ASSU is proposing to implement a “Good Samaritan” (alcohol amnesty) policy on campus that would deter disciplinary action in cases where a student calls for help for a dangerously intoxicated student. Undoubtedly, this proposal will stir up some talking points on the great debate over how to prevent underage drinking on college campuses.
National statistics show that 30,000 students are treated for the overconsumption of alcohol each year, yet most alcohol overdoses go unreported. Already 336 students have died from alcohol poisoning on college campuses this year alone. With statistics such as these, a Good Samaritan policy seems like a pretty obvious route.
But would the lack of disciplinary action actually increase the amount of students who would call for help if their friend was dangerously intoxicated? Or is this policy sending too lenient a message about the school’s policy on underage drinking? It is hard to say due to a lack of statistical research and empirical evidence that would show the Good Samaritan policy is actually effective.
While there can be plenty of arguments made both for and against the Good Samaritan policy, it is important to recognize the overlying problem: an abundance of not only underage drinking, but drinking to the point of dangerous intoxication on college campuses. The Good Samaritan policy is not the end-all solution to this prevailing problem; rather it is only a step in the right direction toward decreasing this dangerous behavior.
In order to combat unsafe underage drinking practices, mere policies are just not going to cut it. We do believe the Good Samaritan policy can help in facilitating student safety if it is in congruence with a preventative alcohol awareness campaign and a post ‘alcohol incident’ follow-up program that intervenes and educates all students involved.
One of the main arguments against the Good Samaritan policy is that most students do not even recognize alcohol poisoning when they see it. Many times, students believe they are doing their friends a favor by putting them into bed when they are passed out, when really this puts their friend at risk of choking on their own vomit, severe brain damage or worse. This is where the preventative alcohol awareness comes in. In order for the policy to be successful, the student population needs to be familiar with the key signs of alcohol poisoning and when medical attention should be sought after.
Dangerous alcohol consumption, on and off college campuses, is a prevailing and very serious problem. There is no one infallible policy that is going to be the all encompassing solution. Rather, Seattle University needs to focus on preventative alcohol education and more thorough alcohol programs in order to reap all the benefits that the Good Samaritan policy has the potential to provide.
Seattle University Peer Health Action Team
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