Tomlinson

Anna Tomlinson
10-13-15
ISEM 301
AOD Prevention
Final Paper

The use of alcohol and other addictive substances across college campuses often
becomes scrutinized and is a major media focal point as a problem that spans each and
every institute that offers higher education. While there have been and still are many
issues with substance abuse, the amount of effort and resources put into minimizing these
occurrences has greatly grown. A majority of colleges and universities now require all
first-year undergraduate students to complete an alcohol and substance abuse seminar.
The University of Idahos Think About It, is designed to help new students
examine the interconnected issues of substance abuse, sexual violence and healthy
relationships through a variety of interactive, realistic scenarios and guided selfreflection, according to the Universitys website. Our neighbors at Washington State
University have implemented a program called Booze, Sex, and Reality Checks. This
program, similar to Idahos, seeks to give students the information necessary to make
wise decisions when it comes to substance use. The idea behind these programs is that
students will be able to understand why the use of drugs and alcohol decreases ones
ability to think and act rationally, while providing steps and techniques to use alcohol
safely. The programs dont blatantly tell students to not experiment with substances, as
this can have a greater negative effect, but rather educates them to a point that they

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should recognize risky behavior and know how to react in potentially harmful situations,
keeping fatalities at a minimum.
In addition to required programs, universities offer additional trainings for those
who would like further information. Two such programs that the University of Idaho
offers are Alcohol 101 which allows students the opportunity to get a visual
demonstration of how the amount of alcohol they would typically consume would be
measured in standard drink format and then use BAC cards for their gender and weight to
determine how intoxicated they would be. The second program offered is the Red Watch
Band. This program aims to utilize bystander intervention. The goal is to create
communities in which students take on the responsibly of looking out for each other in
the hope early prevention of sexual and/or physical abuse, alcohol overdose, and of
course, death.
Perhaps some of the most shocking information that all students should have
knowledge of comes from the NCHA data on University of Idaho students. The data,
which is updated in October every two years, juxtaposes actual data that is gathered from
student surveys with student perceived data. In many cases the real numbers are much
lower, expressing far less risky behavior in comparison to what assumed behavior is. For
instance, the perceived number of drinks consumed on average by a male is 5.7 and 5.5
for females. In reality those numbers are 4.3 and 3 respectively. When we look at
marijuana use, the percentage of those reporting to have used in the last 30 days is 14.9%.
Perceived use is over double that at 33.6%, making it clear that the stereotype of college
students spending a large amount of time engaging in questionable, reckless behavior is,
for the most part, just a stereotype. In fact students tend to consume alcohol and other

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drugs far less frequently than they assume their peers do. Nevertheless, social settings
tend to lead to a higher rate of consumption.
Research about alcohol and college students began when Dr. Clements Collard
Fry realized that beer parties were becoming more and more popular, attracting both
students and faculty alike. He also observed that fraternities often served wine with
meals with the initial purpose being to teach members the proper art of pairing meals and
blends. It became clear, however, that these were continued for the state of intoxication
that was acquired. This paved the way for others to research similar behavior patterns in
others. Sorority women became the next target of investigation, and it was observed that
they were also drinking on a regular basis. We see similar results from data now as we
did back in the 1940s. Those affiliated with Greek Organizations tend to consume more
alcohol than those who are not affiliated. While the gap in drinks consumed between
Greek members and those who are not is far less than it has been in previous years, the
difference still remains that those in such organizations participate in a larger amount of
social activities, which seem to be almost naturally tied to the presence of alcohol.
There have been significant efforts made over just the last few years to help
prevent the occurrence of intoxication-induced injury. I can personally testify that I have
noticed many changes happen in a short amount of time. When I was a freshman in
2012, there were very little restrictions being enforced when it came to parties on and off
campus. There always seemed to be something big going on each weekend, and it didnt
matter if you were invited or not, as long as you showed a student ID card you were
admitted. I have a horrible image engrained in my memory of a girl who walked out of a
dark hallway with blood streaming down her face. A large picture frame had fallen and

