The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Awareness activities promote safer drinking habits

Nearly 50 percent of college students engage in binge drinking at least once in a two-week period, a 2003 survey compiled by the Center of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies at SIUC states.

The sample used 38,857 students from 89 institutions across the country. While the survey cannot reflect the entire college population in the United States, it does illustrate that many college students need to know the consequences affiliated with guzzling round after round of alcohol.

The SIUC Wellness Center is planning its annual Alcohol Awareness Weeks beginning Monday and lasting through Halloween weekend as a means to help combat that mentality. The awareness period, which was extended to two weeks in hopes of reaching more students, correlates with a national effort to educate students about the dangers of alcohol.

More than 3,000 college campuses across the country have centered programs based on National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, which began in the late 1980s and is usually observed during the third week of October.

Ken Culton, coordinator and clinical counselor of alcohol and other drug programs for the Wellness Center, said professionals started the awareness week as a social way to respond to the needs of the college student population and inform them of irresponsible alcohol consumption.

"What we want to do is heighten their awareness and implement something that is transferable throughout the rest of the year," Culton said.

Similar to past Alcohol Awareness Weeks, the Wellness Center will set up assessment tables at several campus locations on Tuesday and Thursday. These locations include the Rehn and Trueblood Halls and the Student Center. A fourth table in the Wham Breezeway has been added this year, an idea, Culton said, that was brought to him by students in the social work program. At the tables, students will be allowed to fill out questionnaire forms, which evaluates their drinking habits.

The Wellness Center will also be having a "Sober Tailgate" on Oct. 30 before the SIUC football game against Western Illinois University, which begins at 6 p.m. Culton said depending on the weather, the tailgate will offer either hot chocolate or water as alternative beverages.

Culton said many on-campus residence halls would also have awareness programs throughout the two weeks. One program will offer "mock tails," which are non-alcoholic drinks resembling cocktails.

Culton said SIUC's Alcohol Awareness Weeks are not meant to preach but rather educate students on the possible consequences. The program also encourages them to practice safer drinking habits.

"We just want students to make good choices," he said. "It only takes one night that could take your life or the life of someone else."

For more information on Alcohol Awareness Week, call the SIUC Wellness Center at 536-4441

 

 

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