2008 Woodie Awards
Drinking problems at ISU not as bad as perceived
Wellness Center working to dispel myths
Ryan Hunter
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: News
The popular perception of college students and alcohol is that the vast majority of them drink in excessive amounts on a regular basis during their college careers. In fact, according to the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (ACHANCHA), student perception was that only 3.0 percent of college students never drank, when in reality 21.3 percent reported having never consumed alcohol in college. Students surveyed also believed that 37.4 percent of college students drank alcohol daily, when in reality only 0.6 percent of students reported doing so. These are just a few examples of the nationwide misperceptions about substance use on college campuses that the ISU Wellness Center is attempting to combat.
John Batacan, Director of and Clinical Instructor for the ISU Wellness Center, saw the misperceptions concerning substance abuse nationwide, and especially at ISU, as a battle that is as important to fight as the battle against actual use.
"[This misperception] paints a 'clouded' picture of what is accepted and normal behavior," said Batacan. "If that's what's seen as normal behavior for students coming in, then that may be what they feel they need to do to fit in."
The ACHANCHA survey, which is done confidentially online to allow for the most accurate results, showed that while ISU averaged lower frequency of use and amount used than the national average, it still suffered from a wide perception gap similar to the amounts presented previously.
According to Batacan, ISU teamed up with nine other colleges and universities in Idaho, as well as state agencies and local communities, to form the Idaho College Health Coalition (ICHC), which performed the ACHANCHA survey in 2005. The survey's focus on substance abuse over the past several years is due to the influence of the Department of Juvenile Corrections, which partially funds the ICHC.
Batacan described the Wellness Center's approach to dealing with substance abuse as 'proactive' as opposed to reactive, explaining that they are constructing and adopting programs around an evidence-based strategy called 'social norms marketing'.
John Batacan, Director of and Clinical Instructor for the ISU Wellness Center, saw the misperceptions concerning substance abuse nationwide, and especially at ISU, as a battle that is as important to fight as the battle against actual use.
"[This misperception] paints a 'clouded' picture of what is accepted and normal behavior," said Batacan. "If that's what's seen as normal behavior for students coming in, then that may be what they feel they need to do to fit in."
The ACHANCHA survey, which is done confidentially online to allow for the most accurate results, showed that while ISU averaged lower frequency of use and amount used than the national average, it still suffered from a wide perception gap similar to the amounts presented previously.
According to Batacan, ISU teamed up with nine other colleges and universities in Idaho, as well as state agencies and local communities, to form the Idaho College Health Coalition (ICHC), which performed the ACHANCHA survey in 2005. The survey's focus on substance abuse over the past several years is due to the influence of the Department of Juvenile Corrections, which partially funds the ICHC.
Batacan described the Wellness Center's approach to dealing with substance abuse as 'proactive' as opposed to reactive, explaining that they are constructing and adopting programs around an evidence-based strategy called 'social norms marketing'.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Alcohol Rehab Center
posted 10/24/08 @ 7:12 AM MST
This I good news! It really helps parents who have their children studying at ISU feel more comfortable with the idea that they can't control their kids. (Continued…)
Post a Comment