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cut her head. Perhaps the scariest thing about that was that she was patched up and
everyone carried on as though nothing had happened. Once the enforcement of listed
parties with guest invites took off, campus became much more mellow.
While they have always been around, this enforcement brought out of houses
into the mainstream. It seems as though every fraternity has a designated party
apartment, as lists got a little confusing and were considered to be a grey area to many in
these cases. This push has put more responsibility back on Greek chapters, and the
number of MIC and MIPs are the lowest they have been in quite some time a great
accomplishment. To promote greater change, eCheck Up To Go would be a great
resource that all students should have to complete their second year, or ideally, in stages
over all four years. Having incoming, first year students be the primary recipients of
these trainings is helpful for them to start off exhibiting appropriate behavior, but as time
goes on, students start to believe they are invincible, moving farther away from what they
were initially told. Of all the programs, WSUs Booze, Sex, and Reality Checks,
sounds like the most interesting, and could provide vital information and updates that
everyone needs to hear at all stages of their schooling.
Considering peer pressure is very effective at leading students astray, and it has
been established that social gatherings often contain alcohol, tailgating before sporting
events is a place where a lot of underage consumption takes place. Enforcing the legal
drinking age and potentially prohibiting alcohol use at these events could be beneficial.
This could even been done at select games only to cut down on the cost, such as at
homecoming and dads weekend games, or all but those games. Police officers are
already present at tailgates, though tickets are rarely given to minors who are in

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possession of alcohol. Regardless of a students level of intoxication, if they are

consuming alcohol, they should have their drivers license on them, ready to prove that
they are of age, and obeying the law, especially when in public.
Lastly, though our campus is quite small, especially compared to Washington
State University, it would be beneficial long-term to consider the addition of public
transportation with locations on, or on the edges of campus, connecting to various
locations within the Moscow. This addition would promote better decision-making when
it comes to not drinking and driving, removing the excuse of not having a designated
driver as a reason to drive while under the influence. The University could charge of the
expense to students through annual tuition, and potentially use taxes to help pay for the
locations within the city. Realistically this project would be many years out, but it could
make quite a difference on campus and within the community, even potentially cutting
down on the number of vehicles belonging to students, helping with air pollution.
Seeing as I am graduating with a degree in General Studies, Im still not entirely
sure what my ideal career choice is. However, my little sister is nine years old and
already asking questions about college and talking about joining a sorority. I believe it is
my duty to teach her that being herself is the most rewarding and important things she
can be, especially in college. I will always regret not realizing that earlier on, but I hope I
can prepare her in a realistic, honest way that there will be times that she will be
disappointed and that she will disappoint others, but that she will always have a strong
support system behind her that only cares that she is happy and successful in whatever
way she characterizes success. I will strive to be as free of judgment as possible, because
support is what she will need most during that confusing, difficult time.

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Non-profit management has been on my mind lately, and the idea of potentially
working for a company whose goal is to create safe environments for students to receive
resources and information for depression, anxiety, substance abuse and recovery, etc., it
will be important to approach each situation individually, realizing that while someone
may be technically seeking my services, it isnt always because they want to change their
behavior or seek help. Learning about Motivational Interviewing helped me realize that
every person has his or her own unique starting place and pace at which they move away
from defensive stagnation to acceptance and a desire for change.
Attached is a flyer for eCheck Up To Go if it were being offered optionally on
Mondays and Tuesdays at the Counseling and Testing Center fro 8am-3pm:

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Works Cited
"Booze, Sex, & Reality Checks - ADCAPS Site." ADCAPS Site. Washington State

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University. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <https://adcaps.wsu.edu/services/realitychecks/>.

"CollegeAIM NIAAA's Alcohol Intervention Matrix." CollegeAIM NIAAA's Alcohol
Intervention Matrix. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1 Sept.
2015. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/collegeaim>.
Kilmer, Jason, Jessica Cronce, and Mary Larimer. "College Student Drinking Research
From the 1940s to the Future: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going."
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Supplement. Rutgers University. Web.
14 Oct. 2015. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4453500/>.
"NCHA University of Idaho Executive Summary: Fall 2013." American College Health
Association, 1 Oct. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
<https://bblearn.uidaho.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-956535-dt-content-rid8194288_1/courses/201510_37942/NCHA 2013 Exec Sum.pdf>.
"Required Safety Program." - New Student Orientation. University of Idaho. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.uidaho.edu/current-students/orientation/think-about-it>.