Amethyst Initiative

Parents Forum
1

<p>My older daughter (Junior at Emory) and I were discussing the issues surrounding lowering the drinking age to 18 last night. She is all for it (of course). I, however, have some issues with it and they don't really involve the age limit.</p>

<p>My younger daughter (HS Senior) and I are going to visit some schools this weekend. Two of these schools have signed the Amethyst Initiative. In my discussion with D1, I boiled my issues down to the following:</p>

<p>1- I don't like the idea of University President's condoning 18 year old drinking. It is still illegal. Their signing of the initiative is a cop out; if the drinking age were lowered then they wouldn't have a legal and moral obligation to police such activities on their campuses.</p>

<p>2- The schools we are visiting have an Honor Code. Is not the University President's signing of the initiative a statement in opposition to their own Honor Code? Are these President's not bound by their own Honor Code to uphold the law, both on campus and off?</p>

<p>3- Like prayer and/or condoms in school, I don't feel that the college should have a say in whether or not my child should be allowed to drink. This is within the purview of the family. The University President should not chime in on something that has a legal and moral implication within my family.</p>

<p>My daughter (Junior) said that the discussion has to start somewhere. And she is correct. But until she is fully independent of my support, the college doesn't have a say on the legal ramifications of her (or other student's) actions.</p>

<p>So here is the dilemma, how do I handle myself at the schools D2 and I are visiting? Do I mention my concerns about the Presidents signing the initiative? Do I forbid D2 to apply to a school that supports ideas/laws I don't?</p>

<p>I'm not naive. I know that drinking goes on (a lot). And I know (hope) that my children are responsible enough to deal with it. But it's the principle!</p>

2

<p>I can't advise you how to approach these schools. But I can say that I disagree that these Presidents are breaking their own Honor codes. They are not saying they condone illegal underage drinking; they are asking for dialog on changing the legal age. I think that's entirely different, and in no way dishonorable.</p>

3

<p>I think it's dishonorable because they are academics, and conveniently choose to ignore the data.</p>

4

<p>While I totally disagree with the initiative and have little confidence that it will open "new" lines of dialogue by focusing, yet again, on the issue of age, I don't see this as a conflict with Honor Codes either. It seems like colleges have two choices when it comes to drinking policies, to either: maintain the status quo, lay blame outside themselves and do little to effect any real change in the drinking culture on their campuses, or to take a share of responsibility by adopting and enforcing policies designed to change the drinking culture on their campuses (and certainly change may be slow to come, since we are talking about changing a culture - not just a law. And a culture that goes beyond college campuses and where blame and responsibility must be shared by several different factions of society).</p>

<p>However, it IS important that students be made aware of what the policies are at any school they are considering attending, since it is ultimately their choice whether to attend or not, and in so doing, whether to accept that school's policies or not.</p>

5

<p>To the extent that the time or place is appropriate, I think parents and/or students have every right to question colleges about their drinking policies, surveyed binge drinking rates, alcohol poisoning hospitalizations, and so forth.</p>

<p>I probably wouldn't browbeat some poor tour guide about it on a campus tour, but I might very well e-mail the appropriate Dean of Student Life to get answers about policy and statistics.</p>

<p>I think more colleges would take the issue seriously if they heard questions from parents. Better yet, include binge drinking rates in the USNEWS ranking formula and see how fast and how high college presidents can jump when fully motivated.</p>

6

<p>The college presidents do take it seriously, and this is why they want the dialogue opened. The fact is that college students are adults. The fact also is that the vast majority drink. They think that the 21 year old drinking age is silly and so they ignore it (they don't ignore the drunk driving laws as a group, however). At 18, they can get married, join the Marines, vote, sign a contract, etc. To say that they don't have the maturity to decide whether it is appropriate to have a beer or another beer underestimates them tremendously. It just fosters a contempt for the law. Prohibition brought us organized crime in this country. The 18 year old drinking age has also created real contempt for the law amoung young people.</p>

