September 2003

Up for discussion: Talking about alcohol

	Stephanie Lake is program coordinator of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program.

Stephanie Lake says if you haven't talked to your child about alcohol before, now is the time.

As program coordinator for the campus's Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program (ADAPT), she has seen what can happen when students abuse alcohol.

"It is so important to just be honest and open with your child about drinking," Lake says. "That's not to say that you have to go into great detail, but just let them know that you're open to the discussion."

Straight facts about alcohol

Lake says she believes in giving students straight facts about alcohol -- discussing blood alcohol levels and the effects of alcohol on the body, for example -- rather than concentrating solely on preventing its use.

ADAPT distributes this information regularly on campus. Located in the annex of the Cowell Student Health Center, Lake's office is also a place where students can come to talk about alcohol issues. This could be either personal problems or concerns about alcohol use by friends or roommates.

She recommends that parents check in regularly with their children to inquire about how they are doing in school, what their social life is like and how they are getting along with their roommates.

"If your student is drinking or drugging, there's usually something else going on there -- depression, or maybe adjusting to a new school."

Consumption overestimated

While alcohol use should be a concern, parents needn't worry that the campus is rampant with "Animal House"-type behavior. UC Davis doesn't have a reputation as a party school. Lake says, in fact, people often overestimate how much Davis students drink.

According to a survey conducted last year, about 71 percent of undergraduates said they had consumed alcohol in the last year. But the average intake of alcohol was only 2.4 drinks per event.

At the other end of the scale, high-risk drinking is a problem -- particularly among younger students -- and one that can have deadly consequences.

Because of this, ADAPT also teaches students the signs of alcohol poisoning and what to do in case of an emergency.

You, too, can do a lot to help prevent problem alcohol use simply by educating yourself and talking to your child.

To learn more about ways to talk to your child about alcohol, visit the parents section of The Century Council.

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