Current University of Pittsburgh Medical Amnesty Policies & Needed Course of Action FACT SHEET What Purpose to Medical

Amnesty Policies Serve?

Medical amnesty policies help protect underage students seeking help for someone suffering from an alcohol-related emergency. If medical attention is sought after, the student calling for help and the intoxicated student could be granted amnesty (not be prosecuted) for alcohol violations which could include underage drinking and procession of alcohol. The goal of these policies is to encourage students to call for the help they need without the concern for possible legal troubles.

Does Underage Drinking Really Happen?

On average, 48% of alcohol consumed on college campuses is attributed to underage drinking. [1] Emergencies rooms across the country get over 500 hospital visits a day from underage drinkers. [2] Over 4,600 youth (under the age of 21) die each year in the United States from excessive alcohol consumption. [3]

What are the Current Medical Amnesty Policies at Pitt?

The follow text is from the University of Pittsburgh Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures [4]. The Responsible Action Protocol contains the University of Pittsburghs medical amnesty policies. This protocol is a new addition to the Code of Conduct as of August 2011. Responsible action under the Responsible Action Protocol includes seeking medical assistance for another person who is experiencing an alcohol emergency. In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law, a student under the age of 21 would be protected from prosecution for the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages if law enforcement, including campus police, became aware of the possession or consumption solely because the student was seeking medical assistance for someone else. The requirements to receive this exemption mimic the Commonwealth laws requirements set forth above and only apply to the student seeking medical assistance for another person.

What Changes Need to be Made to Pitts Responsible Action Protocol?

The current policy only protects the student calling for help, not the student who is intoxicated. Additions that should be made to the policy include: Amnesty for the intoxicated student Amnesty for any other underage students at the scene of the emergency A more detailed procedure for how to request amnesty and assure that any improper citations are fully erased.

Do Other Schools Have Medical Amnesty Policies?

Yes! Hundreds of schools across the country have medical amnesty policies in place. [5] Carnegie Mellon University, our next-door neighbor, has a comprehensive policy which protects both the intoxicated student and the person who calls for help. Students for whom medical assistance is summoned for alcohol intoxication will be granted amnesty from university administrative disciplinary action and University Police action. The student who summons University Police/EMS on behalf of an intoxicated student will likewise be granted such amnesty provided the caller remains with the intoxicated student until help arrives. [6]

Once medical amnesty polices were put in place at Cornell University, the percentage of people calling for help increased and many people responded to a survey saying that they were more likely to call for help given the medical amnesty policy.[7] The Amethyst Initiative started in July 2008 to help promote responsibility of alcohol consumption and encourage policy makers to come up with new ideas about how to help adults make responsible decisions about alcohol. The Initiative is currently signed by 136 college presidents and chancellors [8]. Medical amnesty policies help young adults make responsible choices when it comes to safety.

What Do I Need to Do?

Sign the petition to Pitt officials and say that you want a more comprehensive medical amnesty policy that better prioritizes student health. The petition is found at __________.

References
[1] "Prevalence of Underage Drinking." Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Web. 01 June 2012. <http://www.camy.org/factsheets/sheets/Prevalence_of_Underage_Drinking.html>. [2]"Alcohol." Above the Influence. Web. 1 June 2012. <http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/_pdfs/drugfacts/ATI_DrugFacts_ALCOHOL.pdf>. [3]"Alcohol and Public Health Fact Sheets." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 July 2010. Web. 01 June 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/mlda.htm>. [4]"University of Pittsburgh Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures." 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 1 June 2012. <http://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/PDFsandForms/StudentAffairs/2011studentcodeofconduct.pdf>. [5] "Medical Amnesty Proposal." Feb. 2010. Web. 1 June 2012. <http://studentorg.richmond.edu/urems/amnestypolicy.pdf>. [6]"Alcohol and Drug Policy." Carnegie Mellon Police. Web. 01 June 2012. <http://www.cmu.edu/police/universitypolicies/drug-and-alcohol-policy.html>. [7] Lewis, Deborah K., and Timothy C. Marchell. "Safety First: A Medical Amnesty Approach to Alcohol Poisoning at a U.S. University." 7 Feb. 2006. Web. 1 June 2012. <http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/cms/pdf/aod/upload/Safety1stcornellMedamnesty.pdf>. [8] "Amethyst Initiative." Web. 01 June 2012. <http://www.amethystinitiative.org/>.