Drink Up!

Lets face itunderage drinking happens.

On average, 48% of alcohol consumed on college campuses is attributed to underage drinking [1]. Emergencies rooms across the country get over 500 hospital visits a day from underage drinking-related incidents [2]. Over 4,600 youth (under the age of 21) die each year in the United States from excessive alcohol consumption [3].

But are you really safe?

Many colleges and universities across the United States have put medical amnesty policies into place to help encourage underage students to call for help and remove the fear of getting in trouble. If medical attention is sought after, the student calling for help and the intoxicated student could be granted amnesty (not be prosecuted) for alcohol violations which could include underage drinking and procession of alcohol.

What are Pitts policies?

The follow text is from the University of Pittsburgh Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures [4]. The Responsible Action Protocol contains the University of Pittsburghs medical amnesty policies. Responsible action under the Responsible Action Protocol includes seeking medical assistance for another person who is experiencing an alcohol emergency. In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law, a student under the age of 21 would be protected from prosecution for the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages if law enforcement, including campus police, became aware of the possession or consumption solely because the student was seeking medical assistance for someone else. The requirements to receive this exemption mimic the Commonwealth laws requirements set forth above and only apply to the student seeking medical assistance for another person.

Ok, but if I call for help, wont I be getting my friend into trouble?
Unfortunately, under the current policies, there is a very good chance that your friend will be cited for the violations they committed. In an effort to not feel guilty about calling for help, there is a growing need for a more comprehensive policy that includes: Amnesty for the intoxicated student Amnesty for any other underage students at the scene of the emergency A more detailed procedure for how to request amnesty and assure that any improper citations are fully erased.

What types of policies exist at other schools?

At Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), for example, the medical amnesty policy protects both the caller and the intoxicated student. Students for whom medical assistance is summoned for alcohol intoxication will be granted amnesty from university administrative disciplinary action and University Police action. The student who summons University Police/EMS on behalf of an intoxicated student will likewise be granted such amnesty provided the caller remains with the intoxicated student until help arrives [5].

So why cant Pitt just adjust its policy? Isnt student safety more important than making sure citations are given out?
According to an interview with Officer Ron Bennett, Pitt has to follow the statues set forth by Pennsylvania law because Pitt receives state funding. CMU can have a more comprehensive medical amnesty law because of loopholes for private universities [6]. So for now, Pitt is bound to Section 6308 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues Title 18 which essentially states what the Responsible Action Protocol says.

What can I do?

Sign the petition to Pitt officials and urge them to lobby on our behalf for a more comprehensive medical amnesty policy that better prioritizes student health. Only the state has the power to make a difference. The petition is found at __________.

References
[1] "Prevalence of Underage Drinking." Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Web. 01 June 2012. <http://www.camy.org/factsheets/sheets/Prevalence_of_Underage_Drinking.html>. [2]"Alcohol." Above the Influence. Web. 1 June 2012. <http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/_pdfs/drugfacts/ATI_DrugFacts_ALCOHOL.pdf>. [3]"Alcohol and Public Health Fact Sheets." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 July 2010. Web. 01 June 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/mlda.htm>. [4]"University of Pittsburgh Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures." 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 1 June 2012. <http://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/PDFsandForms/StudentAffairs/ 2011studentcodeofconduct.pdf>. [5]"Alcohol and Drug Policy." Carnegie Mellon Police. Web. 01 June 2012. <http://www.cmu.edu/police/universitypolicies/drug-and-alcohol-policy.html>. [6] "Interview with Officer Ron Bennett." Personal interview. 4 June 2012. Cup Picture: http://bizmology.hoovers.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Red-Solo-Cup.jpg