Summertime on Long Island is truly a special time of year. Those of us that live on Long Island, and those who visit, can enjoy afternoons on our sandy beaches, great concerts under the stars, comfort on a hot day underneath a shade tree in anyone of our spacious parks, and leisurely strolls down scenic main streets in Freeport, Huntington, Oyster Bay, Southampton, Greenport and other picturesque towns and villages. But summertime on Long Island can also be about doing things in excess, like binge drinking and acting irresponsibly as a result of drinking too much.

Long Island certainly has its fair share of bars and clubs. In the summer many of these establishments move their bar areas outdoors and are often surrounded by patrons four rows deep. Everyone drinking and everyone having a good time, except when someone starts to binge drink. Binge drinking is perhaps the most serious problem on college campuses today and a growing epidemic among young people in their late teens. According to a study compiled by Harvard University's School of Public Health, 44 percent of U.S. college students engage in binge drinking on campus. More than half of the students who said they binge drink were men, while 40 percent were women. As a result of this study and others, a profile seems to emerge that finds that students more likely to binge drink are white, age 23 or younger, and belong to a fraternity or sorority. They also report that they binged in high school, and that they drank excessively (4-5 drinks at one time) within a two-week period. Forty-seven percent of the students interviewed by Harvard also reported that they binge drink to get drunk.

Going out and having a good time doesn't mean you have to binge drink. Binge drinking is an extremely dangerous practice. As a person becomes seriously intoxicated their behavior can change dramatically. Among the behaviors frequently observed are: drinkers being hurt or injured due to reckless acts; engaging in unplanned and unprotected sexual behavior; public lewdness; depression; and getting behind the wheel of a car. In addition, binge drinking and subsequent public intoxication also can result in interrupted sleeping patterns, property damage, public arguments and humiliation.

The best way to enjoy summer on Long Island while doing the club scene at the same time is to act responsibly and carefully. Binge drinking, drinking for the purpose of getting drunk or giving into peer pressure can be the first indication that a person has a potential problem with alcohol or perhaps other substances. The responsibility to curb binge drinking on campus rests with the school. The obligation to curb it in our communities lies with the parents. If you suspect that your child or a loved one is binge drinking or that their behavior has been erratic due to excessive partying and they might need help, you can contact the Community Program at Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services at 822-4060.