HEALTHY TRANSITIONS Facing the College Years

Presented By: David S. Anderson, Ph.D. Associate Professor George Mason University Department of Health, Fitness and Recreation Resources

“Alcohol abuse kills and injures more of our young people and costs our society more than all the illegal drugs put together.” Dr. David Satcher, U.S. Surgeon General

You should know the prevalence of alcohol and other drug use on college campuses.

You should know... College Student Use in the Last 30 Days: National National Core Survey: 1999

Virginia Core Survey: 2000 College Males Who Consumed Five or More Drinks in a Sitting During the Past Two Weeks You should know...

College Females Who Consumed Five or More Drinks in a Sitting During the Past Two Weeks Virginia Core Survey: 2000 You should know...

GMU Freshmen Who Consumed Five or More Drinks in a Sitting During the Past Two Weeks GMU Drug Survey: 2000 You should know...

... alcohol contributes to damage and crime on college campuses. You should know...

Alcohol's Involvement With Campus Problems College Alcohol Survey: 2000

You should know... Alcohol's Involvement In Personal Behaviors College Alcohol Survey: 2000

You should know... Alcohol’s Involvement: GMU Freshmen (First Seven Weeks of the Fall 2000 Semester) GMU Drug Survey: 2000

... alcohol use negatively impacts academic performance. You should know...

Average Number Of Drinks Per Week By Grade Point Average National Core Survey: 1996 You should know...

... alcohol and other drug use begins early. You should know...

Students Who Reported Alcohol Use (30 days) You should know... Monitoring the Future

You should know... Monitoring the Future Students Who Reported 5+ Drinks in a Row (2 Weeks)

Students Who Reported Marijuana Use (30 Days) You should know... Monitoring the Future

Students Who Reported Alcohol Use (30 Days) You should know... Monitoring the Future and Fairfax Co. Public Schools Survey

... students overestimate the level of alcohol and other drug use by their peers. You should know...

Actual and Perceived Annual Drug/Alcohol Use: Virginia Colleges/Universities You should know... Virginia Core Survey: 2000

You should know parents underestimate the level of alcohol and other drug use by their children.

Parent Perception and Student Behaviors You should know... Haynie et al 1999

You should know heavier alcohol use is relatively resistant to change.

College Student Drinking Patterns You should know... Monitoring the Future

Campus Effort and Heavier Use Patterns You should know... Monitoring the Future Level of Effort

“For every problem, there is one solution which is simple, neat and wrong.” Henry Louis Mencken

Helpful Strategies Correct Misperceptions of Peer Alcohol and Other Drug Use

Helpful Strategies Address the Underlying Needs of Students

We believe that human beings are basically good and that, despite setbacks, our history is on a path of progress and promise.

We believe that values are at the core of self and community and are essential to any meaningful change. OPTIMISM

We believe that an ethic of balanced self-care is fundamental to flourishing as a human being in the world community. OPTIMISM VALUES

We believe that learning how to be in working relationships is an essential developmental task for young adults. OPTIMISM SELF-CARE VALUES

We believe that creating a culture of community through rituals, symbols, traditions, and heroes is needed to insure quality educational experiences. OPTIMISM VALUES SELF-CARE RELATIONSHIPS

We believe that the connection of the biological, natural being to the larger planetary system is essential and insures the health of the planet and our well-being, including our ultimate spiritual survival. OPTIMISM VALUES SELF-CARE RELATIONSHIPS COMMUNITY

OPTIMISM VALUES SELF-CARE RELATIONSHIPS COMMUNITY NATURE We believe that service is indispensable in engaging people in authentic and meaningful learning experiences and in creating positive social change.

OPTIMISM VALUES SELF-CARE RELATIONSHIPS COMMUNITY NATURE SERVICE Helpful Strategies

Maintain parental involvement throughout the college years

Helpful Strategies

Be a good role model Be factual and straightforward Good information is always the best defense Do not use scare tactics Be a good role model Be factual and straightforward Good information is always the best defense Do not use scare tactics

Helpful Strategies GMU Freshmen Report Believability of Sources for Health Information GMU Drug Survey: 2000 Percent

Helpful Strategies TASK FORCE PLANNER Promote Comprehensive Campus-based Initiatives

Task Force Planner A comprehensive campus-based initiative engages a wide variety of campus groups and individuals as they implement a diverse set of strategies.

Helpful Strategies Provide Accurate Information

Helpful Strategies SAMHSA’S National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information ( National Institute of Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism ( NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse ( The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention ( Promising Practice Campus Alcohol Strategies ( Reputable Resources

Helpful Strategies Hold Colleges and Universities Accountable

Helpful Strategies For any questions on your mind, expect complete and honest answers.

HEALTHY TRANSITIONS Facing the College Years GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Healthy Expectations 4400 University Dr., MS 1F5 Fairfax, VA Phone:

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