DRUG-ABUSE REPORT MISLEADING; COLLEGES TAKE MATTER SERIOUSLY

As a college-health professional, I am concerned report by The National
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA)
on substance abuse on college campuses ["Study: Drug Abuse in Colleges
Worsening," March 15, page A2] is misleading and aspects of its content
are outdated. From a clinical standpoint, a quarter of college students
are definitely not alcoholics or chronic abusers. Medical reports
confirm that college students or graduates are at no greater risk of
alcohol dependency than the population at large.

In addition, a recent study, the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and
Health, sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services'
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that
81 percent of 18- to 22-year-old undergraduates are not heavy drinkers.

Moreover, available data reveal that college students use illicit and
prescription drugs significantly less often than nonstudent adults of
the same age. This suggests our college campuses are, in fact, safer
places when it comes to substance use and abuse than the "real world."

College administrators and health professionals take drug and alcohol
abuse very seriously, and are developing campus programs that address
these issues and make an impact. National data from the American
College Health Association demonstrates decreasing rates of binge
drinking and drug use in the past four years. At the University of
Virginia, for example, we introduced a social norms approach to
substance abuse in 1999. This is based on the concept that
communicating accurate information about the prevalence of a healthy
behavior among peers produces still more healthy behavior.

At UVa, that means letting students know that 60 percent of students
on our campus have between zero and five drinks per week, and that 88
percent of students will intervene to stop friends from drinking and
driving. Using this approach, we have seen demonstrable decreases (20
percent to 45 percent) in the negative consequences of drinking. Many
other schools have introduced similar programs that have had a
measurable impact on reducing risky behaviors.

On the positive side, CASA emphasizes the importance that parents and
families play in overcoming youth alcohol problems. This is consistent
with research and should be encouraged.

My intent in writing is to reassure your readers that professionals in
higher education take student substance abuse very seriously. I am not
trying to minimize the problem, but rather accurately portray that we
are taking action and appear to be having a positive impact on
students' lives. The CASA report seriously misleads the public about
our collective concerns and interventions related to this important
public health issue.

James C. Turner, M.D.

Executive Director,

Department of Student Health

Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine

Executive Director,

National Social Norms Institute

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Va