Drug Free Action Alliance brings together more than 46 colleges and universities to form campus and community coalitions to reduce the environmental influences that condone or promote high-risk drinking.
This initiative focuses on five strategies for reducing the environmental influences of high-risk drinking:
- Restrict marketing and promotion of alcohol
- Improve social, recreational, and academic options
- Limit alcohol availability
- Increase consistent enforcement of laws and policies
- Create a health-promoting environment (includes correcting perceptions of social norms)
A Message To Parents About High-Risk Drinking at College
Learn, Understand and Use Your Influence
Consequences of High-Risk Drinking
What a Parent Can Do...
Know the Laws
Today 40% males and 30% females drink to become intoxicated. Twenty years ago 20% males and 15% females drank to get drunk.
- The first 6 weeks of college for first-year students are critical to their success; about 1/3 fail to enroll for their second year.
- 1,700 college students die each year from alcohol-related injuries including motor vehicle crashes.
- About 25 % of college students report negative academic consequences because of their drinking including missing class falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers and receiving lower grades overall.
- 31 % of college students meet criteria for alcohol abuse diagnosis and 6 % for alcohol dependence diagnosis.
- Alcohol is the most abused drug.
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- Alcohol Poisoning – can possibly lead to death
- Alcohol Depresses Nerves – that control involuntary action like breathing and the gag reflex which prevents choking
- Alcohol Interferes with Brain Development - causing potential learning impediments
- Violent Crimes - 95% of those on college campuses are alcohol-related
- Sexual Assault: 90% of college rapes involve alcohol use by either the victim or the assailant
- Academic Consequences – alcohol is associated with poor grades, absenteeism and higher rates of school dropout
- Criminal Records - violating alcohol related laws can result in a permanent criminal record interfering with future employment and post graduate work
- Students are Less Sensitive to Alcohol Effects – they can drink longer before feeling drowsy increasing the potential for injuries
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- Studies clearly show that parents remain a key influence on college students
- You know your student best - be alert to identifying crisis early
- Watch for drop in grades and deterioration of family relationships
- If students know or perceive parents’ disapproval of behaviors, they are less likely to engage in them
- Stay involved and stay in touch – inquire about classes, friends and extracurricular activities
- Encourage community service and other healthy activities to spend time and money
- Talk with your student – get and share facts
- Listen - lecturing doesn’t work
- Communicate risks and consequences associated with underage drinking
- Refrain from glamorizing alcohol use
- Make your expectations extremely clear – provide clear No-Use messages regarding underage drinking
- Model good behaviors concerning alcohol, tobacco and prescription medicines
- Parents can still play a major role in preventing alcohol problems
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Ohio Colleges support all federal, state and local laws regarding alcohol
- It is illegal for people under age 21 to drink or possess any alcoholic beverage.
- It is illegal for any person to possess an open container of alcohol in a public place or in a motor vehicle.
- It is illegal for any person to possess, create, sell or distribute a fake ID. This is a 4th degree felony.
- It is illegal to buy, share the cost or provide alcohol to persons under age 21.
- It is illegal for people under 21 with a blood alcohol content of .02 or higher to operate a motor vehicle.
- It is illegal to knowingly allow a person under 21, other than your own child, to remain in your home or on your property while consuming or possessing alcohol.
- It is illegal as a parent, to give alcohol to your teen’s friends under the age of 21 under any circumstance, even in your own home, even with their parent’s permission.
Download the Parent Brochure
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