Although alcohol is a widely used and abused drug, social acceptability and unfeasibility of testing make it difficult to identify and cure athletes with alcohol-related problems.

"It (alcohol) is not something we are tested for," said Todd Shirley, president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board. "It's something that's socially accepted."

Testing is worthless because traces of alcohol cannot be found in the body after about 12 hours. Because of this, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics deals with alcohol abuse in a variety of nonpunitive ways.

A mandatory one-hour drug education session for freshmen is provided by On Drugs, Inc. The class stresses alcohol because knowledge about it is limited, said Sally Hoover, director.

After detection, the Penn State drug policy, also non-punitive, takes effect. For the first two offenses, the team doctor, coach, team physician and athlete formulate a plan to deal with the situation on an individual case basis.

After the third offense, the athlete is required to seek professional medical help. On a fourth offense, he is expelled from the athletic program.

This procedure is identical whether the athlete is caught or requests help, said Jim Hochberg, director of sports medicine at Penn State.

Treatment possibilities include the Total Alcohol Awareness Program (TAAP), drug counseling programs in State College, including Lawrence T. Clayton and Counseling Associates, or an in-house rehabilitation program.

Penn State's program for alcohol and drugs is being reviewed in light of the new NCAA legislation concerning drug testing and penalties for drug use, Hochberg said.

Athletes have additional burdens like practice, travel and pressure to perform. Consequently, they have outlets beyond those of the average student.

For example, an athlete can talk with a sports psychologist and counselors at the Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes. While these people are not trained to deal with alcohol problems, they direct the athlete to the team physician. All counseling is confidential.

These plans, however, are implemented only if the abuser overcomes denial, or if is involved in an alcohol-related incident.

"With alcoholism or any drug abuse there is a heavy denial that a problem exists," Hoover said. "And if the person is actually believing the problem exists, or considering that possibility, the chances are very good that it does exist."

A citation from University Police Services will result in penalties from the University administered through the Office of Conduct Standards.

"Public intoxication would always be a probation," said Donald T. Suit, director of the Office of Conduct Standards. "It depends on if you repeat . . . (then) it goes up."

Coaches must create their own policy regarding alcohol usage. They are in a precarious position because they must decide on any penalties and be approachable for problems.

"We don't have any rules that they cannot drink during the season," field hockey coach Charlene Morett Newman said. "I cannot fairly enforce that, so therefore I don't make the rules. I think it's part of their development as a person."

"I'd try to get help for anyone that was in need of the help," women's swimming coach Bob Krimmel said. "But the bottom line from what I know about the story is that the person needs to want to get the help.

"I think there is probably pressure on every college student here to test their values and drinking is just one way to do that. I think drinking makes a difference in everyone whether an athlete, student or someone that works."

The NCAA controls alcohol use only by suspending violators during championship events. Advertising by alcohol sponsors is limited, said Frank Uryasz, NCAA director of sports medicine.

The NCAA tests for alcohol only in riflery; it can create an unfair advantage because it steadies the nerves.