Beyond the Dorm Room: Rethinking College Safety, Mental Health, and the Binge Drinking Crisis

 Returning to college is an exciting time, not just for the student but for the family. Gone are the days of  admission predictability based on grades and test scores. There doesn’t seem to be clear patterns of who gets in and it’s created much strife and a cottage industry for consultants. Much happens before the big dorm move in day and when the day comes it a benchmark. It could also be entering in a new era for families, empty nesters questions for families, and of course, new and different worries.   

     When a child steps into the world at a deeper level, we lose some control (did we ever really have control?). There gets to be a strong sense of “well, what can I do?” When they are hundreds, maybe thousands of miles away. Of all the concerns, what should be the biggest? Great question and very individual from family to family and kid to kid but don’t overlook the cancerous binge drinking culture on college campuses. 

     Every year there are 1500 deaths associated with alcohol use on college campuses.(https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/college-drinking) Far too many and what are universities doing about it? Turns out, not much. Most of the policy seems to be steeped in a “don’t get sued” culture based on hallow platitudes that don’t really keep students safe. In my view, there is a moral imperative to do better, especially when they are young and inexperienced as adults. 

     While it’s not an official DSM clinical diagnosis, I often say “he couldn’t tell his ass from third base” meaning we have all been young and dumb and unfortunately, the only known cure for it is “turning 25 or so”. So what’s with not focusing on safety among college undergrads? I wish I knew. I often have fantasies where I’m the sovereign of policy. Yes, my policies are untested and unproven but that’s what makes it a fantasy. So? On this fantasy campus, what’s the policy to keep kids safe? 

1. Honesty. An email to the entire campus community about substances, use, misuse. What to do when things don’t feel right. 

2. Comprehensive mental health screenings for all students and faculty every semester. Can enroll without a health screening and vaccine verification and shouldn’t be able to enroll without mental health screening. 

3 alcohol companies are free to advertise within a 1 mile radius of the campus BUT, there’s an additional fee to fund support services for the damage their product causes. 

4. Here’s where this gets sticky for most people: no pills, no powders, no distilled spirits on campus. Beer and cannabis are decriminalized. Drinking beer or using cannabis, we don’t love it but we can live with it. No hassels from campus security or dorm monitors. Why? Because the rates of death and severe consequence nose dive with the elimination of substances other than beer and weed.

5. All students are eligible for mental health counseling within 24 hours of request made. Campus mental health services are notoriously inadequate. “Something’s up? How about two weeks from next Tuesday?”  Ummm, no. When a kid asks for help, they should get it and it should be easy to fund and quick to deliver. Remember we’re funding this through alcohol companies who want to advertise. 

6. Media and messaging campaign across campus and social media. Stop 10 students on campus and ask “where’s the mental health services office” the answers will range from “did my mother send you” to “what?” To “umm, I have class”. Highly unlikely any of them will know what to do or where to go when the need arises. And I say when because as humans, we all have an internal world that can be helped by other people. 

7. Messaging targeted to boys “therapy doesn’t me someone other than your mother or girlfriend nagging you”. A way more user friendly approach to communicating with them. Often times boys feel they are being scolded or corrected not engaged or respected. 

The biggest reason students don’t return for their soomore year is partying. They hit consequences and underperform. Yes, they have a responsibility to themselves and their privilege of attending college but we have a responsibility to create a system around them so they can be successful. 

     College is a great time of life. Young, hopeful, learning, meeting friends and working things out when there are challenges. Don’t let the consequences of can’t and mouse dishonesty steal it. Let’s change this for the better.