U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today issued the following statement on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's (NIAAA) study on college drinking:

This study provides alarming evidence of the devastating impact that college alcohol abuse is having on students, campuses and communities. The statistics are sobering—and we must work to change the culture of acceptance of high-risk behavior as a rite of passage.

The statistics bear out findings of previous research that most students drink moderately or abstain. Unfortunately, even a small group of students drinking excessively can cause significant damage to themselves and others. For this reason, I commend the college and university presidents who participated on the Task Force on College Drinking for their time and effort. Their leadership, in particular, is critical to implementing effective alcohol programs and in fostering a supportive environment on campus and in the community.

The Task Force's Call to Action offers research-based strategies to address the problem at an individual student level, with the student body and in the community. We strongly support the use of research-based education programs—a key element of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Our Safe and Drug-Free Schools (SDFS) program has enjoyed a longstanding working relationship with the NIAAA on the issue of high-risk drinking among college students, and we look forward to continuing that relationship. One of the Department's primary programs is the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, which provides nationwide support for campus alcohol and other drug abuse prevention efforts. In addition, we administer grants to local education agencies to implement innovative and effective alcohol abuse prevention programs for high school students.

Through these efforts and by working together with the NIAAA and with our nation's college and university presidents, I am hopeful that we can promote healthy lifestyles and safe environments for college students.

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