As stated in the MADD online article "MADD Launches UMADD Chapter Program to Tackle High-Risk College Drinking," at: http://www.madd.org/madd/home/", Alcohol is the biggest drug problem facing young people today, killing 6.5 times more young people each year than all of the other illicit drugs combined.

As the alarming scope of underage drinking is revealed through recent Studies (almost half of college students binge drink [five or more drinks in a row for males or four or more drinks in a row for females]), MADD works to raise public awareness and cultivate a change on college drinking issues.

MADD’s mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of the violent crime and prevent underage drinking. According to MADD author Marianne Lee, former project director for the College of Alcohol Study, we must find a way to effect the same change on public attitudes about underage drinking as we have done in the past with attitudes about drunk driving.

It seems part of the danger is in the culture of drinking and the fact that many consider it normal. High-risk drinking, drunk driving and other tragedies are often accepted as a way of life on college campuses, but there are many students like myself who are willing to speak out and get involved, said Eric Hidalgo, president of the University of Massachusetts UMADD chapter.

Study results released by the Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) which surveyed 18 colleges and universities nationally, indicates strong student support for alcohol prevention policies including:

Prohibition of kegs on campus (58.4 percent support), stricter penalties for students who repeatedly abuse campus alcohol policies (77.1 percent support), use of fake ID (66.3 percent support),restriction of advertising that promotes consumption at on-campus parties and events (53.3 percent support), undercover operations at local bars, restaurants and liquor stores (52.4 percent support), making on-campus residences alcohol-free (42.3 percent support).

Dispelling the belief that alcohol and other drug abuse is normal behavior on college campuses will take the involvement of many individuals and organizations.

Effective measures that can be taken include: conducting regular compliance checks of alcohol beverage retailers, enforcing existing regulations and laws, increase alcohol excise taxes (according to research, for every 1 percent increase in the price of beer, the traffic fatality rate declines by 0.9 percent), advocate for effective legislation, strengthening penalties for underage alcohol purchases, possession and consumption, and increase funding for enforcement.

MADD has over 600 chapters in all 50 states and affiliates in Guam and Puerto Rico. The MADD National website (www.madd.org) contains a great deal of information about its programs and history, as well as links to other resources.

The national phone number is: (214) 744-MADD or (800) GET-MADD. In Washington state the victim hotline number is: (800) 927-6080, and the local Spokane chapter is located at 220 E. Wellsey #110-B, phone: (509) 482-0405, E-mail: maddspokane@qwest.net/

MADD has both national reputation and the grassroots capabilities to join forces with the many local and national organizations that are mobilizing to promote healthy campus environments, said William DeJong, director of the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention.