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By Sharron Hannon
President Michael F. Adams is among 113 college and university presidents who have joined a  national campaign to promote awareness of the dangers of binge drinking by college students.
The university leaders are listed in full-page ads appearing this month in major newspapers across the country. The ad campaign is sponsored by the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges and the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Institutions. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Barnes & Noble also support the project.
“The misuse of alcohol on college campuses is a national problem,” says Adams. “The purpose of this campaign is to alert students and parents that this is something to take seriously.”
A 1997 survey of more than 14,000 students at 116 colleges and universities found almost 43 percent met the widely accepted definition of binge drinkers--drinking to excess (five or more drinks for men, four or more for women) on at least one occasion during a two-week period.
At UGA, peer education programs offered by the University Health Center and funded by Student Activities focus on changing such high-risk behaviors.
“We work with student leaders, including fraternity, sorority and student organization presidents, residence hall assistants and athletes,” says Carole Middle-brooks, who coordinates the health center’s program on alcohol and other drugs. “We train students to become knowledgeable about the subject and to teach others.”
UGA alcohol and drug educators collaborate with other groups including judicial, law enforcement and community organizations to address the problem on a larger scope. They have additionally been involved in a community effort to educate local bar owners and servers to identify underage and abusive drinking behavior.
The next step, according to Middlebrooks, is to explore opportunities to integrate alcohol and tobacco messages in academic areas across campus.
ON THE WEB
For an overview of alcohol programs at colleges and universities and links to Web sites that provide more information about alcohol and alcohol abuse among college students: http://www.nasulgc.org/bingedrink/
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