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."

Students Tap Resources for Alcohol Awareness

Aileen Castro, a junior in health care management, said she stopped by the alcohol assessment table in the Student Center because it looked inviting.

Castro said she believes having these tables out in the public are valuable tools to students.

"It helps spread the word where they can go if they do need help," she said. "Some people don't know where to go."

Last year in an effort to reach more students, SIUC extended the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness week to a two-week program. The SIUC Wellness Center has set up interactive assessment booths across campus through the remainder of this week and throughout the next.

Castro herself scored very low on her alcohol screening assessment questionnaire but said she would refer friends to the Wellness Center if she believed they could not control their drinking habits.

Trained professionals and volunteers will answer questions and administer questionnaires to interested students. Booths will be located in the Student Center and the Wham Breezeway from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Additional booths can be found at Rehn Hall during the hours of 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at Trueblood Hall from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The awareness booths will be on campus until Wednesday.

Ken Culton, coordinator and clinical counselor of alcohol and other drug programs, said the Wellness Center's goal was to inform or reach 500 people through the booths around campus. Culton said last year more than 300 people went to the assessment booths.

"Many students say, regarding drinking and socialization, there is nothing to do on campus other than drink," Culton said. "Many of the students who could benefit from counseling never come to the attention of referral sources that could send them to my program."

Culton said he would like to focus on the prevention of consuming alcohol. He said it only takes one event to take a person's life.

"You don't have to be an alcoholic to die from an alcohol related event." Culton said.

Erik Perks, a senior double majoring in computer and electrical engineering, is a student leader on campus. Perks is a part of the Student Orientation Advisement Registration staff and sometimes sees first hand a new student's relationship with alcohol.

"The majority of students drink responsibly, but occasionally there are a few students that do drink excessively," Perks said.

To deter students from drinking irresponsibly, Perks suggests relating the situation back to parents.

"Is this something that you would want your parents to know you do?" he said. "Would you call them up the next day and tell them how drunk you got, and would you still think they would be proud of you and glad you were in college after that?"

Perks said he thinks that after asking these questions, the student would be more likely to realize the harm they are doing to themselves.

"I think it's a great idea they are promoting this. I would like to see more things like this," he said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 71 people stopped by the Student Center location and filed out alcohol screening assessment questionnaires. Out of those people, 14 referrals were made to the Wellness Center. Culton said he would follow up by contacting the people and determining the assistance needed.

Culton sees approximately 470 students with alcohol or drug related problems during a 10-month period.

Culton said he wants to ask students to have the same level of respect for alcohol and drug use as they do for their grades and personal relationships.

"I respect the college student's journey. I'm aware as a professional and, having been there years ago, of the choices that students are confronted with," he said. "The vast majority of these choices are not lethal in nature, but a handful are.

"When you mix alcohol and drug use with certain behaviors, dangers lurk."

For more information please call 536-4441.

 

 

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