Alcohol has been a part of college and university life since the first colleges were founded and remains to this day the drug most abused by college students. The U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) have identified binge drinking among college students as a major public health problem in this country. Results from the highly publicized Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (2001) reveal that 44% of college students nationwide report binge drinking (a binge is defined as consuming 5 or more drinks for males and 4 or more drinks for females in one sitting). At UCSB, the 2004 Prevention Research Center (PRC) survey indicates that while most UCSB students drink alcohol (79%), more than half of UCSB students drink in moderation when they choose to drink or choose not to drink at all (21%). The same survey indicates that 46% of UCSB students report binge drinking in the previous two weeks. This means that some UCSB students sometimes engage in high risk drinking—drinking that increases the risk of negative legal, physical, personal and/or academic consequences. Students who engage in high-risk drinking (more than four drinks in a sitting) are at the most risk for negative consequences such as academic problems, blackouts, injuries, legal and disciplinary sanctions, driving or biking under the influence, and unplanned or unprotected sex in connection with their drinking.
UCSB’s Alcohol and Drug Program uses a comprehensive science-based approach to prevention on campus and in the surrounding community. UCSB’s efforts to reduce high-risk drinking and drug use among students include strategies such as education, early intervention and referral, changes to the environment on campus and in Isla Vista, and strict policies and enforcement. The Alcohol and Drug Program works in partnership with many campus departments, students, and the community to promote a healthy and safe campus environment.
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