Students to educate their peers on responsible drinking

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – An army of angels will land on High Street on Thursday, Sept. 2 in the form of West Virginia University students hoping to educate their peers about the responsibilities of safe drinking behavior for those who are of age.

During the Ninth Annual Angels on High Street event, which will be from 10 p.m. to midnight, the WVU Department of Community Medicine’s Alcohol Education Project will provide students with blood alcohol strips that give an approximation of one’s blood alcohol level along with coasters that check for the presence of drugs, such as ketamine and GHB. In addition, urinal screens with a safety message will be distributed to downtown bars.

“We have a responsibility to educate our students about alcohol, and the dangers of binge drinking, and to reinforce the concept of not driving while drinking and not riding with someone who is drinking,” Ruth Kershner, Ed.D., associate professor in the Department of Community Medicine and alcohol educator for the WVU School of Medicine, said.

Students from Community Medicine and the WVU School of Pharmacy will be assisting with this event.

For more information on the WVU Department of Community Medicine, see www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed.

For more information on the WVU School of Pharmacy, see www.hsc.wvu.edu/sop.