<p>The fact also is that the increase in the drinking age has resulted in an enormous increase in binge drinking because drinking has been driven underground and/or with fake IDs. In the days of the dinasours when I went to college, the drinking age was 18. I didn't know anyone in college who did binge drinking. It just wasn't a big deal. We sometimes went to a bars on the weekend, and bought the one or two drinks that we could afford. There was no cottage industry in fake ID's because within a few weeks of arriving on campus, everyone was legal. Beer at a dorm party was not a big deal. </p>

<p>Also, the college presidents are not ignoring the data. It is not clear whether the decrease in drunk driving/accidents/fatalities is a result of the lowering of the drinking age, increased auto safety technlogy/better education about drunk driving, or a combination of all of the above (the combo of all of the above gets my vote). Since all the policing in the world hasn't stopped the drinking, maybe we should review what the 18 legal drinking age has caused in the way of harm. This is what the dialogue is about. </p>

<p>And a big important fact is that lowering the drinking age doesn't mean that someone is/will/should drink. Those are values/issues for the individual. Liquor never passed my grandmother's lips, regardless of the drinking age. It is my job to pass on my values to my son regarding his liquor consumption and to teach him about alcohol at home before he arrived on campus. We are one of the very few countries in the world that continues to infantize our young adults by prohibiting alcohol until the age of 21. I expect my son at 19 to behave like the adult that he is.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
The fact also is that the increase in the drinking age has resulted in an enormous increase in binge drinking because drinking has been driven underground and/or with fake IDs.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, there is an enormous amount of binge drinking but this statement is actually a conclusion, not a fact. And it is because conclusions like this are being stated as if "facts" that we will not be able to begin any new "dialogue" on this issue - since neither side can even agree on what the facts/data are! ;)</p>

8

<p>"Also, the college presidents are not ignoring the data. It is not clear whether the decrease in drunk driving/accidents/fatalities is a result of the lowering of the drinking age, increased auto safety technlogy/better education about drunk driving, or a combination of all of the above (the combo of all of the above gets my vote)."</p>

<p>There is probably nothing more clearly demonstrated in the entire history of public health. (I think, no, I know, you need to dig a little deeper.) Which isn't to say that the rest of your view lacks validity.</p>

9

<p>There's data on that question too, from Wechsler, Harvard School of Public Health. College drinking is more than twice as common among folks who binge drank in high school, and for whom it was passe, than for those from whom it is "forbidden fruit".</p>

10

<p>And frequent binge drinking more than once a week (the Otis the Town Drunk crowd) is FOUR times more common among those who binged in high school.</p>

11

<p>AMA</a> (Alcohol) Minimum legal drinking age</p>

<p>It's not like the legal age had always been 18, that was a pretty new development in the late 60's.... The "if he's old enough to be drafted, he's old enough to drink a beer" idea. Many but not all states changed to 18, 19 or 20.<br>
I grew up in Washington, the age was always 21. (unless it went down and back up before I was old enough to notice). Kids drank too much in college and some had disasterous results. If it's worse now, it's not a result of the law but of changing behavior among underage kids.</p>

12

<p>ShesOnHerWay: Back to your original question:</p>

<p>I don't think I'd challenge the schools during the tour or the info session. Frankly, I don't think any one school is any different than any other in this regard. I think the best thing you can do is tell your own child what your values and your expectations are, and expect that she will be mature enough to behave in accordance with them.</p>

<p>Edit: Besides, the Amethyst Initiative doesn't say, "18-year-olds should drink!"; it says, "Let's talk about whether 21 is the right age for the law." So I don't think challenging the schools or forbidding your D to apply to those schools is the right move. The Presidents are still honoring their own honor code, I think. They are not ignoring the law.</p>

13

<p>That is correct ENCOURAGING illegal behavior is not what the initiative is about. It is not condoning illegal activity. It is inviting discussion about this issue, reconsidering the consequences and engage in an intellectual discussion. </p>

<p>It is EXACTLY what every College President should be open for, free and open debate, intellectual discussions, where the issues surrounding targeting one age 18-21 as the cause of all drunk driving issues in the nation fails to address, what have been the results of this law, how might we better deal with the drunk driving epidemic by all age groups and deal with the skyrocketing alchohol poisoning/binge drinking. </p>

<p>I would not want my d or s to apply to any college where the President was not open to an intellectual debate on ANY topic from abortion to the drinking age because that means they are censoring intellectual curiosity.</p>

