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To Our Incoming Retriever Families,

We are reaching out to share this information with you about the risks related to alcohol and other drug use among college students, so you can have a conversation with your Retriever that combines your family’s values with important safety information about substance use, and most importantly, high risk or binge drinking and cannabis use. UMBC is not immune from the problems associated with alcohol and cannabis use; however, national assessments and our own data continuously rank UMBC below the national averages for alcohol and other drug use. These lower drinking rates are a part of the culture at UMBC and we’re asking you to work with us to keep it that way.

Based on our 2023 alcohol and other drug assessment data, of the students who participated,

• 47% of students did not use either alcohol or cannabis at all during the past year

• 81% of students did not binge drink in the past month

• 80% of students did not use cannabis in the past year

• 2% of students indicated that they are in recovery from alcohol and/or other drugs

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Before your student arrives on campus, we encourage you to have an important conversation about how they can support their own well-being once they arrive, and how the use of substances such as alcohol and cannabis can impact their success.

Research has shown that “Gen Z” drinks less than previous generations. However, those students who choose to use alcohol and cannabis are more likely to have immediate impacts such as skipping class and getting a lower quality of sleep, and these impacts do add up – leading to lower GPAs, and ultimately, a lower likelihood of graduating on time, and being ready for employment.

You may think “they don’t want to hear it from me,” or “my opinion doesn’t matter,” but we are here to tell you that it does. Research has shown that families are one of the most important influences on their student’s’s drinking habits, and that your influence remains even after your child leaves for college. When you talk, they hear you.

How can you begin? Start with a conversation. As part of the Maryland Collaborative, UMBC stands firm with 18 other colleges and universities across Maryland in its commitment to prevent student harm from excessive drinking and use of substances. The Maryland Collaborative’s College Parents Matter website provides a comprehensive resource with evidence-based answers on a variety of topics, including questions such as:

• “I’ve never spoken to my child about alcohol—is it too late?”

• “What messages should I communicate regarding underage and excessive drinking?”

• “ I’m not sure whether or how often my student is using cannabis. How can I talk to them about a newly legalized drug in Maryland?”

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For our students in recovery, more resources and support might be required to ensure their health and safety related to alcohol and other drugs. To that, UMBC has teamed up with the world-renowned Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to ensure students and their families have access to today’s most trusted addiction and mental health care resources. Students and families are able to reach out directly to Hazelden to gain access to clinical care and recovery support resources and services for families. Call 1‑800‑375‑2996 to learn more.

We have an incredible opportunity to begin these discussions now. We, along with you, are 100% invested in seeing your student succeed at UMBC and beyond. Please join me in the unwavering support of our students’ success as they become members of the Retriever family.

Sincerely,

Renique Kersh, Ph.D

Vice President for Student Affairs, UMBC