2. The Purpose of Alcohol/Drug Programs
The purpose of alcohol and drug programming is to bring awareness to the
potential situations that come with drug and alcohol use as well as to offer
alternatives to them.
3. Advise on Smart Decisions
You can only do so much, but you can’t force
your residents to stay in. Some residents will
choose to go out, some won’t. Make sure
you just advise you residents on wise
decision making when it comes to alcohol
and drug awareness.
Monitor your drink, watch your limits, always
be with a trusted person, etc.
Don’t tolerate the use of alcohol or drugs,
but don’t withhold. This could lead to a
strained relationship between you and your
residents.
4. Give an Experience
Find a way to present alcohol and drug
awareness in a way that presents what it is
actually like to be under the influence or in
a situation that causes someone to be
aware.
Drunk Driving with a Video Game – shows
how alcohol impairs motor skills.
Catching with Beer Goggles – impaired
motor functions.
Skittles Club Scene – exposes them to real
life situations and how you never know
what could potentially happen.
5. Alternatives
Not all alcohol and drug programs have to
be directly connected to presenting
information on alcohol and drug awareness.
Some can just be ways of offering an
alternative to going out.
That being said, if you wanted to, your
residents can be exposed to awareness for
alcohol and drugs in this way.
For example, maybe a mocktail event where
you and your residents make mixed non-
alcoholic drinks.
6. Make it FUN!
Although information is being presented,
make it in a creative way. Instead of saying
information, write the information around
the room or on things involved in the
program that the residents use (on cups,
for an example).
It doesn’t have to be a program that you
put on. Take your residents to an event
that talks about alcohol awareness, or
even take them to any event for an
alternative to going out.
7. Things You Should NOT Do
Do NOT judge if they happen to partake in drugs and/or alcohol. The point of the
program is to offer assistance and alternatives.
Do NOT make the presentation built on fear. Although a goal is to prevent
possible situations where alcohol and drug are present, the way to that should
not be carved in fear. Educate and explain rather than create paranoia.
Do NOT make it out for drinking to be the “It’s a part of college” mentality.
Although there happens to be a percentage of people that drink/do drugs in
college, not everyone does. You want to be able to appeal to all audiences. And
challenge the thinking that drinking is synonymous to college.
8. Things You Should Do
Bring up facts, especially in a creative way. They don’t have to be straightforward
facts, but know that there is a learning component to the program that should be
happening.
Offer an alternative. Bring up opportunities for residents to find other ways of
having fun.
Be a helping hand. Maybe one of your residents is struggling with alcohol or
drugs, or even both. You are there to help. Be sure not to antagonize.
