On May 21, 2009, the New Jersey Assembly unanimously passed a bill that would grant a degree of legal immunity to persons under the age of 21 who have been consuming alcohol and call emergency services for medical assistance. A noble step forward in working to reduce the damage the 21 year-old drinking causes, especially for Americans under the age of 21.
Studies consistently show that young people are dissuaded from contacting authorities in a medical emergency if alcohol has been present and the people involved are not of legal age (Lewis and Marchell 2006). On college campuses, especially, this creates a dangerous situation where thousands of serious medical emergencies go un-reported as young people try to deal with the problem without any help from authorities. Oftentimes students will try to "sleep off" heavy intoxication instead of getting help, a circumstance that usually ends in the person slipping into a coma in their sleep or asphyxiating on their own vomit overnight. Because of the amount drinking that takes place among American youth (the amount of excessive drinking practices has risen steadily since the drinking age was instituted in 1984), and the, as it turns out, logical shunning of authority when an emergency exists, there are approximately 1,700 deaths per among college-aged students related to alcohol each year (NIAAA, Hingson et al, 2005). These deaths are almost entirely preventable.
Some campuses have been realizing that these deaths are preventable, and that the cause is a culture and legal system that disincentives young people from seeking help. Medical Amnesty policies (also referred to as good Samaritan or non-retaliation agreements) have been adopted at many campuses around the country including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cornell, Tulane, UPenn, Smith and my recent Alma Mater, Hampshire College. These policies have one goal: Ensuring that no matter the circumstances, students will always reach out for help when they need it.
New Jersey has grappled with recent deaths on some of its own college campuses related to alcohol, and, as of now, the General Assembly has taken a proactive and effective step at limiting the harm from the underground culture that has been created from the drinking age.
Medical Amnesty policies, are, however, not the final solution. To entirely eliminate the underground, clandestine, dangerous and irresponsible drinking that takes place across the country we, as both a state and a nation, need to rethink some of our most basic pre-conceptions about alcohol regulation. That is a challenging task, and it is heartening to know that New Jersey legislators realize this and are taking steps right now to protect and keep safe the state's young people.
Studies consistently show that young people are dissuaded from contacting authorities in a medical emergency if alcohol has been present and the people involved are not of legal age (Lewis and Marchell 2006). On college campuses, especially, this creates a dangerous situation where thousands of serious medical emergencies go un-reported as young people try to deal with the problem without any help from authorities. Oftentimes students will try to "sleep off" heavy intoxication instead of getting help, a circumstance that usually ends in the person slipping into a coma in their sleep or asphyxiating on their own vomit overnight. Because of the amount drinking that takes place among American youth (the amount of excessive drinking practices has risen steadily since the drinking age was instituted in 1984), and the, as it turns out, logical shunning of authority when an emergency exists, there are approximately 1,700 deaths per among college-aged students related to alcohol each year (NIAAA, Hingson et al, 2005). These deaths are almost entirely preventable.
Some campuses have been realizing that these deaths are preventable, and that the cause is a culture and legal system that disincentives young people from seeking help. Medical Amnesty policies (also referred to as good Samaritan or non-retaliation agreements) have been adopted at many campuses around the country including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cornell, Tulane, UPenn, Smith and my recent Alma Mater, Hampshire College. These policies have one goal: Ensuring that no matter the circumstances, students will always reach out for help when they need it.
New Jersey has grappled with recent deaths on some of its own college campuses related to alcohol, and, as of now, the General Assembly has taken a proactive and effective step at limiting the harm from the underground culture that has been created from the drinking age.
Medical Amnesty policies, are, however, not the final solution. To entirely eliminate the underground, clandestine, dangerous and irresponsible drinking that takes place across the country we, as both a state and a nation, need to rethink some of our most basic pre-conceptions about alcohol regulation. That is a challenging task, and it is heartening to know that New Jersey legislators realize this and are taking steps right now to protect and keep safe the state's young people.
The Bill:
A3160. Currently in second reading and awaiting approval from the Senate.
Sources:
- Lewis, Deborah K., Marchell Timothy C. 2006. Safety first: A medical
amnesty approach to alcohol poisoning at a U.S. university.
International journal of drug policy.
- Hingson, R. et al. Magnitude of Alcohol-Related Mortality and Morbidity Among U.S. College Students Ages 18-24: Changes from 1998 to 2001. Annual Review of Public Health, vol. 26, 259-79; 2005
Further Reading:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp
http://www.politickernj.com/mysak/29968/angelini-911-legislation-receives-general-assembly-approval
http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/downloads/campusIniatives/AOD/Safety1stcornellMedamnesty.pdf
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