While media attention has focused on the tragic loss Stephany Welzien has suffered, the cause of her son Brian’s death–alcohol–seems to have been lost.
Binge drinking by young adults, on and off college campuses, is a major public health issue. Had Brian and his friends celebrated the millennium with moderate or no alcohol consumption, he would still be here to celebrate again.
Recent studies by the American Medical Association report that 33 percent of 19- and 20-year-olds consume at least four alcoholic beverages on an average night and 20 percent have six or more drinks.
In the College Alcohol Study by the Harvard School of Public Health, 44 percent of college students said they had engaged in binge drinking during the last two weeks. Of the 19 percent of students who were “frequent binge drinkers” (three or more times in the last two weeks), 91 percent of the female drinkers and 78 percent of the male drinkers considered themselves to be only “moderate” or “light” drinkers.
The correlations between alcohol use and motor vehicle crashes, suicides, physical and sexual assaults and homicides are well documented.
While alcohol is promoted in our society through sports, cultural events, billboards and other media, safer and healthier attitudes toward alcohol use are stymied. As adults, we need to talk to our children about alcohol use and abuse. We need to work with our schools, churches and community organizations to provide children and young adults with the facts about alcohol and alternative ways to celebrate.
The AMA Alliance and its state Alliances, in conjunction with FACE, a national non-profit organization that focuses on alcohol issues, have begun working to prevent binge drinking on campuses across the country. Preventable tragedies like Brian’s should be our inspiration.
