Many students don’t know that college student alcohol use-

• Is a major cause of death from injuries among young people. Each year, about 5,000 people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking (this includes deaths from motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides, falls, burns, and drownings).
• Increases the risk of carrying out, or being a victim of, a physical or sexual assault.
• Can affect the body in many ways. The negative effects range from hangovers to potential death from alcohol poisoning.
• Can lead to many academic and social problems. These include receiving lower grades in school, run-ins with law enforcement officials, and other substance abuse issues. Learn more about ECU’s alcohol policies and penalties
• Affects judgment and sound decision-making skills. Young people may drive a vehicle after drinking or ride with a driver who had previously been drinking; these things would not have occurred had alcohol not been in the picture.
• Plays a role in risky sexual activity. With alcohol use, there is an increased risk of unprotected sexual activity that can lead pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).
• Can harm the growing brain, especially when a young person drinks a lot. Research has shown that the brain continues to develop from birth into the mid-20s.