American alcohol education and prevention efforts for youth emphasize abstinence. In support of this approach, epidemiologists conclude that early drinking by adolescents increases the lifetime likelihood of alcohol dependence and that overall drinking levels in a society are directly linked to drinking problems. At the same time, cultural,…

A Harvard School of Public Health survey of 17,592 college students concerning alcohol consumption found 84% reported drinking during the school year, with 19% frequent binge drinkers. Half of these were binge drinkers in high school. Also investigated were other drug use, dangerous behavior, secondhand binge effects, and gender effects. A 12-step…

A recent study, "Alcohol and Drugs on American College Campuses," has prompted calls for more aggressive substance abuse prevention programs. The report cites widespread alcohol abuse and links drinking patterns to college size. In response, policymakers and higher education officials express concern about alcohol's relationship to…