Americans Urged to Adopt a School in National Campaign to Prevent Alcohol Poisoning

National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Monday, 9 November 1998

With a full-page advertisement in The New York Times, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence today (November 9, 1998) announced a campaign to prevent alcohol poisoning among high school and college students. The advertisement urges concerned Americans to adopt a school with a contribution that will enable NCADD to more widely distribute brochures and posters that warn "Drinking Too Much Too Fast Can Kill You."

"Yet another alcohol-poisoning death of a college student within the last week demonstrates the urgency of this campaign," said Adele C. Smithers, a member of the NCADD board and president of the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation, which provided funding for the ad. "How many more of our kids have to die before we take decisive action against the number-one drug problem among American youth? Sadly, the federal government is already spending $195 million to target anti-drug ads at youth without a single mention of alcohol. It remains up to the private sector to do what it can to stop these senseless deaths."

Alcohol poisoning often takes place on college campuses where it and fatal, alcohol-related injury are the most serious consequences of binge drinking. Like other drug overdoses, it can occur after the ingestion of a large amount of any alcoholic beverage, including beer, wine or distilled spirits (so-called "hard liquor"). But inexperienced drinkers, or those sensitive to alcohol, may become acutely intoxicated and suffer serious consequences after drinking smaller amounts. Because of the differences in body chemistry, women can overdose after drinking lesser amounts than men.

The new campaign, "Drinking Too Much Too Fast Can Kill You," asks people concerned about binge drinking to adopt a high school or college for $50. Their contributions will be used to send 100 copies of a brochure about alcohol poisoning and a poster to help educate the student body at the school of the donor's choice.

For more information, or to contact National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, see their website at: www.ncadd.org