If you suspect that your child is a heavy drinker or has been binge drinking, none of this is going to be easy for you. Suspecting, knowing, and then finding options for your next move is pain no parent expects or wants to know. None of those 430 families in the teen rehab program I’ve been showing you wanted to deal with this heartbreaking and truly terrifying problem.
The good news is that the problem of alcohol abuse by children and young adults is now at the forefront, thanks to researchers, colleges, city administrations, churches, mental health professionals, the media – and college students themselves. Let’s look at a few of the most innovative solutions that are in place right now.
One governor’s approach to underage alcohol abuse
One of the most innovative responses to underage alcohol and drug abuse is New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, which established and maintains the Municipal Alliance Program. This alliance, launched to produce localized solutions to various community problems with substance abuse, funds over 500 communities who share a total of $9.55 Million each year. The municipal alliances fund these substance abuse prevention and educational programs related to alcohol and drug abuse with funds they receive from the Council.
Some of the funded programs include alcoholism and drug abuse prevention programs in grade kindergarten through grade 12; support outreach for parents; the development of community awareness programs through youth related activities, alcoholism and drug addiction education. Over 3,000 individual programs are being implemented by the Municipal Alliances.
New Jersey is one state of many that is now taking a hard look at heavy drinking and binge drinking and moving forward to do something about it.
A three-pronged way for schools to deal with college alcohol abuse
Thanks to the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (CASA), AND reports from the NIAAA Task Force on College Drinking, college administrators now have a well researched three-prong approach to dealing with college alcohol abuse.
The “3-in-1 Framework” recommended by NIAAA includes effective anti-binge drinking and heavy drinking strategies for college students; strategies effective with general populations; and strategies that show promise when used as college polices and/or used at campus based events that promote excessive drinking.
Until recently, administrations didn’t have a solid grasp on college-related drinking that they now have. For instance, alcohol research now makes it clear that there are many factors that interact to produce different drinking patterns. They might include students’genes, family and cultural background and environments, high school drinking experiences before coming to college and the drinking environment of the college they attend. Even in the same college, one student may drink more than another depending on the fraternity/sorority, sports, or other social group he or she “hangs with.”
Now college administrators do have the research results to help them create effective programs aimed at stopping heavy drinking and binge drinking on their campuses. Because they do, some college presidents are opening their eyes to their responsibilities about alcohol abuse on their campuses big time. Let’s just say that parents aren’t the only ones who are taking off the horse blinders.
One college president says it like it is.
”Excessive student drinking contributes to failed academic performance ranging from missed classes to attrition. At the same time, many colleges and universities unwittingly help create a culture of student drinking by scheduling no classes on Friday, thereby creating three-day weekends, and by grade inflation which tolerates and even rewards minimal student performance,” says University of Puget Sound President Susan Resnick Pierce.
Some promising school policies suggested by the studies include reinstating Friday classes, eliminating keg parties, and establishing alcohol-free dorms and activities. Others include increasing publicity about enforcement of underage drinking laws, enforcing campus disciplinary actions associated with policy violations, provision of “safe rides” programs, informing new students and parents about alcohol policies and penalties, and increasing enforcement at campus-based events that promote excessive drinking. This includes sports games.
As stated earlier, CASA President Joseph Califano, Jr., included a call to stop allowing alcohol advertising at college and professional sports games in his center’s alcohol abuse cessation goals. Parents, coaches, teachers, school administrations and town officials can all join the cry for alcohol-free sports for their schools.
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