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Coordinated by:

• University Counseling Center,
• Division of Student Affairs

Co-sponsored by:

• Academic Support Services
• Department of Residential Life
• Department of Athletics
• Department of Student Life
• Division of Student Affairs
• Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program
• President's Advisory Council on Alcohol and
• Other Drug Prevention
• President's Task Force on Women's Safety
• Project SHAPE
• Student Association
• St. Peter's Addiction Recovery Center
• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
• Remove Intoxicated Drivers
• University Auxiliary Services
• University Police Department

A Publication of the Division of Student Affairs

FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL

• It is illegal to buy, possess, or consume alcohol if you are under the age of 21.

• One 12-ounce beer has the same amount of alcohol as a 1.5-ounce shot of whiskey or a 5-ounce glass of wine.

• Wine coolers have as much alcohol as a 12-ounce beer.

• Drinking increases the risk of injury and death. Car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and suicide are all linked to alcohol and other drug use.

• Alcohol can ruin your looks, give you bad breath, and make you gain weight.

SOME SIGNS OF DRINKING TOO MUCH

• Loss of control.   If you find that you often drink more than you plan to, plan on only one or two drinks and end up intoxicated, find yourself drunk in a situation where you do not have a safe way to get home, or cannot conduct yourself normally with others then you may have a drinking problem.

• Behavior Change.   If you act differently when drinking alcohol than you usually do, you may have a drinking problem. For example, a typically quiet person may become argumentative when drinking.

• Blackouts.   Also known as "alcoholic amnesia", a blackout occurs when you've temporarily lost your memory while drinking. During that time you may continue to function and may even appear sober to others. If you ever awakened one morning and not remembered the events of the previous drinking episode, you may have had a blackout.

• Frequent intoxication.   Although you can have an alcohol problem without ever getting "falling down drunk", frequent intoxication does make it more likely that you will experience problems.

• Drinking to feel "normal".   Alcohol is a drug, and using drugs to regulate your feelings is risky. Using alcohol to regulate highs and lows from other drugs is also dangerous.

If any of these signs describe you or someone you know, seek assistance now. You can contact the University Counseling Center at 442-5800 or come to the second floor of the Health and Counseling Building.

TEN THINGS STUDENTS CAN DO TO PREVENT ALCOHOL ABUSE*

• Approach alcohol abuse as a student issue involving people of all socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. Recognize that students not only can be potential drinkers, but can be bystanders who can confront alcohol abuse in other students.

• If you have a sibling, friend, classmate, or teammate who is abusing alcohol, do not look the other way. Urge him or her to seek help, or, if you do not know what to do, consult a friend, parent, professor, or counselor. DO NOT REMAIN SILENT.

• Have the courage to look inward. Understand how your own attitudes and actions perpetuate possible drinking to excess, and work toward changing this.

• If you suspect that a person close to you is abusing alcohol, gently ask if you can help.

  If you are emotionally, psychologically, or physically affected by alcohol, or have been in the past, seek professional help NOW.

• Be an ally to other students who are working to end all forms of alcohol abuse. Support campus activities such as Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and raise money for alcohol prevention programs. If you belong to a team, fraternity or sorority, or other student group, organize a fundraiser.

• Recognize and speak out against alcohol abuse.

• Attend programs, take courses, and read articles and books about self-esteem and the root causes of alcohol abuse. Educate yourself and others about the connections between larger social forces and alcohol use.

• Do not fund alcohol abuse. Refuse to purchase any magazine, rent any video, or buy any music that portrays college students who are intoxicated. Protest alcohol's being portrayed positively in the media.

• Mentor and teach young people about how to be mature in ways that do not involve abusing alcohol. Lead by example.

* Adapted from "Ten Things Men and Women Can do to Prevent Violence" by Don McPherson.

WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1997

LOOKING PAST THE PREDJUDICE:   ALCOHOL AND NATIVE AMERICANS
This workshop will discuss the role of alcohol in the Native American culture from a historical and social perspective. The development of unfair stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes toward Native Americans by society will be explored, and these myths will be challenged.

Time:   1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location:   Campus Center 375
Presenter:   Carl Walker, Ph.D., Staff Psychologist, University Counseling Center

BEATING COLLEGE STRESS
College life can be stressful due to its many academic, social, and emotional demands. This workshop will give you an opportunity to explore positive and healthy ways to meet the challenges that college life has to offer.

Time:   7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location:   Skin Room, Indian Quad
Presenters:   Middle Earth Peer Educators

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1997

HOW THE FAMILY THAT YOU GREW UP IN AFFECTS YOUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIPS
We can see how the family is a very important influence during the early years of our lives. However, the ways in which such early relationships affect us today are often less obvious. This workshop will explore these issues in light of their influence on our choice of friends and involvement in intimate relationships.

Time:   1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location:   Campus Center 375
Presenter:   Norreida Murnane, Legislative Analyst for Education, University at Albany Alumna

WOMEN AND ALCOHOL:   ARE WE REALLY THAT DIFFERENT FROM MEN?
In this workshop, you will learn about the unique and important ways that alcohol affects women differently than men. The discussion will focus on the physical, psychological, and emotional roles that alcohol can play in women's lives. Healthy alternatives to alcohol use as well as the need for alternative sources of support for women will be outlined.

Time:   2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location:   Campus Center 375
Presenter:   M. Dolores Cimini, Ph.D., Coordinator for Alcohol and Drug Prevention, University Counseling Center

DRINKING TILL IT HURTS:  STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
Come and share the compelling story of a promising professional football player's career and influences during his college years.

Time:   8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location:  Campus Center Ballroom
Presenter:  Don McPherson, Director, Mentors Against Violence Program

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1997

REALITY CHECK:   ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE ON TODAY'S COLLEGE CAMPUSES
This workshop will serve as an open dialogue with students on current substance abuse issues. The group will address the many myths associated with this issue, and engage students to talk openly about alcohol and other drugs on the college campus.

Time:   1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location:   Campus Center 375
Presenters:   Richard Lucey, Jr., New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and Erin Loffredo, M.Ed. DE Associates

LIVE PERFORMANCE:   THE HOORAY PLAYERS
The Hooray Players is a group of undergraduate students which uses theater techniques to act out situations related to alcohol, such as conflicts with friends and DWI.

Time:   7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location:   Flag Room, State Quad
Presenters:   The Hooray Players, Middle Earth Outreach Education Program

AIDS AND ALCOHOL: A DEADLY MIX?
This workshop will explore the relationship between alcohol use and the potential risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. The ways in which drinking may make us more vulnerable to AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases will be discussed.

Time:   1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location:   Campus Center 375
Presenter:   Carol Stenger, M.Ed., Health Educator, University Counseling Center and Project SHAPE

FOR THOSE WHO COULD HAVE LIVED:   THE EXPERIENCES OF SURVIVORS
In this workshop, you will meet the surviving relatives of college-age students who were killed by drunk drivers. These relatives, one of whom is the mother of a former University at Albany student, will present powerful personal stories of the ways in which fatal drunk driving accidents have changed their lives.

Time:   7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location:   Campus Center Assembly Hall
Presenters:   Mary Buscillion and RID Victim Impact Panel

ALSO ...

• Look for INFORMATION TABLES in the residence halls and in the Campus Center lobby with free information and giveaways! Participants will include the University Police Department and other campus offices.

• Visit the scene of a DWI CAR CRASH on campus. This exhibit will be an actual replica of a situation in which people were killed by a drunk driver.

• Meet VINCE AND LARRY, the crash dummies, who will be walking around the podium and in the residence halls giving away information on safe driving and biking.

• Try out the DRIVING CONVINCER and experience firsthand the effects of a car accident in which drunk driving is involved.