<p>These colleges are enforcing the laws. But, just like prohibition, it drives the market up, makes it more valuable to the underground and does not stop the drinking. </p>

<p>By the way Mini the stats MADD uses are not for the age group of 18-21, they are for the entire population. And we all know about statistics particularly CRIME statistics....just another name for a lie, damn lie and statistic. The stats are not there for whether this has reduced deaths caused by the 18-21 aged driver who was drunk driving, but MADD points to general population stats that drunk driving deaths have decreased. The CDC stats to show the highest ever rate of alchohol poisoning cases in 2006 on college campuses.</p>

<p>My two cents: I would rather have the kids regulated and doing it in the open where they can be supervised than it being driven underground. drink limits, types of sales, where it can be sold, cars with automatic breathalizers....</p>

<p>I also think that they need to rewrite the definition of adulthood from 18 to 21 in every aspect because if someone can't drink a beer, they surely arent mature enough to go to war and since our SONS have to register for the draft at age 18.....we are saying they ARE mature enough to KILL on government orders....but not responsible enough to have a beer.....just ridiculous. I don't condone drinking but, I think government has overstepped its bounds in this issue. Address the issue, drunk driving PERIOD by all age groups. The adults in my area are far more likely to drive drunk than any aged 18-21 person. They think they can handle it and their pitcher of margaritas won't make them over the limit....just ask our mailboxes.</p>

14

<p>I think everyone ignores the stats.
The United States shouldn't have a legal drinking age, This would get rid of the "taboo" of alcohol
For example Bosnia and Herzegovina don't have a drinking age, yet only 5% of 13 year old drink alcohol more then once a week...A rate which is higher in the US and EU.</p>

<p>MADD's stats are terrible BTW.</p>

15

<p>Paul Mulshine is my favorite ultra-conservative columnist. (even us radical progressives gotta have one, right?) I offer his take (myself, tattoos don't bother me, but I still really enjoyed this!)</p>

<p>
[quote]
There were many protests last week after a group of college presidents proposed eliminating the federal mandate that prohibits states from lowering the drinking age below 21.</p>

<p>The usual bunch of bluenoses, busybodies and puritanical politicians presented the usual idiotic objections. But only a total philistine, or a member of Congress, could argue that a person of college age should be denied the simple pleasure of wine with dinner or a cold beer on a warm day. Our national drinking age is a sign of a national barbarism and it should be rejected solely by any civilized person solely from the standpoint of aesthetics.</p>

<p>Lately I've been thinking deep thoughts on the subject and I came up with a tradeoff that I think would be acceptable to the young people of America: We'll lower the drinking age if you agree to let us raise the age for getting a tattoo. All things being equal, I'd prefer seeing a 20-year-old with no tattoos drinking a beer to seeing the same person sober and covered with the sort of ghastly designs that young people choose to inflict on themselves.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Lower</a> the drinking age; raise the tattoo age - NJVoices: Paul Mulshine</p>

16

<p>We had an interesting experience when dropping D off last week at a small LAC in an east coast state. During the drop off day they split the students and parents up for some orientation activities, and one of those activities was a panel with reps from the academic side, college counseling, college safety department, etc. And the college president was there. The other panel members handled all the questions (pres stood off on the side texting...) until someone asked a question about this initiative. Turns out the president was a signer of this letter, and had just been texting with journalists on the topic. The panel leader called him out to talk about the issue. He was extremely agitated about this topic, and ranted (I thought) about how we didn't have a democracy if we couldn't debate this issue. I think he had been taking a lot of heat in the couple of days since the publication of the letter. Just before he talked, the campus security officer admitted that they don't enforce drinking laws as strongly as they could because they don't want the students to view them as the "enemy". So the president lectured us for several minutes on the topic, then left. That was the only time I saw him all day, and I have to admit that I was not too impressed with this introduction. This college has a reputation for a lot of underage drinking on campus, and we nearly chose another college for D because of this problem (D didn't like this about the school, either). To hear that they aren't really making a wholehearted effort to enforce the current law concerned me. And I sure don't want the seniors in high school to be able to buy alcohol for the younger students there - - one of the same arguments the presidents are making against drinking in college, that older students buy for younger ones. It might be a topic we should debate - - but the current law is the law, and until it changes, they ought to be enforcing it strictly.</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
For example Bosnia and Herzegovina don't have a drinking age, yet only 5% of 13 year old drink alcohol more then once a week...A rate which is higher in the US and EU.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>What's the average disposable income of 13-year olds in Bosnia? I'd hate to think what would happen to the relatively affluent youth in the US if a no age limit approach is taken. Culturally the US is not ready to adopt the drinking laws of other countries. This includes Sweden where the legal limit for driving while impaired is .02%.</p>

