Substance abuse campaign hopes to engage students
By Natasha Marar
News Editor
October 31, 2007
 Don’t Be That Guy, Don’t Be That Girl, a community-collaborated program aimed at discouraging underage drinking and substance abuse, is stepping up efforts to promote itself to the entire student body.
According to Canadian Campus Survey 2004, 77 per cent of students use alcohol each month, and 51 per cent will use cannabis during their lifetime, making it the most commonly used illicit drug.
“The goal is basically to reduce the problems related with substance use, mainly alcohol, and if you want to get really specific, binge drinking,” said Mark Erdelyan, program consultant for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one of the partner agencies.
“Last year we did the same type of campaign mainly targeted at residence students,” he added.
“I think it’s a great idea,” exclaimed Maria Blass, Director of Student Health Services.
The program was developed last year by the University of Windsor, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Windsor Focus Community, which is operated by the Teen Health Centre, through a $45,000 grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation.
“[The campaign is] getting a very positive response,” said Stephen Gard, Focus coordinator at the Teen Health Centre. “Hits to the web site are through the roof. We were at 2,500 hits in the first month and a half,” he boastfully added.
“There are three main areas of the program,” explained Erdelyan. “The first one is education and awareness, and then…policy and enforcement, and the last section is intervention and treatment.”
“It’s a comprehensive campaign. It’s not just a matter of providing information. We are trying to plan non-alcoholic events on campus, and we are also trying to get help for people who need it,” said Erdelyan.
Although the program is about substance abuse, the focus is largely on alcohol use since it is much more prevalent.
“We are really trying to focus on the realistic consequences [of abuse]; the things that are happening each and every week,” said Gard.
A number of students have experienced negative effects of alcohol use. Canadian Campus Survey 2004 indicated that 32 per cent of undergraduates reported hazardous or harmful forms of drinking, and the same per cent also cited at least one indicator of dependent drinking such as failing to stop drinking, failing to perform everyday normal activities, and needing a drink in the morning.
“[Underage drinking on campus] is there, and it can lead to problems,” commented Blass, who likens some of the reasons why there is underage drinking on campus to the newfound freedom of students who are away from home for the first time, the ready availability of alcohol, and the fact that students coming from high school are younger than in previous years.
Binge drinking is one area of alcohol abuse that the program is targeting. Health Canada reports that between 1993 and 1999, heavy drinking episodes increased from 30 per cent to 42 per cent. Also during the same timer period, the number of drinkers in Ontario consuming alcohol at least once a week has rose from 14 per cent to 20 per cent.
Students who want to know more about their patterns of alcohol consumption can visit either www.dontbethatguy.ca or www.dontbethatgirl.ca and take the E-Chug Challenge.
“It’s confidential, you can do it at any time, and it gives you feedback about your patterns of consumption,” explained Erdelyan of the online survey. “Students get an ID number, and they can go back and use the assessment again, and compare the results. It’s a good way for them to monitor their use without anyone ever knowing.”
Students can also receive insight into their drinking behaviour through Student Health Services. Blass explained that Student Health Services establishes for student patients what their drinking habits are in relation to the norms highlighted by professionals.
“It’s our job very much so to address problems or potential problems when it comes to substance use whether it’s legal or illegal,” said Blass.
“It’s part of our health screening to ask about how much alcohol the student drinks,” revealed Blass, who remarked that alcohol use varies across campus.
Students who use Student Health Services usually give an honest report of their drinking habits, and some even admit to self-medicating with alcohol.
“It’s how we ask the questions too, it’s a non-threatening environment,” said Blass, who commented on the importance of remaining non judgmental. “The idea is not to shame them, but to give them information.”
Blass hopes the campaign will help abolish myths about drinking that students commonly learn from each other. “What students think is okay is really different from what we professionals will think. We hope they will get to us somehow.”
Don’t Be That Guy, Don’t Be That Girl has several events in the works including a battle of the bands, murder mystery dinner theatre, and movie nights.
One upcoming event is Iron Bartender on Nov. 21. “It’s basically going to be a non-alcoholic drink mixing competition,” explained Gard.
Student clubs and societies that wish to get involved by hosting a non-alcoholic themed event on campus can receive up $200 in funding.
When asked whether Don’t Be That Guy, Don’t Be That Girl is working with other campus groups to promote the campaign and their events, Erdelyan responded, “There are a bunch of organizations or groups doing this thing, but they are not doing it together. There isn’t a coordinated effort. We are trying to bring together the different departments at the University to reinforce the message,” he added.
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