TheMichigan Daily - Friday, October 20, 1995 - 3
Efforts to control alcohol consumption and abuse are urging students to..
M y
Campus groups
S
eanng up to
lt against
alcohol abuse
By Laurie Mayk
Daily Staff Reporter
Crusaders in the battle against alcohol abuse
are fighting a myth. The misconceptions sur-
rounding alcohol may be just as dangerous as
the drug itself, experts say.
This theory is prompting concerned groups,
including University Health Services and parts
of the Greek system, to focus on "awareness"
and education, rather than elimination.
"We're trying to change the perception of
norms on the campus so people feel comfortable
going out and not getting drunk," said Marsha
-Benz, UHS health education coordinator in
charge of alcohol and other drug abuse.
The Pi Beta Phi sorority added its efforts this
week, educating its members and donning but-
tons in support of National Collegiate Alcohol
Awareness Week.
With an immediate focus on educating its
own members and encouraging them to spread
the word, Pi Beta Phi's
Paying the PriCe long-term goals for the
Following are the incidence of various program are to "try and
experiences as a result of drinking among elminate the illegal use
:binge-drinking undergraduates at the ofunderage alcohol and
University.other drugs and to try
Had a hangover: 91% and promote sensible
Got nauseated or vomited: 76% drinking and reponsible
Were sexually harassed or molested after drinkingfor those who
.drikng 8%are over 21," said
Missed a class or work due to drinking: Rebekkah Brandstatter,
54e alocal program chair.
Driven a car while under the influence: 43% In part, the campaign
Been embarrassed or disturbed by something will combata stereotype
you did while drinking: 66% ofGreeklife anditscon-
nection to alcohol.
Following are the incidence of various Brandstatter said that
experiences as a result of drinking among beginning this aware-
non-binge-drinking undergraduates at the ness "from within" may
University. help to deterpeople from
Had a hangover: 49% making these associa-
Got nauseated or vomited: 40% tions. "The stereotype is
Were sexually harassed or molested after 'a lot of Greek organi-
drinking: 4% zations endorse alco-
Missed a class or work due to drinking: 11% hol.' SoI see it as a very
Driven a car while under the influence: 16% positive thing."
Been embarrassed or disturbed by something UHS will dedicate it-
you did while drinking: 32% self to discrediting mis-
Sodrce: University survey on alcohol and other drugs, 1993 conceptions about alco-
hol during its own
awareness campaign Nov. 6-11. The UHS pro-
gram will include a drunk-driving simulator,
"mocktail" parties, films and guest speakers,
including one sponsored by the Panhellenic
Association.
"People think things are happening out there
that aren't happening," Benz said. "People think
that everyone gets drunk when they go out to
drink."
However, Benz said, a survey conducted in
the spring of 1993 regarding alcohol and other
drugs on campus reported that 63 percent of
University students "do not get drunk when they
drink."
According to the survey, people at the Uni-
versity overestimate the frequency and amount
Jason Newtona, left, a
University alumni, and
Brett Belden, a senior
at Eastern Michigan
University, were two
of many students at
Ashley's Restaurant
and Pub last night.
SARA STILLMAN/Daily
- -
.. ear
.: *'
Own h ome
Someone else's home
Who Drinks
How University students say they use alcohol.
Drank in last month Q Was drunk in last month Binge drinking in last two weeks.
Undergraduate Males
Undergraduate Females
Researcher: 2-pronged
approach helps prevent
kids from drinking
By Jonathan Bemdt
Daily News Editor
With almost one in five teenage drivers in-
volved in a car accident in their first year of
driving, a University researcher says her studies
show prevention programs should start early
and reinforce the dangers of drinking.
Jean Shope, a researcher in the School of
Public Health and the Transportation Research
Institute, has been studying teenagers and drink-
ing for the past 10 years.
"Generally, studies show the sooner kids start
drinking, the worse it is for them (later in life),"
Shope said. "It'd be bet-
ter todelay starting Kids and Alcohol
drinking, that's forr
sur'"A new University study found it may be
Shope recently con- possible to predict young drivers' behavior
cluded a study, with when they are in eighth grade. Here are some
Patdedia studyrwith of the numbers the'study found.
Patricia Waler and 22 percent of all young men were involved in
Sylvia Lang, of most a crash during their first year of driving.
800 Michigan drivers Of those who lived with both parents in
who have had their li- eighth grade and had both parents object
cense for a year. to underage drinking, 16.5 percent had a
The study found that crash and 23 percent committed a driving
factors leading to drink- offense.
ing and driving incidents Of those who did not live with both parents
are different for boys and whose parents were neutral on
and girls, though signs underage drinking, 54 percent had e crash
ofpossibly risky behav- and 50 percent had a driving offense.
for show up as early as 20 percent of all young women were involved
eighth grade. in a crash during their first year of driving.
The study showed that 32 percent of those whose friends were
boys who lived with heavily involved in alcohol had a crash.
both parents at the end Of those whose friends had average
ofjuniorhigh andwhose involvement in alcohol, 20 percent had a
parents objected to teen crash.
drinking were the least Of those whose friends were not involved
likely to have a crash. with alcohol, 13.5 percent had a crash.
More than half of those
who did not live with both parents and whose
parents were neutral on alcohol use were in-
volved in a crash.
For girls, the study showed factors based on
friends' alcohol use were better predictors of
who would be involved in a crash. When her
friends were heavily involved with alcohol, 32
percent of first-year female drivers were in-
volved in a crash. Only 13.5 percent of those
with friends who were not involved with alcohol
were involved in a crash.
Shope said programs should combat both
parts of the problem. In school, alcohol educa-
tion programs should include role-playing and
training in how to say no to a drink, no matter
what the situation. A program should also try to
Source: University survey on alcohol and other drugs, 1993
JONATHAN BERNDT/Daily
"Peoplethink things
are happening out
there that aren't
happening People
think that everyone
gets drunk when they
go out to drink."
that their peers drink.
"Because people are in-
fluenced by the behav-
iors and perceived ex-
pectations of those
around them, providing
more accurate informa-
tion about the norms and
preferences of people in
the U-M community
may encourage some
people to adopt lower-
risk practices," the sur-
vey stated.
"Thus, while there are
some heavy drinkers at
the University, the im-
Bars and restaurants
are popular places to
go drinking, but more
drinking goes on in
private homes.
SARA STILLMAN/Daily
- Marsha Benz
However, survey statistics show that Greek
houses are common spots for student alcohol
consumption. Ofthose undergraduates surveyed,
"Sometimes programs are best effective in
individual houses because students are a little
more open because they know everyone,"Seiler