Dropping to 18 Brings in Too Much Risky Behavior

8/24/2008

The Cincinnati Enquirer

By President David Hodge, Miami University of Ohio

College is a time of incredible growth, discovery and opportunity for young adults. They are exposed to new ways of thinking, challenged to grow in ways they haven't imagined and encouraged to explore the many possibilities that life has to offer. They are also faced with learning how to deal with the challenges that life presents. They learn to make sound choices, to take responsibility for their actions. The large majority of students get this right.

Not everything goes as we hope, though. One of the most troubling issues we grapple with at Miami University, as at almost all universities throughout the U.S., is excessive drinking. While most students demonstrate healthful behaviors, some students make poor choices about alcohol, both in terms of how much they drink and why they drink. Too often, these choices lead to serious problems and sometimes tragic consequences. The Amethyst Initiative widens the dialogue about this very serious issue. I welcome all discussions that might lead to better approaches to help our students learn to make better choices.

Unfortunately, the Amethyst Initiative asserts, rather than questions, the role the 21 age limit plays in excessive drinking among young people. It may be that the age limit exacerbates our efforts to help students make good choices, and exploration of this effect is appropriate. However, their assertions are based on perceptions of the issues that are incorrect.

First, the problem with alcohol use does not begin at age 18 or in college. More than half of the students arriving on college campuses today report that they have already engaged in alcohol consumption. Second, in addition to making alcohol more available to university students, most experts in the field believe that lowering the age limit will likely increase student alcohol use in high school and earlier. Indeed, while there is a broad perception that the lower drinking age in Europe leads to more responsible behaviors, more recent data show that binge drinking is a bigger problem in Europe than in the U.S. for those under age 18.

Various researchers have also specifically demonstrated that drinking before the age of 21 causes damage to growing brains (yes, even for students of that age) and contributes significantly to violence; dropping out of school; unplanned and unsafe sex; fatalities and injuries from drownings, burns and falls; and homicides and suicides.

Knowing this, I find it very difficult to responsibly advocate for lowering the age limit for alcohol consumption, and I reject the assertions made by the Amethyst Initiative.

So what can we do to address this serious issue? Miami, like an increasing number of universities, has implemented a Comprehensive Strategic Plan to Reduce High Risk Drinking based on guidelines from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Our focus is on developing effective, science-based prevention efforts. For instance, all incoming students are required to complete an interactive program called AlcoholEdu, which helps them assess their responses to alcohol and to social situations involving alcohol. Faculty and staff are provided with training to identify students at risk and guide them to seek help. And we hold students accountable for their behavior and insist on behavioral interventions (from counseling to suspension) when students are found to have violated laws or policies.

Are these initiatives working? Yes, they are having an impact. Are we doing enough? As long as students continue to engage in potentially harmful behaviors, I don't think we can ever say that we are doing enough.

This is an extremely important issue for families, for young people and for our universities. We need to work together to develop effective solutions.