It’s All About the CHOICES
By: Jill Royston
Alcohol and drugs can be a real danger at all colleges and universities, Gonzaga included. But despite what the news media might have you believe, not every student is using alcohol or drugs; and many are not using to the excess that is portrayed online, in reality shows, movies, or news stories. At Gonzaga we understand that students are young adults who are learning to make choices about substance use. Based on our Jesuit tradition of caring for the whole person, we are interested in their holistic well-being, and not just reacting to a problem or incident on campus. We want to help students make healthy choices and support students in living their values… realizing that many of their peers share those same values.
The Good News – Alcohol and drug use and abuse isn’t rampant among college students at Gonzaga. Over the past decade, we have asked our students to share with us (anonymously through the National College Health Assessment II survey) about their health behaviors, including alcohol and drug. Our data shows the vast majority of GU students drink moderately and an increasing number choose not to drink (22%). Of those students who choose to drink, many (36.7%) reported having four or fewer drinks when they socialized. Students also reported using protective factors when socializing, like eating before and/or during drinking (81%), keeping track of how many drinks are being consumed (74%), staying with the same group of friends the entire time drinking (85%), and using a designated driver (87%)! (All data from Gonzaga’s NCHA Survey conducted spring 2012).
Are You Talking to your Student? – From the spring 2006 national NCHA data, we learned that the majority of college students (77%) get health-related information from their parents, and most students feel the information they get is valid and believable. What would your son or daughter believe about your attitude on substance use? Some students share that their parents told them, “it’s alright, but you should never get smashed.” Some shared their parents’ view that “occasionally getting drunk is okay as long as it doesn’t interfere with school or other responsibilities.” Does your student know your opinions on alcohol use, or are they just guessing? What would you want your son or daughter to know prior to starting their college year (or returning for their sophomore, junior or senior year) in regards to use (alcohol or other drugs)? Having that conversation can be awkward, but research shows it is also incredibly valuable! Some potential questions to ask to start the dialogue may be: What do you think of alcohol and the college experience? Have you thought about your participation in it? What benefits do you think will be involved? What could be the drawbacks?
Preventing Substance Use, Abuse and Dependence – The staff at the Center for Cura Personalis focus on student wellness resources to make sure students know the best way to succeed at Gonzaga and avoid the negative consequences associated with substance use and abuse. We offer a workshop titled CHOICES for all new (freshmen, transfer and international) students. CHOICESis a brief alcohol abuse prevention and harm reduction program for college students to help them make informed choices about alcohol consumption. This unique program provides specific strategies and information to provide students with the opportunity to reflect on facts, risks and norms associated with alcohol, and also discusses marijuana use, violence prevention, and resources available to all students. It is also important for all students to understand Washington State law, GU policy, and the consequences that result from not following them. Students are encouraged to look for this information in the Student Handbook.
This is an ongoing effort here at Gonzaga and at other campuses across the country. It is a partnership with you as parents, colleagues here at GU and our students! Together we can offer your student the opportunity to choose for themselves the kind of individual they want to be in college, the kind of experience they want to have at GU and the level of success they want to achieve. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the wellness and prevention education resources available to all GU students (freshman through graduate), please contact the Center for Cura Personalis, Student Wellness Resources at 509-313-5921.