Females Drinking Male College Co-Eds Under the Table

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2010

CONTACT:

Vanessa Ayala, Coalition Coordinator, 713-256-8746

Shelly Higgins, Media Coordinator, 713-478-0421

Females drinking male college co-eds under the table:

April 16th Forum rallies communities to protect college students from dangers of alcohol use

BAYTOWN, TEXAS — Female college students are working their way to equality with their male counterparts in an unexpected and dangerous way.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety arrest data, between 2000 and 2007, the number of underage male arrests for driving under the influence decreased by 7.7 percent, but the number INCREASED for females by 96.8 percent.

In the same time period, the number of liquor law violations for underage males decreased by 15.7 percent but increased by 16.9 percent for females, and the number of underage male arrests for public drunkenness decreased by 24.6 percent while the number for underage female arrests INCREASED by 22.9 percent.

Among female and male Texas college students, alcohol is the primary drug of choice - nearly double the use of other substances. Alcohol use is linked to poor class attendance and low academic performance, unwanted sexual activity, depression and suicide, and alcohol poisoning.

That’s why college campus leaders, law enforcement professionals, prevention experts, state and community leaders, and concerned citizens join together Friday, April 16, 2010, at Lee Community College for the first of three College Regional Forums on Underage Drinking to be held in Texas.

“We’re extremely concerned about the trend with underage female drinking behavior and about the dangers of consumption for all underage college drinkers,” said Nicole Holt, Executive Director of Texans Standing Tall. “It’s a serious issue for our community, and we believe this Forum will help us work together to effectively create change.”

College Forum participants receive the latest research on college substance abuse trends from the newly released 2009 Report Card on Youth Substance Abuse: Research and Legislation from Texans Standing Tall and explore evidence-based prevention strategies for implementation by both community members and campuses.

The 2010 College Regional Forum in Baytown is hosted by Texans Standing Tall, Lee Community College, and the Southeast Harris Community Coalition of the Bay Area Council on Drugs & Alcohol, Inc. The event is largely funded through a U.S. Department of Education grant awarded to Texans Standing Tall.

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About Texans Standing Tall

Texans Standing Tall (TST) is a statewide coalition working to support and create healthier and safer communities for our youth. Our vision is to make alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs irrelevant in the lives of youth. We consist of community coalitions, individual adults and youth, state agencies and other organizations. Our current efforts involve reducing and preventing youth substance abuse, with a particular focus on youth alcohol and tobacco use.

We seek to energize and mobilize citizens to advocate for community change, serve as a current and reliable information source and advocate to change attitudes, behaviors and regulations to create healthier communities that protect our youth. We provide community coalitions with training and support to assist them in advancing positive change on the community level.