18

<p>As to choosing a college based on its position on a drinking age, I wouldn't ordinarily have considered it. I would consider the drinking culture on the campus generally, and avoid a place with heavy drinking in general because I view it as unhealthy. </p>

<p>Yes, I realize that the responsible use of adult beverages is possible. However, I have seen too many lives ruined by alcohol or ended by alcohol or by drunk driving to give abuse of alcohol any leeway. I have thought that colleges should do MORE to warn of the dangers of the abuse of alcohol. I personally thought that the monitoring of drinking in some schools that went into place when the law changed was a good thing. I think it implies a "drink responsibly" mentality if it is monitored.</p>

19

<p>This might be interesting:</p>

<p>Editorial</a> Spotlight: The Amethyst Initiative | lohud.com | The Journal News</p>

<p>Westchester County is the former territory of Jeanine Pirro, who had her own, very vocal opinions, but would not entertain any questions when her own children were reported to be in compromising circumstances.</p>

20

<p>Statement by the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD),<br>
National Prevention Network (NPN), and National Treatment Network (NTN)
Regarding a Dialogue on Underage Drinking</p>

<p>Summary Statement: The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), National Prevention Network (NPN) and National Treatment Network (NTN) recognize the devastating impact underage drinking has on individuals and families in States, communities and campuses across the country. As the leaders and experts of each State’s publicly funded substance abuse prevention and treatment system, we share a deep concern, articulated by a set of college and university presidents through the Amethyst Initiative, regarding the dangerous culture of binge drinking. As a result, we support an informed public dialogue regarding the prevention of underage drinking in general, and the need to develop effective solutions in particular. </p>

<p>Any informed discussion must be based in part on our knowledge as State leaders, the experience of local community coalitions, and the extensive literature dedicated to underage drinking. This knowledge, experience, and research all point to an important conclusion: the current 21 year-old drinking age is an essential component of a comprehensive strategy to advance healthy lifestyles and address the negative consequences of youth alcohol use. As a result, NASADAD/NPN/NTN does not support lowering the legal drinking age. </p>

<p>The debate regarding the effects of the 21 year-old drinking age has already occurred in the scientific literature and the results found that the current minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) significantly reduces the many negative consequences related to alcohol use. We must now advance our dialogue to better educate the public about the results of this research and recommit our dedication to preventing underage drinking and binge drinking by college age youth. </p>

<p>Scope of the problem: Studies find that underage drinking is pervasive. The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that approximately 10.8 million persons aged 12 to 20
(28.3 percent of this age group) reported drinking in the past month. An estimated 7.2 million youth were considered binge drinkers and 2.3 million were considered heavy drinkers. The 2006 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey found that 17.2 percent of 8th graders, 33.8 percent of 10th graders, 45.3 percent of 12 graders and 57.6 percent of those ages 19 or 20 had consumed alcohol in the past month. </p>

<p>Negative consequences of underage drinking: Data demonstrate that underage drinking has a devastating impact on society, including the following short list of examples: </p>

<p>Mortality: It is estimated that underage drinking is responsible for the deaths of approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 each year – including 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle accidents (Hingson and Kenkel, 2004). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that drinking drivers under the age of 21 are involved in fatal crashes at twice the rate of adult drivers (NHTSA, 2002). </p>

<p>Student violence: Every year, alcohol is the cause of more than 696,000 assaults, and 97,000 instances of sexual assault or date rape among college students (Hingson, et al., 2005). In addition, 11 percent of students damaged property while under the influence of alcohol (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2008). </p>

