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"College binge drinking is a serious problem. A problem so serious that we, at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. feel this important subject needs to be addressed frequently, and especially at this time of year," said Fort Myers Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

The fall term is starting as many college students arrive on campus. During this time students will develop new friendships and experiences which can last a lifetime. Unfortunately, for many, these experiences will involve excessive (binge) drinking the effects of which may lead to violence, vandalism, sexual aggression and even death.

According to a College Task Force report to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), many parents do not realize how costly the consequences of binge drinking by college students may be not only to those who are drinking, but also to those who are not.

The University of Minnesota compiled statistics which indicate that drinking by college students aged 18 to 24 contributes to an estimated 1,825 student deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 97,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year.

The New York Times in December 2014 reported, "The binge-drinking rate among college students has hovered above 40 percent for two decades, and signs are that partying is getting even harder. More students now drink to get drunk, choose hard liquor over beer and drink in advance of social events. For many the goal is to black out. Drinking is so central to students’ expectations of college that they will fight for what they see as a basic right. After Syracuse University, named the nation’s No.1 party school by The Princeton Review, tried to limit a large outdoor gathering, outraged students labeled the campus a police state."

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking, as defined by the NIAAA is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08. This typically occurs in about 2 hours after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men.

What are the risks of binge drinking?

The NIAAA, in their April 2015 College Fact Sheet, reported the risks are death, injury, assault, sexual abuse, unsafe sex, academic problems, alcohol abuse disorders, drunk driving, and other consequences such as suicide attempts, health problems, vandalism, property damage and involvement with the police.

How to address the problem of binge drinking?

There have been successful efforts to combat this problem according to NIAAA. These typically involve a combination of targeted strategies involving prevention, intervention and treatment not only on campuses but also in the broader community.

Individual students:

Alcohol screening and brief campus intervention programs conducted at health centers can evaluate students' alcohol use and receive feedback on such issues as:

• The risks of drinking
• How these risks interfere with meeting goals
• How to monitor and reduce drinking
• How to handle high-risk situations

(Research has shown, however, that only 5 percent of the 19 percent of college students between 18 and 24 who meet the criteria for alcohol abuse dependency seek treatment.)

Campus and broader community:

Targeting college campuses and the broader, surrounding, community is a key component of the NIAAA's strategy of addressing the college drinking problem.

The NIAAA recommends:

• Providing alcohol education
• Limiting alcohol availability
• Enforcing underage-drinking laws
• Providing alcohol-free campus activities
• Notifying parents of alcohol-related infractions
• Adjusting academic schedules to include more Friday classes and reducing the number of long weekends during the semester

Fort Myers Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.