Caffeinated malt liquor - ever heard of it?
Central Washington University President James Gaudino has banned the alcoholic energy drinks from his campus.
Investigators in Washington say 9 CWU students hospitalized this month were sickened by "Four Loko," a caffeinated malt liquor also known as "blackout in a can".
Investigators who had suspected the group was poisoned , drugged or given alcohol without their knowledge at an off campus party - said none of that occured. No sexual assaults were confirmed, according to a school statement.
The drinks are "a binge-drinkers dream because the caffeine and other stimulants allow a drinker to ingest larger volumes of alcohol without passing out," says Ken Briggs, chairman of the school's physical education department . "Being able to feel the effects of tiredness, loss of coordination and even passing out or vomiting are the body's defenses against consuming doses of alcohol that will kill you.".
The maker of "Four Loko" -- Phusion Projects of Chicago, Illinois told CNN the company is doing "all we can to ensure that our products are consumed safely and responsibly...we go to great lengths to ensure our products are not sold to underage consumers and are not abused."
Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs.
According to the Center for Disease Control, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
In 2008, there were approximately 190,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and conditions linked to alcohol use.
More than 90% of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinks.
Statistics show more than 8 percent of eighth graders, 16 percent of sophomores, and 24 percent of seniors report recent binge drinking.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, about 5,000 kids under 21 die every year as a result of underage drinking – from crashes, homicides, and suicides. Teens who drink exhibit risk-taking behavior sexually, or by using other drugs, and they perform worse in school.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that teens who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop an alcohol addiction than those who do not begin drinking before the legal age of 21.
In Rhode Island, health and law enforcement officials introduced a new state website earlier this year to help prevent underage drinking.
The website, www.substancefreekids.ri.gov is tailored to parents, community members, educators, and youth, with sections devoted to each group.
Kids and teens can learn how to resist peer pressure and make good decisions, parents can learn about how to talk to their teens and recognize the signs of substance abuse, and educators and community members can learn about what they can do to create a safe environment for kids.
Earier this month the Rhode Island Underage Drinking and Nightclub Safety Task Force started making unannounced visits to bars and restaurants in Smithfield ,Westerly and Providence. The task force arrested 13 people for underage drinking, the state police told the Providence Journal.
Additional Resources:
TheAntiDrug.com
AboveTheInfluence.com
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