<p>Academic problems: According to the Department of Education (Dept. Ed), alcohol abuse creates academic problems among 25 percent of college students, including lower grades, poor performance on exams or papers, missed classes and failure to keep pace with assignments (Dept. of Ed, 2008). </p>

<p>Economic costs: According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the economic costs associated with underage drinking equal $53 billion annually due to violent crime, traffic crashes, alcohol poisoning and other factors (Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility, IOM, 2003). </p>

<p>Impact on brain development and function: The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking (2007) summarizes research on the impact of alcohol use by youth, noting that “adolescence is a time when the developing brain may be particularly susceptible to long-term negative effects from alcohol use.” The same Surgeon General’s report informs us that research suggests the brain continues to develop as people enter their twenties, “creating a significant and extended period during its development of potential exposure to alcohol’s harmful effects… (Surgeon General, 2007).” </p>

<p>Recent progress and experience: The prevention of underage drinking is a priority for NASADAD/NPN/NTN. While we face many challenges, recent progress is encouraging. Specifically, we note a 21.7 percent decrease in the number of high school seniors reporting lifetime prevalence of alcohol use when comparing 1984 (the year States moved to raise the drinking age to 21 ) and 2007 (MTF, 2007). This progress is attributed to the collective efforts of States, Congress, Surgeon General, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), NIAAA, community coalitions, educators, researchers and many others. In addition, research and experience help produce a better understanding of the complexity of underage drinking – producing more insight into the effects and benefits of the current drinking age. </p>

<p>Delaying use increases likelihood of fewer alcohol problems as an adult: Research tells us that people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence during their lifetime than those who begin drinking at age 21 or later (Grant and Dawson, 1997). The 2006 NSDUH found the rate of alcohol abuse or dependence among adults age 21 or older was 2.4 percent for those who first used alcohol at age 21 or older compared to approximately 10 percent among those who first used alcohol before age 21 and 16.3 percent among those who first used alcohol before age 15. </p>

<p>The impact of the minimum legal drinking age: Studies examining the impact of the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) demonstrate that a number of positive changes have occurred. In 1984, before the age 21 requirement, approximately 8 percent of high school seniors never used alcohol in their lifetime (MTF, 2007). In 2007, approximately 28 percent of high school seniors never used alcohol in their lifetime (MTF, 2007). According to NHTSA, 60 percent of traffic fatalities were alcohol related in 1982. In 2005, approximately 39 percent of traffic fatalities were alcohol related (NHTSA, 2006). </p>

<p>The international perspective: Contrary to common assumptions, research has shown that youth and young adults residing in countries that allow alcohol consumption before the age of 21 actually engage in more risky drinking behaviors – not fewer – when compared to the United States. A 2005-2006 study of 40 countries found that the U.S. had one of the lowest rates (36th out of 40) of 13 and 15 year-olds who were drunk at least twice (Health Behavior in School-Age Children, the World Health Organization [WHO], 2008). A 2003 study of 35 countries found that the U.S. had one the lowest rates (33rd out of 35 countries) of youth engaged in binge drinking at least 3 times per month (MTF provided U.S. data for the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs [ESPA], 2003). Research also suggests that when the drinking age is lowered to the age of 18, alcohol-related injuries in 15-17 year olds increase because they have increased access to alcohol through their older friends and siblings (Kypri, 2006). </p>

<p>Effective prevention strategies for college age youth are available: According to NIAAA’s A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges, research has shown that there are a number of effective strategies that help address college drinking (NIAAA, 2002). As noted by NIAAA, “Research shows that several carefully conducted community initiatives aimed at reducing alcohol problems among college-age youth have been effective, leading to reductions in underage drinking, alcohol-related assaults, emergency department visits, and alcohol related crashes (What Colleges Need to Know, NIAAA, 2007).” NIAAA also notes that environmental approaches (including strong enforcement of zero tolerance laws, laws addressing availability, and more) are absolutely crucial. In addition, strategies targeted at the individual level (including alcohol screening, counseling and treatment services) are critical. Other successful approaches include campus-community partnerships; social norms programs or campaigns (addressing permissive attitudes) and the use of web-based technology. Finally, research shows that the use of multiple strategies that are then shaped to address the unique circumstances of the school and community yield success (NIAAA, 2007). </p>

