The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will join over 3,000 campuses across the United States to participate in National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week from Oct. 13 to 20.

With the school year well underway, students are beginning to feel the pressures of classes, work, relationships and life. To deal with the stress, some students turn to alcohol to remedy their problems. Some first-year students begin drinking just to fit in.

For most students, alcohol is not a major problem, but for those who it is, it can significantly damage their health and academic career.

At UWM, 18 percent of students drank in the past month, but 13 percent drank on at least 16 days, according to a recent survey, said Paul Dupont of the Norris Health Center.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that in the United States, 1,700 students between the ages of 18 and 24 die, 599,000 are injured, 696,000 are assaulted and 97,000 are sexually abused each year, Dupont said.

To make students aware of the dangers of drinking, the UWM Police Department has a simulation device called fatal vision goggles that students can try out. Students can put these on and see what it feels like to be drunk.

“If anyone wants to know what it’s like to have a few drinks and then try to drive, it’s a good reminder,” said Lt. Ernest Meress.

Alcohol use and abuse is a big problem for some students, said Peggy Brown, a nurse at Norris.

“It is a major factor in many cases of unwanted pregnancy, STDs, dating issues and disrespect for other students’ property,” she said.

On Nov. 1, Norris will host E-Chug, a free interactive feature, on its Web site. The feature will help students understand how their drinking habits compare to other students.

Students can fill out an anonymous survey about drinking experience that takes about 10 minutes to fill out.

Results of the survey include how much income the student spends on alcohol, what percentage of students drink less, how many cheeseburgers it would take to be equal to the amount of calories drunk, blood alcohol content, tolerance, and risk of developing a drinking problem.

Norris also conducts a program called the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students. This is a four-hour session in which students can assess their alcohol use and discuss what can be done about problems.

It is free and if a student has a ticket for drinking, going through BASICS usually reduces the fine.

For more information on BASICS, call Peggy Brown at 229-2919 or Colleen Bernstein at 229-6668.

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