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OPINIONS
Editorial: Drinking games add to dangers of teen alcohol use
A new analysis regarding the growing toll of alcohol poisoning serves up another sobering reminder of how lethal the mix of young people and drinking can be.
An Associated Press examination of federal records found that 157 college-age people, 18 to 23, drank themselves to death from 1999 through 2005, the latest year for which figures are available. The annual total has grown from 18 in 1999 to a peak of 35 in 2005.
Over that period, more than half were under the drinking age of 21.
The report, released this week, just adds to the body of evidence that alcohol is a deadly ingredient for young people. While young people literally drinking themselves to death is bad enough, the number of alcohol-related deaths under other circumstances is far greater.
Nationwide statistics show that 5,000 youth die each year from incidents involving underage drinking. About 1,400 college students die in America annually in alcohol-related incidents.
Turning 21 doesn't necessarily mean the dangers go away. One practice reported in the AP analysis -- drinking 21 shots of alcohol on a 21st birthday -- has proven especially lethal. Of the college-age deaths that made news, 11 people (including eight college students) died while celebrating their 21st birthdays.
All in all, it's a grim picture. But while it's generally acknowledged that under-aged people who want to drink will find a way, it's a reality that should be targeted for change. Education for all young drinkers and enforcement of underage drinking laws remain the best way to go about it.
Unlike some college campuses where alcohol poisoning has claimed lives, Marshall University has been fortunate. In fact, MU Police Chief Jim Terry said there hasn't been an alcohol-related death on Marshall's campus in his 20-year stint with the university's police department. But it is something he worries about, with good cause. According to the Marshall Police Department, there were 222 arrests or citations issued for liquor law violations involving students in 2005. Less than half were on campus, and most involved in underage drinking, Terry said.
According to Terry, his department works hard to combat underage drinking and has taken the fight against underage drinking off campus by teaming up with other local law enforcement agencies. While that alone won't eliminate problems, it can help young people think twice before putting themselves at risk. And it may make it harder for adults to supply them with alcohol.
Like most universities, Marshall emphasizes to its new students the rules regarding alcohol and the dangers of drinking. The university's Substance Abuse Education Program (SAEP) provides seminars, growth groups and other programs to promote the responsible use of alcohol and to educate the campus community about the problems associated with the use of illegal drugs. Individual counseling and referral are part of this service. The coordinator of the program also serves as adviser and university liaison for BACCHUS, a student organization which advocates the responsible use of alcohol.
Those education and help efforts should continue full force. Likewise, public schools should review their curricula to ensure that their students are getting a strong message about the dangers of drinking. The 2005 West Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed that 31 percent of young people in the state had their first drink before they were 13.
Parents also play a huge role -- or at least they should. Make children aware of the statistics, inform them of the limits when alcohol can lead to risky behavior or alcohol poisoning. And if you learn that they need help to battle an alcohol problem, acknowledge it and get them appropriate assistance.
Through a concerted effort, perhaps the tide can be turned against the grim statistics.
