Note: All of the names in this article have been changed to protect the identities of the interviewees.
It’s time everyone admits it—alcohol is a part of college. Whether one decides to participate or not, all college students will encounter alcohol in some form. The question for the university becomes not “how do we prevent students from drinking?”, but “how do we keep students safe when the inevitable does happen?” DU can do better in deciding the fate of intoxicated students. When a drastic situation does occur, students should be seen by student paramedics or be held on campus around supervision, not sent to a drunk tank downtown.
Denver CARES is a treatment facility utilized by DU to handle substance abuse and detoxification. The organization takes in 27,000 detoxifying public inebriates each year and promotes their mission “to provide a safe detoxification for public inebriates.”
Unfortunately, students at the University of Denver know a different story.
Jade, a junior at the university, recalls the scary details of her detox experience. After a night of drinking and eventually catching the attention of campus safety, Jade was found to be intoxicated. She was transported to Denver CARES, where she was brought inside, determined uncooperative and put in a confined room.
“I got really scared and started banging on the door screaming to be let out,” she said. “All I wanted to do was talk to my mom, I was yelling and crying for her. When I calmed down enough to be let out, they took me to a desk where a woman asked me standard questions, then rather personal ones. I was shocked when she ridiculed me and said that I was 20 years old and shouldn’t be yelling for my mom.”
Jade was taken to a chaotic room littered with cots where she slept and waited until noon, which was her calculated sober time. When she was finally able to leave Jade was evaluated and given her belongings back. In billing, she was told that her bill would double if she didn’t pay for it right then and there, but not surprisingly did not have the money with her. Jade finally emerged from the center, and called a friend to bring her home.
While Jade’s visit was one of 53 “routine” visits for the center last school year, a huge display of a flaw in the system came in the form of a DU student waking up in detox paralyzed. The incident not only brought tragedy to the student’s friends and loved ones, but rocked the entire DU community. A friend of the student advocates for change:
“If things were different, then people would have reported him to responsible paramedics, because the paramedics that did come for my friend treated it like a joke.”
Often, students go to detox even though they are not causing harm to themselves or others. However, there are, of course, situations where help is needed, especially in cases of possible alcohol poisoning. At the Pacific Lutheran University, resident assistants are required to help students if it is asked of them, taking all necessary steps and creating an environment where the students are not afraid to ask for help. This tactic could be utilized here at DU. Another idea is taking advantage of pre-med students wanting experience in their field. They could be employed as student paramedics, monitoring and giving necessary medical attention to highly intoxicated students. The local hospital could be a last resort.
While responding to dangerous situations is necessary, detox is not.
