Maybe my hope in the future generation has been misplaced.
Do they do this because it nearly as dangerous but a lot less expensive than drinking?
It doesn't say, and they don't really have proof that this is really being done. But it is the south, and college, and kids of that age just think they're invincible. Based on my kids, I can see that happening.
Oh, don't lose hope in the future generation just yet. Remember that this is a minority of students from an already-small subset of kids (the ones who can afford college).
Most of the kids I see are smarter than that.
It is hard to believe that supposedly intelligent young people can be that stupid.
My experience with kids that age was that they get a whole lot smarter after (and if) they survive college.
I heard something like this about Washington state some time back.