NCJ Number
190461
Journal
Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2001 Pages: 33-35
Date Published
July 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article examines alcohol and drug use in American colleges and universities.
Abstract
According to the Core Institute (1998) survey of college students across the United States, 85.1 percent of the students reported drinking alcohol within the preceding year, and 46.8 percent reported "binge drinking," drinking five or more drinks in one sitting, during the preceding 2 weeks. More than 85 percent of the students who reported that they were not of the legal age (21 years old) to consume alcohol reported drinking alcohol during the preceding year. Research has shown a relationship between the consumption of alcohol and other substance abuse. Those who abstained from drinking alcohol were least likely to use other types of drugs, while binge drinkers are most likely to use other types of drugs, primarily marijuana. Campus officials are concerned with alcohol and drug use and managing the campus environment to reduce liability. The courts have become more sympathetic to third party lawsuits for damages caused by someone who has been drinking, and colleges and universities are extremely susceptible to this type of litigation if they do not create an environment that opposes alcohol and drug use. The article suggested that campus police agencies could play a role by ensuring that underage drinking policy is strictly enforced, developing policies for substance abuse education, and working closely with school administrators to clearly define sanctions. Bibliography