A new statistic has us concerned. The number of student alcohol-related hospital transports is up by almost 25 percent over the number of cases at this time last year.
While we can’t be entirely certain what caused this increase, it’s a problem that there have been almost 100 students so far this semester whose alcohol consumption made them so sick that they were brought to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. And, unfortunately, there were likely also students who got sick from alcohol during this time who didn’t seek or receive treatment.
Binge drinking is a sad truth at Penn and on college campuses across the country. But that doesn’t mean it should be common. It’s crucial that people from all corners of the Penn community come together and figure out policies and initiatives that will reduce binge drinking and keep students safer.
The fact that the Interfraternity Council is working to tackle this problem is a good start. The group sent out a survey on alcohol-related issues to students. After the results are in, they can be used to learn more about students’ behaviors and to determine where there is room for improvement. And once the main issues are established, hopefully groups will be able to find solutions that can help curb binge drinking.
No student should be consuming so much alcohol that hospitalization is necessary. The more information about why students engage in risky behaviors, the better.
