Delta Zeta’s i Have a Choice Supports National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week

Delta Zeta’s initiative to support National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (#NCAAW) is the i Have a Choice campaign. Collegiate chapters undertake campaigns in their local communities and on campus to educate about the dangers of alcohol abuse. The i Have a Choice campaign helps reinforce the idea that everyone has a choice when it comes to alcohol use. It is just as important now, as it was eight years ago with Delta Zeta started this campaign, to educate our members and communities about the healthy choices we can make regarding alcohol. 

October 19-25 Delta Zeta’s chapters are taking to social network feeds to chronicle their efforts in their communities with the i Have a Choice Campaign. Using the hashtag #iHaveAChoice our chapters and members will be spreading important knowledge about alcohol which directly impacts college students. High risk drinking, though decreasing, still impacts our communities. 3,360,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 drive under the influence of alcohol (Hingson et al., 2009). 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol (Hingson et al., 2009). 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape (Hingson et al., 2009). And 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes (Hingson et al., 2009).

We hope that because of programs like i Have a Choice, we will see continued awareness among college-aged students about their choices relating to alcohol. In 2012, there was a record low of freshman drinking alcohol, a reported 33.4%, down from a high of 73.7% in 1982 (UCLA Higher Education Research Institute, 2012). And the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 84% of 18-24 year olds are NOT heavy drinkers (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2011).

What will you do to spread awareness about the choices you can make to use alcohol responsibly? Tell us by tweeting @DeltaZetaNatl with #iHaveAChoice.