ANN ARBOR—Quarters, three man, beer bongs, cups, anchorman—for some, drinking games are an integral part of the college experience. However, students who participate in games that promote binge drinking can risk more than losing just a game—they can lose their lives.

National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD), to be observed at the University of Michigan on April 10 and 11, will offer students the opportunity to fill out a brief self-assessment form asking about drinking habits and if their behaviors have changed as a result of their drinking.

In addition to taking the anonymous, written self-test, students will be able to pick up informational materials, talk one-on-one with a health professional and will, if appropriate, be directed to services on campus or in the community for further evaluation. They also will be able to try on beer goggles that simulate different high blood alcohol levels to experience intoxication without the inherent risks.

Screenings will be available in the Michigan Union basement April 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at North Campus in Pierpont Commons main floor lobby April 11 from noon to 2 p.m.

Says Marsha Benz, “The purpose of National Alcohol Screening Day is to educate students about alcohol problems. National Alcohol Screening Day accomplishes this by teaching students how to recognize a drinking problem, where to go for help if you are concerned about yourself or a friend, and the long-term effects of alcohol on your mind and body.”

“Drinking during the college years is often seen as a rite of passage, but it can lead to more than a nasty hangover. Binge drinking can result in disciplinary problems, poor academic performance, property damage, risky sexual behavior, physical injury, illness and even death. To address this issue, NASD 2002 will help students learn to recognize an alcohol problem in themselves or someone they care about—and find out where they can go to get help,” says Anne Keliher, program manager of National Alcohol Screening Day.

NASD teaches students how to recognize an alcohol problem. Signs of an alcohol problem include: drinking to calm nerves, forget worries or boost a sad mood; guilt about drinking; unsuccessful attempts to cut down/stop drinking; lying about or hiding drinking habits; causing harm to oneself or someone else as a result of drinking; needing to drink increasingly greater amounts in order to achieve desired effect; feeling irritable, resentful or unreasonable when not drinking; medical, social, family or financial problems caused by drinking.

National Alcohol Screening Day is a program of the nonprofit Screening for Mental Health (SMH) in collaboration with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Many U-M offices will be involved, including University Health Service, Counseling and Psychological Services, Department of Public Safety and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.

For additional information about alcohol or the screening program, call Marsha Benz at (734) 647-4656 or visit www.uhs.umich.edu or www.mentalhealthscreening.org.

National Alcohol Screening DayMichigan UnionScreening for Mental Healthwww.uhs.umich.edu