Critical Choices: Alcohol, Drugs and University Life

Critical Choices: Alcohol, Drugs and University

LifeAnnorah S. Moorman, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Counseling

& Consultation Services

A Time of Transition for Parents and

Teens-New phase in parenting

-Helped your teen build a strong foundation for good decision making and self-sufficiency

-How do you handle this phase of letting go? Have you talked to your sons and daughters about alcohol use?

Advice from the Century Council--Parents, you're

not done yet. Most college students make responsible decisions about the

use or non-use of alcohol.However, we now know that: Availability of   +   Absence of  +  Desire to + Stress     Alcohol             Parents        fit in = POTENTIALLY RISKY DRINKING

Pay special attention to your son’s or daughter’s experiences and activities during the crucial first 6 weeks on campus. With a great deal of free time, many students initiate heavy drinking during these early days of college, and the potential exists for excessive alcohol consumption to interfere with successful adaptation to campus life.

Young People Experience a Different Drinking Environment

What has changed:

What they drink (potency of alcohol)

How much they drink

Frequency of drinking

Age they begin drinking

Overall availability of alcohol

Parent or adult supervision

Five Guidelines

1. Continue the Conversation2. Create Shared Expectations3. Know and Respect the Law/IWU

Policy4. What are the “True Norms”5. Take Advantage of Campus

Resources

1. Continue the ConversationConversation Starters

How will you decide whether or not to drink at college?

What will you do if you find yourself at a party with only alcohol to drink?

What will you do if your roommate only wants to drink and party?   

How will you handle it if you are asked to baby-sit someone who is very drunk?

Once they're at IWU: Continuing the Conversation

How are you doing? Do you like your classes? What is the party scene like? What kind of activities are available? Are you enjoying residence hall life? Why? Do you see others making friends or just drinking

buddies? How are you getting along with your roommate?

What are your roommates behaviors like? Be aware of signs of possible alcohol abuse

(lower grades, reluctance to talk with you about their activities, mood changes).

2. Create Shared Expectations

Attending class Financial responsibility Choices regarding drinking Study time vs. social time Staying in touch The penalties of underage drinking,

using a fake ID, and public consumption

3. Know and Respect the Law

IT’S ILLEGAL UNDER AGE 21!!!

Offense Loss of LicenseTest Failure 1st Offense 3 monthsTest Refusal 1st Offense 6 monthsTest Failure 2nd Offense 1 yearTest Refusal 2nd Offense 2 years

Use it lose it penalties: $250 fine

3. Know and Respect the Law

FAKE ID’S ARE ILLEGAL!!!!

Possession or Use of a Fake Drivers License or State ID: Automatic 1 year suspension of your driver’s license, a minimum fine of $500 and up to 1 year in jail.

Displaying Another Person’s Driver’s License or State ID as Your Own or Lending Yours to Another Person:

Automatic 1 year driver’s license suspension for both parties plus a minimum $500 fine and up to 1 year in jail.

Altering or Manufacturing a Driver’s License or State ID:

Automatic 1 year driver’s license suspension plus Class 4 Felony charges of 1-3 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.

3. Know and Respect the Law

IWU Alcohol Policy and Adjudication Guidelines

- Enforced consistently- http://www2.iwu.edu/judicial/Alcohol_Policy.shtml

Media

College students are:

Underage drinking on many campuses is widespread, unsafe, and in all cases illegal.

“Do you recognize any of these young men”?

4. WHAT ARE THE TRUE NORMS?Alcohol Use at Illinois Wesleyan

University

Measure Used: Core Alcohol and Drug Survey

Developed at Southern Illinois University Measures alcohol and other drug use, attitudes and

perceptions among college students Used throughout the state as well as nationally

- 2010 Aggregate National Data - 116 Institutions- N = 56,937

Alcohol Use at Illinois Wesleyan University

2013 Sample: ORL, Fraternities/Sororities, Off-Campus

Total surveys distributed: The entire campus was invited to participate using and electronic survey distribution (N = 2,100)

Surveys returned: 643Return Rate: 31%

2013 – National and IWU Comparisons – Average Drinks per Week

2002-2013 IWU Comparisons – Average Drinks per Week

2013 - IWU Class Comparisons-

Drinks Consumed in an Average Week

2013 - IWU Age of First Alcohol Use

*Approximately 10% of IWU first- year students are under age 18

* 11.2% started using alcohol at age 15 or younger

2013 - IWU Average # of Drinks per Week

Grades and Alcohol

Grades

Average Drinks Per Week

5. Take Advantage of Campus Resources

- Over 150 student organizations- Late night activities through the Student

Activities Office – Hansen Student Center- Passive and active alcohol education

efforts – on-line programs- Arnold Health Services

Magill Hall (lower level) 556-3107

- Counseling and Consultation Services - http://www2.iwu.edu/ccs/

(309) 556-3052

Guidelines to help think about the use and non-use

of alcohol Know personal limits of moderation (BNCCC - Bloomington-Normal Community Campus Committee)

0-0-1-3 - 0 – Zero alcohol if you are under 21- 0 – Zero alcohol if you are driving - 1 – One drink per hour sets the pace for moderate drinking- 3 – No more than 3 drinks per day and never daily if you choose to drink

To use or not to use is a personal choice. Help your son or daughter know the facts about this personal choice.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!!