Brakes program aSAP has created the College Resource Collection Collection Collection Col Col- lection to help colleges and communities reduce related alcohol-related problems especially during the spring break months This collection collection collection tion includes key facts about alcohol graphics questions and answers and sample school policies that can help decrease drinking drinking drinking drink drink- ing by college students Alcohol Practices Policies and Potentials o of f American Colleges and Universities A White Paper the Faculty Members Member's Handbook and the Program Administrators Administrator's Handbook Handbook Handbook Hand Hand- book are also available to give an in-depth in look at the problems of drinking on college campuses and strategies for dealing with them These materials and other helpful resources can be obtained through aSAP's National National National Na Na- Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information Information Information In In- formation at which houses the most comprehensive set of alcohol and other drug information in the world |