<p>Key role of State substance abuse agencies: State substance abuse agency directors, also known as Single State Authorities (SSA), manage and oversee the publicly funded substance abuse system – a system anchored by the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant. SSAs comprise the membership of NASADAD. State prevention directors work for the SSA to provide effective alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention services and comprise the membership of NPN, a part of NASADAD. The NTN, also a part of NASADAD, is comprised of agency officials who also work for the SSA in promoting effective, clinically appropriate treatment services. A national dialogue about underage drinking greatly benefits from the knowledge, expertise and perspective of NASADAD/NPN/NTN members. </p>

<p>Next steps: NASADAD/NPN/NTN members are eager to advance the dialogue regarding the prevention of underage drinking and potential solutions. We encourage this dialogue to include a broad array of stakeholders impacted by youth and college age drinking – including universities, community coalitions, educators, law enforcement, prevention specialists, parents, State agencies, the federal government and many others. In addition, we are eager to forge improved collaboration between State substance abuse agencies and our college and university systems. Underage drinking is indeed a shared responsibility and does not stop at the university gate. We believe increased communication and collaboration can lead to important improvements as we all seek the same goal of promoting and ensuring healthy and safe individuals, families and communities. </p>

<p>September 3, 2008</p>

<p>Resources on Underage Drinking</p>

<p>National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)</p>

<p>NIAAA Fact Sheet on Underage Drinking: <a href="http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/UnderageDrinking.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/UnderageDrinking.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Fact Sheet on Underage Drinking and the Adolescent Brain: <a href="http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/87033E59-822F-4491-B0B5-F08C7C955588/0/NIAAA_Brain_Fact_Sheet_508.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/87033E59-822F-4491-B0B5-F08C7C955588/0/NIAAA_Brain_Fact_Sheet_508.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>What Colleges Need to Know: An Update on College Drinking Research:
<a href="http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/1College_Bulletin-508_361C4E.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/1College_Bulletin-508_361C4E.pdf&lt;/a> </p>

<p>NIAAA’s Alcohol Research & Health Journal, focusing on Alcohol and Youth :
<a href="http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh283/155-162.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh283/155-162.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>NIAAA’s College Drinking Research: Research</a> about Alcohol and College Drinking Prevention </p>

<p>NIAAA’s Underage Drinking Research Initiative:
Underage</a> Drinking Research Initiative </p>

<p>Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP): SAMHSA's</a> Center for Substance Abuse Prevention</p>

<p>SAMHSA’s Web Page on Underage Drinking: Alcohol</a> abuse prevention, youth drinking, StopAlcoholAbuse.gov </p>

<p>Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT): [CSAT[/url</a>] </p>

<p>Surgeon General’s office</p>

<p>Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking: [url=<a href="http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/%5DSurgeon"&gt;http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/]Surgeon&lt;/a> General?s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking](<a href="http://csat.samhsa.gov/default.aspx%5DCSAT%5B/url"&gt;http://csat.samhsa.gov/default.aspx)&lt;/p>

<p>A Guide to Action for Communities:
<a href="http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/CommunityGuide.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/CommunityGuide.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>A Guide to Action for Educators
<a href="http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/EducatorGuide.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/EducatorGuide.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>A Guide to Action for Families
<a href="http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/FamilyGuide.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/FamilyGuide.pdf&lt;/a>
Additional Federal Resources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Home</a> | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) | U.S. Department of Transportation
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): National</a> Institute on Drug Abuse - The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction
State Resources</p>

<p>National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), National Prevention Network (NPN) and National Treatment Network (NTN): NASADAD</a> -- Home </p>

<p>Other Resources:</p>

<p>Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA): Community</a> Anti-Drug Coalitions of America: Building Drug-Free Communities </p>

<p>Leadership to Keep Our Children Alcohol Free: Leadership</a> To Keep Children Alcohol Free</p>

<p>National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA): National</a> Association for Children of Alcoholics</p>

<p>National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS): <a href="http://www.nofas.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nofas.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>