Alcohol abuse is an easy trap to fall into. Repeat offenders are not disciplined, there are so few immediate penalties for extreme drinking, students get varied messages from the college administration about alcohol, parents are not notified about their children's drinking activities, students are not told about the long-term negative outcomes of alcohol abuse, students have seen their parents drinking alcohol in an reckless manner, minors or intoxicated students are served alcoholic beverages by the local drinking establishments, there are few alcohol-free social and leisure activities that are attractive to students, and the drinking activities in the sororities and fraternities are not monitored are all reasons leading to not only drinking but excessive drinking.

What are factors leading students into alcohol abuse? Many factors exist supporting the ease with which college students turn to alcohol. Peer pressure or influence being added to the equation, the disregard that drinking alcohol only temporarily removes a person from his or her problems, the belief or opinion that drinking alcohol makes it easier to socialize with potential dating or sexual partners, the appearance that it is so acceptable to engage in activities that highlight the drinking of alcohol, the "good feelings" or the "fun" of getting an alcohol high or buzz, and when the party atmosphere at college is expected by students all help to sustain an alcoholic lifestyle on campus.

Education is not enough. While drug and alcohol abuse prevention is the first step, education alone is not the only answer that an be implemented in the war against college drug and alcohol abuse. But what are some of the other means by which to get the message about self-destructive behaviors?

We must employ both proactive and reactive measures. Many proactive and reactive steps have been put in place at many colleges and universities that have lessened the availability, acceptability, and irresponsibility of alcohol use on and off campus. The result is this is a noticeable if not significant decrease in alcohol related issues started by students.

What are some of these measures in place? Establishing immediate consequences for excessive drinking, disciplining repeat alcohol abuse offenders, notifying parents about their children's drinking activities, eliminating mixed messages by college administrators about alcohol (for instance, removing alcohol advertisements from tadiums and from sports brochures), informing students about the long-tern negative consequences of alcohol abuse, increasing alcohol-free social and recreational activities that are attractive to students, having college administrators talk to the owners of local drinking establishments so that minors and/or intoxicated students are not served alcohol, and monitoring the drinking activities in the sororities and fraternities. All of these have worked toward the goal of our campuses being free from alcohol abuse.

While medical research and treatment are positive steps, they are not enough. The above proactive and reactive measures, most of which are not education-based, are needed to compliment educational approaches alongside medical intervention if necessary. Even if the advancements in medical treatments can eliminate addictions, there will still be those who need it that will make every opportunity to avoid the chance. They will choose to disregard medical warnings, ignore their health, and who will discount common sense as they involve themselves in alcohol and/or drug abuse.