So, your child is going off to college. Congratulations! This is a huge step for both of you, and you want to be sure your son or daughter chooses the right school. There are many factors to consider: A large or small school? A rural or urban campus? How far away? What majors are available? What will it cost?

As a parent, you want to provide guidance in answering these questions. Parents will also want some assurances that their son or daughter will be safe and healthy while away from home. Along these lines, parents may have additional concerns that may not occur to their son or daughter. One important question is, "What is the alcohol and other drug situation on campus?"

How can you tell whether a particular college is one where weekend alcohol-fueled partying regularly begins on Thursday night? Or where attendance is poor at Monday morning classes because too many students are hung-over? Or where your son or daughter will have trouble studying or sleeping because of a roommate's involvement with drug use or high-risk drinking?

This type of information will probably not be included in promotional materials, though more schools are starting to really pay attention to the drug and alcohol-related health and safety of their students. There are no guarantees, but there are ways you can learn more about a school's efforts to prevent problems related to student alcohol and other drug use.

When You Visit the Campus

Parents have the right to know whether a college is serious in its efforts to address alcohol and other drug-related problems. Here are questions parents should expect college officials to answer with hard evidence to support their claims.

College Students Encounter Problems When Others Drink Too Much

Ask Questions!

• What steps has the college president taken to provide visible, consistent leadership on the issue of drug use and alcohol use on campus?

• Does the college have a clearly defined alcohol and other drug policy? What policies are in place to reduce sexual victimization? What are the consequences for infractions? Can you see a copy?

• Will the administration inform parents if a student is disciplined or arrested for alcohol or other drug-related infractions, or hospitalized for drug or alcohol use?

• What percent of students join fraternities or sororities? What is the campus policy on fraternity or sorority hazing? Is alcohol allowed at these events? What is the school doing to reduce alcohol use among these groups, whose members tend to drink more heavily than others?

• What proportion of the athletic department's budget comes from the alcohol industry? (Accepting such money sends a mixed message to students.)

• Is the alcohol prevention message "designate before you tailgate" or something similar? (If so, know that these are only accident prevention programs, not drug and alcohol use prevention. They will decrease vehicle accidents but not alcohol-related illness, poisonings, and sexual victimization.)

• What training do residential advisors have in identifying and helping students who may have alcohol or other drug problems? Do all residential advisors receive community First Aid and CPR training?

• How do emergency services on campus work? Does the college have EMTs on staff or are community services used? How far away is the closest emergency room?

• Ask about "21 for 21" celebrations. (You probably want to ask students about this, not staff.)

• What treatment and other services are available for students who have alcohol and other drug-related problems? Are there 12-step meetings held on campus?

• What percentage of students are involved in community service? What opportunities are available to them? (Students who are involved in such activities tend to have fewer alcohol and other drug-related problems.)

• Are there bars within walking distance of campus? Do they offer weekend drink specials? Do their specials target students?

• Look over bulletin boards. What do students do for fun on campus? Is there mention of alcohol or drinking in the flyers that are posted?

• Read a campus newspaper. Do they talk about social activities? Is there mention of drinking?

• Walk through the residence halls. Notice how students decorate their rooms. Are there alcohol or drug-related posters, pyramids of beer cans, or collections of cough syrup bottles? (Some cough syrups contain ingredients that students can use to get high.) Are trash cans filled with beer cans or bottles? How do the hallways and bathrooms smell?

High-Risk Drinking at College

As students adapt to their new college environment, make new friends and assume new responsibilities, they will also face new pressures and difficult choices.

One of the difficult choices they will face is how alcohol fits into their lives. Alcohol has been identified as a "rite of passage" for many college students. Although fewer students are choosing to drink alcohol, heavy drinking or binge drinking is a problem on many college campuses. 52% of today's college drinkers drink with the sole intent of getting intoxicated.

Alcohol use can lower grades and put your child in life-compromising situations. 95% of violent crime on campus is alcohol-related. 90% of reported campus rapes involve alcohol use by the victim or the perpetrator. It is important that we, as parents, remind our children that the choices they make today could well affect the rest of the lives.

Remember that even though your child is almost an adult, he or she still needs parenting. It is illegal for person under age 21 to possess alcohol in every state. It is a 4th degree felony for a person under age 21 to possess a fake ID. The majority of students on campus are under age 21.

Talking Can Make a Difference

Campus climate is important, but ultimately it is up to your son or daughter to make responsible choices. This can be accomplished if they have the best information before they leave for school. Numerous studies show that parents remain a key influence on college students and the decisions they ultimately make about alcohol and drug use. We encourage you to continue talking with your college-age children and help them make safe and healthy choices concerning the use of alcohol.

Ask your child to talk about alcohol and other drug use that he or she is seeing occur on campus. Find out what concerns he or she has and keep the open communication flowing. Resist the urge to step in and moralize since preaching will end open communication. Alcohol use is a health and safety issue, not a moral issue.

Clear Expectations

College is a huge investment of time, effort, and money. Make your expectations clear: you expect your son or daughter to focus on academic work and personal growth and development. Use of alcohol and other drugs will impair academic performance and may effect financial support from home and place your child in harm's way.

Alcohol in high doses is toxic. Students die every year from alcohol poisoning -- drinking games being the worst culprit. Encourage your son or daughter to intervene when someone else is drinking in a dangerous way. Club drugs and date-rape drugs are also present on college campuses. Provide your student with information about how to avoid victimization: never accept an open drink, never leave a drink unattended (including bottled water). Use the buddy system when you go out to events where there might be drinking or drug use.

Students over-estimate the amount of alcohol and drugs used by their peers. Young adults are highly influenced by peers and tend to drink and use drugs in an amount that they believe to be the "norm." Let them know that drinking to the point of throwing up, passing out, or unconsciousness is not the norm.

Help Them Take a Stand

Every student has the right to a safe academic and living environment. Discuss ways to handle situations ranging from interrupted study time to assault or unwanted sexual advances. Help your son or daughter think about where he or she can find resources for support. Learn about campus security, campus health services, campus counseling, Greek councils, judicial affairs, and other student services that could be involved in emergency interventions or policy enforcement.

Talk About Personal Risk

Help your son or daughter make decisions about the quantity and frequency of drinking choices before he or she leaves for college. Discuss your family history and heredity as you know it. The more alcohol and drug-related problems there are in your biological family, the higher risk your child is for developing these problems. Discuss "safe" quantity and frequency choices, such as choosing not to drink alcohol, choosing to wait until legal age, drinking no faster than one drink every hour, and never having more than two drinks at any one occasion.

Be Honest

"Did you use drugs or alcohol when you were in college?" They may ask, so be prepared to answer. Be honest. If your son or daughter finds out later that you lied, then you risk losing his or her respect and your credibility. If you were involved with drugs or alcohol when you were their age, tell the truth about your previous use without getting specific or glorifying it. Make sure you let your child know why you stopped using.

Evaluate your own use of alcohol. Consider how your attitudes and actions may be shaping your son or daughter's choices about whether or not to use alcohol or other drugs.