PARENTS OF COLLEGE KIDS NEED TO LEARN, TOO

College is the time for parents to let go and for children to find their
way, but that doesn't mean the former should stop being aware or reasonably
involved. That's why Joel Epstein wrote A Parent's Guide to Sex, Drugs and
Flunking Out: Answers to the Questions Your College Student Doesn't Want
You to Ask.

Epstein's background is in educational development and alcohol and drug
abuse, but the book goes well beyond its title to address all sorts of
practical topics for the college-bound - like mismatched roommates,
choosing the right school, paying for college, health and safety issues, etc.

To determine how much drinking might be part of a particular school's
culture, Epstein suggests the following:

. Ask the admissions officer about policies to reduce or avoid alcohol/drug
problems; if alcohol sales are allowed on campus, when and why; if alcohol
advertising or marketing is allowed on campus; what has been done in
conjunction with the community to curtail underage drinking.

. Check campus bulletin boards and campus newspapers for bar or liquor ads.
Do event notices mention alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks being served?

. Wander through residence halls. Are there beer posters everywhere,
beer-can pyramids in the rooms?

. Walk through commercial neighborhoods near campus. Are there lots of
places where alcohol is available and does advertising seem to target students?

. Talk to campus police about incidences of alcohol- and drug-related
problems and ask how aware the president and deans are of these problems
and what they're doing to solve them.