March 1 9 6 6

A challenge t o today’s students i:-J%of the freshman women and one who gets into trouble after 77% of the senior women drink al- drinking; he is not always a student Will you or won’t you ever be an alcoholic? cohol. On page fifty-six we find, re- who gets drunk often, nor a student garding college students who drink, who gets into serious trouble while that 79% of the men drank alcohol drunk. Only the student who gets before entering college, while 65% into trouble of any kind, repeatedly, of the women drank alcohol before after drinking, but who continues to enrolling. On page sixty-nine we drink in spite of the trouble is, in find a most significant conclusion in- my opinion, exhibiting the basic ALCOHOL dicating that prohibition of alcohol in college decreases the number of symptom of potential alcoholism: namely, that drinking is abnormally students who drink, but it appears important to him. Very few have not to decrease heavy drinking this simple but basic information. Blunt words addressed t o tomorrow’s drinkers among those students who do drink. Absolutely nothing can be done to These brief references to the facts help a student with a drinking probavailable indicate that not only is lem until this information is fully acthe consumption of alcohol a big cepted by the student. by W. T. Shofstall problem, but that so far we have The second bit of information not hit upon anything like an ade- which so far seems almost as un- Dean of Students quate solution. Certainly efforts at known as the definition of alcoholfor whom it is “only a moral issue” prohibition of drinking at all times ism is the fact that no individual can Arizona State by all college students have not been know in advance of drinking that he generally exhibit bigotry in their at- University titude regarding the use of alcohol gratifying. The most important find- does not have the potential to beby others. Those for whom it is no ing of this study was that the prob- come an alcoholic. The only sure issue, or one of learning to drink lems relating to drinking in college way to avoid becoming an alcoholic moderately, generally display arro- are no different from the problems is never to take the first drink. Ungance regarding those who have any relating to drinking out of college. fortunately, nearly everyone is quite other view. Nearly all exhibit hypoc- The most important information sure he is not and never will become

T HE greatest single handicap to influencing student conduct relating to alcohol is the attitude of risy regarding the use of alcohol. Bigotry, arrogance and hypocrisy are difficult attitudes with which to every student should have available is a definition of an alcoholic. An operating definition of an alcoholic an alcoholic. It is simple ignorance to think this. Regarding this second bit of information, we not only do the public toward the use of alcohol deal, especially all at once! is that “an alcoholic is any person not know whether any of us might and, especially, ignorance about al- The extent of the problem with who drinks and continues to drink become an alcoholic, but most of us coholism. Briefly, the prevailing at- alcoholic beverages even though he have strong convictions based upon which we deal is indicated by these titude regarding the use of alcohol has difficulties detrimental to him- our ignorance. sample results of the study by is either that it is “only” a moral is- self or others after he drinks.” One The third morsel of information Strauss and Bacon, reported in the sue, or that it is no issue, or that the book Drinking in College. On page can see from this definition that an which I feel is basic in any work we ‘ consumer must learn moderation in alcoholic student is not just one who expect to do with alcoholism is that twenty-five we find that 65% of the drinking. In my experience, those drinks; he is not necessarily one who the student, the parent and the+ freshman men and 87% of the se- Reprinted from the Operation Challenge Commltlee series, by permlsslon of the author. nior men drink alcohol, and that drinks a lot; he is not necessarily teacher must learn that about- o n 9i

person in fifteen can never be able the following: The symptoms o f al- the teaching of a substantial way of program to teach the information we to drink alcohol at any age, in any coholism can be observed in people life based upon belief in God. With- now possess about alcohol and alcoform, or any amount however small o f any age, sex, creed, educational out this belief that there is a Su- holism in our colleges and univerwithout having difficulties, and if he level or socio-economic group very preme Being, all other teaching, sities, then and only then we might, continues drinking he will die as a soon after the person who drinks is however scientific, intensive or ex- in a reasonably short time, effect a result of his drinking. Complete ab- free to drink as much or as often as tensive, seems bound to be ineffec- change in the total spiritual climate, stinence is ultimately essential for he desires. tive. which would allow us to influence the alcoholic. Members of Alcoholics Anony- One cannot create an island of in- the conduct of students in relation The fourth simple and basic area mous have demonstrated more formed students living within a sea to alcohol. of information about which most clearly, more practically, and more of ignorance on a given subject. For This approach to alcohol educastudents, parents and teachers are definitely than any one group I this reason, it is almost impossible tion leaves no room for intolerance; ignorant is that there is no one gen- know, the absolute necessity of be- to do anything about this subject of it leaves no room for bigotry; it erally accepted cause for alcoholism, lief in a Supreme Being by any per- alcohol which is in any way very leaves no room for arrogance; it but there is only one “cure” of the son desiring help with a drinking effective, until we are able to effect leaves no room for hypocrisy. illness of alcoholism, and that is problem. Effective alcohol educa- a change in our entire intellectual Above all, it leaves no room for abstinence. tion, therefore, is not just the teach- and spiritual climate so far as alco- those who cannot learn something The fifth piece of information is ing of basic information, it is also hol is concerned. The creation of new. It requires hard work, intellithis intellectual and spiritual climate gence, and faith in ourselves, in might seem at first to be an impos- God and in others. Above all we sible task and a cause for hopeless must have the patience of Job and Seven Basic Facts in Alcohol Education pessimism. However, in my opinion, the proverbial courage of a fool 1. Approximately one person in fifteen is a potential alcoholic. if we provide a significant and valid (without becoming one). Fourteen are not. This ratio holds good in all groups. 2. No person can know in advance of his drinking if he is or is not a potential alcoholic. Therefore every person, whether he drinks or not, must know the facts about alcoholism. An Action Program – in Brief – 3. An alcoholic is a person who repeutetlly gets into trouble For Students and Faculty Concerned About Alcohol after drinking but who continues to drink and, as a result, gets into 1. Every student who gets into any kind of trouble, however trouble again. minor, should talk with a trained alcohol counselor who can 4. An alcoholic can never drink alcohol in any amount however present thc basic information without making moral judgments. small without having serious consequences. 2. Evcry student who gets into serious trouble must be placed 5. There is no one generally accepted cause, nor is there any upon disciplinary probation with the understanding, shared by the known cure, for alcoholism. Only abstinence brings recovery. student, his parcnts and others intcrcsted, that suspension from the 6. The symptoms of alcoholism can be observed in people of university is a certain consequence of a second serious incident in any educational level, socio-economic group, age, sex, race or which alcohol is involved. creed very soon after the person who drinks is free to drink as 3. An expert speaker on alcohol, preferably a member of Alcomuch or as often as he desires. holics Anonymous, should be available to all student groups, and 7. Alcohol education is education in a “way of life,” plus basic the group should be urged to hear such a speaker at least once information. Either one without the other is actually harmful when- each year. ever alcohol is involved.