Dispelling the Myth that Drinking is an Integral Part of College Life

Underage drinking is a rapidly growing problem on college campuses. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports there is a statewide effort to dispel the myth that alcohol is an integral part of college life.

21 year old Jackson State University student Zina Kelly says she started drinking in high school because she thought it was the cool thing to do.

"Cause I'm naturally shy, and I would do it to say the things I wanted to say, be bold and tell people how I felt. Even dancing, I wouldn't dance sober but after a drink or two no telling what you might do."

In fact college campuses are reporting more and more cases of underage drinking incidents. And according to Fredniki White, a prevention specialist with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, most young people don't fully realize the pitfalls of underage drinking.

"Because we have a lot of teen pregnancies, ah STD's, date rape, domestic violence. You know so it's so much that comes with underage drinking we can continue to say don't drink, but when we don't give them the consequences of drinking, it's kind of like well there she goes again saying don't drink. But are we telling them why they should not drink.?"

Colleges and Universities across the state are developing their own plans to deal with what some are calling an epidemic of underage drinkers. "Stay Dry" is funded by a U.S. Department Education grant and is being embraced by Mississippi State University. Campus Coordinator Dr. Joyce Yates says the goal is to encourage students not to drink.

"We see people who have just the most promising future and they make a stupid choice about alcohol and it just throws their whole life path off course. And we realize that on the college campus, alcohol is one of the most prevalent problems."

Studies show that college students who first became intoxicated before age 19 are more likely to be alcohol dependent. They are also more likely to report driving after drinking and are more susceptible to alcohol related injuries. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.