Over fifteen thousand copies of Beer, Booze and Books...a sober look at higher education have been distributed on campuses and in homes around the country. Now, Jim Matthews plans on providing another effective prevention tool for students by developing a new book about college alcohol issues. The design of the new book is based on the numerous positive comments received from students, parents, faculty and administrators from around the country regarding the inclusion of quotes from students addressing their thoughts about and experiences with alcohol in Beer, Booze and Books...a sober look at higher education .

Your help is needed in the development of this new book. This new publication will include an expansion of the quotes from students and others who have been involved with college drinking on any level. Following the quotes will be an explanation of the issues raised by the authors of the quotes. Therefore…

I would like to hear from you… students, parents, faculty, staff and administrators.
If your story is selected for inclusion, you will receive a $100 Thanks
following publication of the new book.

If you consume alcohol:

•  Your own drinking habits (how often, how much, type of drinks, etc.)

•  Impairment problems you or your friends have experienced or that you have observed including blackouts, hangovers, DUI, injuries, violence including sexual assault, unplanned sexual encounters

•  Your understanding of addiction to alcohol (alcoholism), intervening with someone experiencing alcoholism, treatment for alcoholism, etc.

•  Your experiences at campus partiers and off campus parties or in local bars or clubs

•  Your family history of addiction and how it has effected you

The descriptions of these experiences can include both positive and negative occurrences. For some of you reflecting on some of these events may be difficult considering the many tragedies that occur on our campuses.

If you abstain from alcohol:

•  Why don't you drink

•  What have you observed in the behaviors of your peers

•  What activities do you participate in

•  If you go to parties, what is it like as an abstainer

•  Your thoughts about what could help reduce campus alcohol problems

•  What were your own college drinking behaviors? Did you share this with your son/daughter?

•  If you visited the campus before deciding on selecting it, did you have conversations with any campus reps regarding alcohol issues? What were these interactions like?

•  Did you discuss alcohol issues with your son/daughter before s/he left for campus?

•  What are your expectations for your son/daughter's drinking?

•  Has your son/daughter had a negative experience with alcohol? If so describe it.

•  How have you handled any negative occurrences?

•  Describe impairment problems your students have experienced

•  How does your campus handle policy violations

•  How does your campus handle alcohol poisoning cases

•  What prevention strategies have been effective on your campus

•  What strategies have failed

•  How do faculty members handle alcohol issues

•  What kinds of interactions have you had with parents, do you have parental notification, how do parents respond to messages about alcohol

Send an e-mail, write a letter, or give a call to the following:

Jim Matthews
5254 Stump Road
Pipersville, PA 18947

- Describe in detail (to the degree you feel comfortable) the information and/or experience(s) you are providing. Consider these questions: What actually occurred? What led up to the situation? How many people were involved? How did you feel about the event? How do you feel about yourself/others involved? How was the event resolved? What did you learn? How have you applied any awareness resulting from the experience?

- For examples of the types of stories I am requesting check the quotes in the excerpts from “Beer, Booze and Books…a sober look at higher education” at http://www.beerboozebooks.com/excerpts.htm.
Your submission can be as long as you would like it to be.

- Remember, this is not only about drinking. It is also about abstaining. Feel free to express your feelings about that as well. (See questions above.)

- Provide your name, address and campus affiliation. Parents, please provide city and state location.

- If you wish to remain anonymous please indicate this in your message.