Alcohol-Related Deaths Spike on Weekends
According to an Associated Press analysis of federal records, 157 college age people, ages 18-23, drank themselves to death between 1999 and 2005. During this seven-year span, alcohol-poisoning deaths per year nearly doubled from 18 in 1999 to 35 in 2005. And 83 of the victims were under the drinking age of 21. Deaths spiked on weekends, when college students are most likely to socialize.
Connie Gores, vice president for student life at Winona State University (MN), shed some light on the issue. "There have always been problems with young people and alcohol, but it just seems like they are a little more intense now than they used to be. The goal of a lot of them is just to get smashed."
A separate AP analysis of hundreds of news articles uncovered that those who died from alcohol poisoning had an average blood-alcohol level of 0.40%—five times the legal limit for driving. In nearly every case, friends knew the victim was drunk and put the person to bed to "sleep it off."

Colleges and communities have not ignored the issue, developing educational programs, creating strict sanctions and laws, and coordinating other awareness and prevention initiatives. However, in approximately 40% of the cases in which criminal investigations were known, charges were filed. Most often, these charges were filed against fraternity members or others who obtained alcohol for an underage person. In most cases, plea bargains were reached.

First year students and those celebrating 21st birthdays accounted for a significant number of these deaths. It's a cautionary tale as we dig into a new academic year, trying to avoid these statistics at all costs. Don't be afraid to talk with your student about smart alcohol choices. It could make a major difference when she's faced with these difficult decisions.