In just one month, around 65 people were cited for underage drinking at Slippery Rock University, both on campus and at nearby apartments, according to university and state police records.

Underage drinking is nothing new, it’s certainly nothing new at college campuses, and September is routinely the time of year when there is an influx of such citations as incoming freshman and other new students get their first taste of independence, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states.

“The first six weeks of freshman year are a vulnerable time for heavy drinking and alcohol-related consequences because of student expectations and social pressures at the start of the academic year,” the NIAAA website shares.

Underage drinking has been a common, but serious issue facing young people for many, many years.

About 4,000 people younger than age 21 die from excessive alcohol use each year, according to figures from 2020-21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website states. There are a number of reasons the danger is so high, including an increase in risky behaviors associated with drinking that can lead to accidents, assaults and health conditions, the CDC states. Underage drinkers are also more likely to experience social, academic and legal issues, according to the CDC.

The website www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov also points to parental conversations and involvement as a factor. The site says parents can help by talking to their students about the dangers associated with underage drinking, making sure students read and understand their college’s alcohol policies as well as underage drinking laws and making sure students know signs of alcohol overdose or an alcohol-related problem, and how to get help for themselves or their friends.

Providing support to students throughout the school year, especially in the early days of each new semester when students are especially vulnerable to underage drinking, can also make an impact, the website states.

At Slippery Rock, university police have invested additional funds into patrols and started carrying portable breathalyzers to cut testing and transport times, according to David Wilmes, vice president of student affairs.

The university employs certified peer wellness educators and counselors to conduct presentations and student outreach. Much of the education revolves around the academic, social and legal consequences drinking and underage drinking citations can bring, Wilmes said.

Schools and universities do what they can to attack the problem, but like most things, there is no substitute for parental and family involvement when it comes to keeping our young people safe and healthy.

— KL