Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Education

157 College-Age Alcohol Deaths from '99-'05

July 10, 2008 03:07 PM ET | Alison Go | Permanent Link | Print

An Associated Press analysis of federal records shows that 157 college-age people, 18 to 23, drank themselves to death from 1999 to 2005; the number per year from 1999 to 2005 also jumped, from 18 to 35, although the number fluctuated year to year in between.

A separate and utterly unsurprising analysis found that men and freshmen were most likely to die of alcohol poisoning, and incidents were most likely to happen on the weekends and in December at the end of finals.

Following is a state-by-state breakdown of the number of deaths between 1999-2004. No geographical data was available for 2005; states not listed had no reported deaths.

  • Alaska: 5
  • Arizona: 4
  • Arkansas: 2
  • California: 16
  • Colorado: 6
  • Connecticut: 2
  • Florida: 1
  • Georgia: 4
  • Idaho: 2
  • Illinois: 2
  • Indiana: 3
  • Louisiana: 2
  • Maryland: 1
  • Massachusetts: 1
  • Michigan: 3
  • Minnesota: 6
  • Missouri: 3
  • Montana: 1
  • New Jersey: 2
  • New Mexico: 1
  • New York: 1
  • North Carolina: 6
  • Ohio: 1
  • Oklahoma: 1
  • Oregon: 3
  • Pennsylvania: 3
  • Rhode Island: 1
  • South Carolina: 1
  • South Dakota: 2
  • Tennessee: 2
  • Texas: 18
  • Utah: 2
  • Virginia: 9
  • Wisconsin: 4
  • Wyoming: 1

Tags: students | death rates

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Reader Comments

Central Pontine Myelinolysis: It's Real

Any awareness that can be available in regard to the characteristics alcohol to alcoholism is a true blessing. It would be wonderful to follow the trend that tobacco took some years ago. It took time but when the facts of TRUTH were finally excessable "Changes were made." Here in this article it uses the narative in, "Drinking themselves to death."

In 1959, a very well known neuro-pathologist at Harvard, Dr. Raymond D. Adams and his Associates found a toxic demyelinating neuromuscular disease of the central nervous system called Central Pontine Myelinolysis or CPM. The disease is based on alcohol, malnutrition and a infectious entity. Please note there are other ways to acquire CPM but no matter how it is said to be iatrogenic. (Error in treatment) There is a strong belief this may be one reason even though now 50 years of age, let's just say it does not rank high on the agenda to recieve the AWARENESS it's due. It's truly a sad world of medicine when the education of alcohol both to those in health care as well in the public domain are not informed of this reality.

Ultimate slap to those worried about alcohol and young people

Just think, John and Cindy McCain, major southwest dealers of wholesale beer (Hensley & Company, Phoenix, AZ) are running from the (supposed) party of family values to be YOUR president and first lady. Is that upside down, backwards, nutty or what?

Alcohol...McCain...kids

Daniel David, you've GOT to be kidding! The McCain's beer distributorship doesn't authorize underage or binge drinking. Stick with the facts. I have four college kids 17-26(MBA)and I EDUCATE them and speak openly about the perils of alcohol. I sure don't point fingers...

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About The Paper Trail

Being a college graduate and all, writer Alison Go is uniquely qualified to sift through thousands of student newspaper headlines every day to bring you the latest, most important, or just plain weirdest news from campuses across the country. Heard bigger news or a crazier story? Send tips to papertrail@usnews.com.

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