Alcohol usage reported low, still widespread health problem
Despite alcohol consumption being illegal for those under the age of 21, Lt. Nicholas Chiorello of the Rutgers University Police Department said in an email statement that persons aged 12 to 20 account for 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
Lisa Laitman, director for the Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program at the University, said drinking and substance abuse numbers are consistent throughout the Northeast. The figures ADAP looks at are from a clinical population, not the national population.
“The students we see are a mix of those who are mandated to come here from community standards and student conduct because something had happened,” she said. “We also have a volunteer population for our recovery program.”
Laitman said ADAP also offers 12-month recovery housing for students recovering from alcohol and/or drug dependence. The housing offers support from other students also trying to stay sober, as well as a recovery counselor and access to Counseling, the Alcohol & Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services.
Diana Starace, injury prevention coordinator at the Level I Trauma Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, said the hospital sees an increase in drug and alcohol related patients between Thursdays and Sundays.
“We see kids come in from drinking and drug related issues, and sometimes from an injury like a broken leg,” she said. “The broken leg is the primary injury, but we also discover that the person may or may not be intoxicated. Nationally, about 50 percent of the patients in trauma centers are related to drug and alcohol issues.”
Starace, a member of the New Jersey Prevention Network, said the NJPN has taken initiatives to try and combat drug and alcohol abuse, including town hall meetings where publics discussions can be held.
She said both RWJUH and St. Peters University Hospital see many young people under the age of 21 strictly because they drank too much. On busier nights, RWJUH sends overflow patients to SPUH and vice-versa.
According to the RUPD crime statistics compilation, in 2011 there was a grand total of 872 reports of underage possession of alcohol, 173 reports of open containers of alcohol, 7 reports of serving alcohol to underage persons and 271 reports of drug abuse violations.
Starace said she has visited some of the fraternities and sororities on campus in previous years, as well as local high schools, to talk about preventative measures students can take.
“They reached out to us and asked us to come and talk with the different groups,” she said. “If I can reach a couple of people, then great.”
In 2009, New Jersey passed the “911 Lifeline Legislation,” which provides immunity from prosecution for an underage person for possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages if they call 911 and remain with a person in need of medical assistance, according to northjersey.com.
The website reports that minors must be the first ones to call 911, and provide their name to the operator. They must also remain on scene with the minor in need of medical assistance until help arrives and must fully cooperate with law enforcement personnel.
The legislation grants immunity to three people: the sick individual and up to two others assisting.
“Under state law, underage drinking or possession of alcohol on public property is a disorderly persons offense and carries a sentence of up to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, or both,” northjersey.com reported.
Chiorello said recent trends show there is a decrease in the number of alcohol related offenses that are reported to RUPD.
“Overall, underage alcohol consumption in the United States is a widespread and persistent public health and safety problem that creates serious personal, social and economic consequences for adolescents, their families, communities and the nation as a whole,” he said.
Chiorello said abuse is still a challenge for RUPD, as it enables riskier behavior and lessens inhibitions.
“The goal of RUPD is reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries resulting from traffic accidents by impaired drivers on the University campus,” he said. “[We are also focusing] on reducing the likelihood of individuals being victimized due to impaired inhibitions resulting from consumption of drugs and alcohol.”
Chiorello said alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States — more than tobacco and illicit drugs.
Linda Surks, coalition coordinator at the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Middlesex County, said the NCADD looks at a lot of data when compiling numbers for statistics of people in treatment.
She said in 2010, persons in the age range of 18 to 24 accounted for 25 percent of the total number of people in treatment in Middlesex County. The drug categories the center looks at are alcohol, cocaine, heroin and opiates, marijuana and other drugs.
Laitman said the University takes steps to try and help students before their usage becomes a problem. ADAP uses a brief intervention model and gathers data from each student.
“There are a lot of interventions that are effective,” she said. “Talking to them earlier is better, because we do not want a problem to develop.”
Laitman said that while the students that come into ADAP are given options, it is up to them to follow the steps advised.
“One of the things we teach them is to cut down how much they drink,” she said. “We also teach them to slow down their drinking and their drinks over time.”
