Assumption College Educating Its Students About Alcohol

March, 2004—Alcohol abuse is a top concern of colleges and universities all over the United States. Assumption College has a long history of responding to this issue, and officials are currently working with several alcohol-awareness organizations to provide informational programs to its students this spring.

One of these programs, the traveling Blood Alcohol Education van, will stop at Assumption College on March 25, 2004. The van is equipped with an interactive virtual bar for students to learn about blood alcohol levels. Students enter factors such as their weight, gender, and whether or not they have eaten a meal before drinking . They then choose the method of drinking (sipping, drinking, slamming, etc.) and then choose what drinks they would like to consume at the virtual bar. The program shows students how their drink choices impact their blood alcohol levels. This is meant to show students the effect of alcohol on their bodies, and help them make safer decisions about driving.

"It's an educational piece," Jamieson says of the virtual program. "There is no judgment involved. No one is standing there telling them that they drink too much. The goal is to help students look out for themselves and each other."

On April 1, 2004, Assumption is also welcoming Adcare Hospital for National Alcohol Screening Day. Adcare will set up a booth on campus, where its staff members will provide a 10-question survey about alcohol use. Participation is anonymous. The program serves to provide feedback to people about their alcohol use. Free candy and raffles will be available at the Alcohol Screening Day and the Blood Alcohol Education van events.

These events are being held in conjunction with Alcohol Awareness Month in April. In addition to this, National Alcohol-Free Weekend is scheduled for April 2-4, 2004. AdCare Hospital asks parents and other adults to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages for a 72-hour period to demonstrate to young people that alcohol isn't necessary to have a good time.

Long-term programs are also being implemented. Beginning with the Class of 2008, incoming first-year students will now be completing an online alcohol education course called AlcoholEdu, which provides health and life skills information to help students make good choices for themselves. A version of this course is currently being used as a disciplinary tactic for students who are in violation of the campus' alcohol rules.

Assumption undergraduates seem to be responding positively to these educational programs. A group of students recently spearheaded Students Promoting and Advocating Responsible Choices (SPARC), an entirely student-run organization designed to assist their peers with difficult alcohol-related issues. SPARC is not an anti-drinking association; rather, it encourages students to make responsible choices. The group is planning to branch out to include programs concerning eating disorders, sexual assault prevention, and other crucial health issues affecting students.

"College students have a lot of health concerns," says Jamieson. "This group is an important addition to the efforts on campus to address these issues.”

Jamieson was also very happy with the "tremendous" turnout for a recent lecture with Michael Green, the president of Collegiate Consultants on Drugs and Alcohol.

"He is absolutely relatable to college students," says Jamieson. "They really enjoyed his talk."

Green’s lecture came just a few weeks after the death of junior Michael Zabroski, who was struck by a drunk driver while celebrating his 21st birthday on January 26, 2004. Although the February 9 lecture was booked months before Zabroski’s death, the timely nature of the program allowed students to make sense of the tragedy while being encouraged to find ways to reduce the chances of something unwanted happening to themselves or their friends.

Though it can be difficult to verify exact responses to alcohol awareness programs, there are ways to determine change. Student Life personnel review documents such as judicial affairs records and Public Safety reports, student survey results, Health Services statistics, and feedback from resident directors and resident assistants to ascertain the effectiveness of efforts aimed at reducing alcohol related problems on campus. The new online alcohol education course allows for follow-ups with the students who complete the program, sometimes up to six months after students have finished the course.

Jamieson and the other administrators involved with drug and alcohol education on campus have made some truly beneficial changes to Assumption College. Substance-free housing and smoke-free buildings have been established due to increased awareness of the dangers of alcohol and tobacco. The "Just the Facts" campaign, a social norms project overseen by the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention has generated dialogue about alcohol issues and support for low risk drinkers on campus . Lectures about the dangers of alcohol, including a powerful talk by convicted drunk driver Jeffrey Smarz, have also hit home with students.

While the nature of her work can be frustrating at times, Jamieson truly enjoys working at the collegiate level.

"I really like to work with the college-age group," she said. "I love to see them grow and change during such an exciting time of their lives. And when I'm dealing with students that have serious problems, it's gratifying to see them making positive changes in their lives."