What College Emergencies Reveal About the Need for Legal Protection for Students Going Back to School

Dear fellow college students,

We’re the Trust & Will Marketing Interns: Chloe Burcell and Jaden Rones. Like you, we’re navigating the ups and downs of college life.  

As the back-to-school season approaches, heading off to college for the first time is thrilling and freeing, but it also comes with its share of risks.

We’re sure you’ve heard stories of students being drugged, hazed, or hospitalized for health emergencies, and we hate to admit it, but we’ve seen that first-hand during our own college experiences. It’s… alarmingly frequent. When these incidents happen, our families can be blindsided by a legal barrier. 

When you become a legal adult at 18, your parents or guardians lose the ability to make medical decisions or even access information about your health. (That is, without proper legal actions in place.)

That’s why we wanted to talk to you about what’s really happening on college campuses today, using real data that will hopefully help you understand why having a Healthcare Proxy, HIPAA authorization, and Power of Attorney in place is so important. 

We wanted to work at Trust & Will for a reason; we want to help people our age be prepared, so that if the worst happens, everyone involved including loved ones are protected. One of the efforts we have been involved directly with is the Young Adult Plan, which is a simple, affordable way to put your own essential legal protections in place as soon as you turn 18. 

The Data Behind the Problem We’re Solving

This was some data that we found quite eye-opening, even as present college students.  

• Drugging: Nearly 1 in 13 college students report having been drugged or suspect they were. Of those, 79% are women. More than two-thirds blacked out, 31% became seriously ill, and around 10% of all sexual assaults involve drugging.

• Hazing: Over 55% of students in Greek life say they’ve been hazed, and 73% said it was required to join. More than 60% of hazing-related deaths involve alcohol-induced unconsciousness.

• Mental health crises: Between 2011 and 2020, ER visits for mental health nearly doubled, with suicide-related visits rising fivefold. By 2025, over 5,000 per 100,000 ER visits were tied to anxiety, depression, or related conditions.

• Other high-risk situations: Alcohol poisoning, car accidents, drug overdoses, and international travel accidents are all common threats. Injuries from club sports, dorm fires, and unsafe housing conditions add to the danger.

The statistics paint a picture that concerned the both of us. If this is a systemic problem, we should be finding better solutions. We should also actively be trying to protect ourselves during this stage of life. 

How Legal & Health Care Documents can Add Protection

The Young Adult Plan includes four key documents that directly address the risks college students face.

Healthcare Proxy (Living Will): Names someone to make medical decisions if you can’t.

• Matters in cases of drugging, hazing, or alcohol poisoning, when you may be unconscious.

• Without it, doctors or courts, not you. Decide your care.

HIPAA Authorization: Lets family or trusted people access your medical info.

• Critical during a mental health crisis, accident, or overdose.

• Without it, even parents may be denied updates.

Power of Attorney: Authorizes someone to handle finances or legal matters if you’re incapacitated.

• Covers things like rent, tuition, or bills after a serious injury or illness.

• Without it, your family may need costly court approval.

Simple Will: States who inherit your belongings and names guardians for pets or dependents.

• Important in tragedies like dorm fires or travel accidents.

• Without it, state laws decide what happens to your things.

Bottom line: These documents give you and your loved ones control in emergencies. Without them, decisions may be slow, costly, or completely out of your hands.

Estate Planning is For Everybody

So, what do we think the solution should be? The company we work for, Trust & Will, has made a simple and affordable estate planning option designed for your adults to take advantage of their health, safety, and financial future. 

Why would this matter? Without legal documents like emergency contact forms, medical proxies, and permission for information-sharing, families and loved ones can’t help you in a time of need. When you’re abroad next semester, and you have a medical emergency. Or if you’re a student athlete, and you’re injured during a game. Even with mental health crises, legal documents are required to allow the people you trust to step in and help. 

The truth is, estate planning isn’t just for old rich dudes. Estate planning is for everyone, and especially during college, it’s probably good to have a plan just in case. Check out the Young Adult Plan to get started, and have an awesome school year!

Wishing you health and happiness, 

Chloe and Jaden

Trust & Will makes estate planning simple so you can create a customized, state-specific plan from the comfort of your own home. Take our free quiz to discover which estate plan best fits your needs today, to secure your family’s future.

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Trust & Will is an online service providing legal forms and information. We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice.