Avoiding Trouble From Harmful Behavior

You can stay healthy and strong just by avoiding harmful behavior. The intention of this writing is to help young adults avoid risky behaviors. Since I intend to one day teach on the college level, I want to gear this writing for college-age students. I want my students to know there are ways to be responsible in a culture where irresponsible behavior (substance abuse) is the norm. Substance abuse is considered by some a lifestyle on the college campus. However, there are alternative behaviors to use in their own personal lives that can help them avoid risky behavior, and possible permanent physical damage.

I think most students know the potential for health problems in substance abuse, and the costs to society as a whole. In this paper I want to center upon practical strategies for drinking responsibly and coping with campus pressures to drink. Using a couple of straight-forward ideas can help greatly in dealing with a cultural problem. In this case, it can help avoid many potential problems, both now and in the future. Following are some ideas the college student can use to avoid trouble with substance abuse:

SOME TIPS FIRST:

1. Don’t keep substances around your living area. If the temptation isn’t there, it is easier to avoid using/abusing it.
2. Learn how to say NO. If you are pressured to use/abuse here are a couple things to do to help you say NO: PLAN AHEAD! (Stay away from those who will pressure you and avoid places where you may be tempted to use/abuse substances). TELL LIES TO THOSE PRESSURING YOU! (Tell others you usually feel sick when you use/abuse and you don’t want to spoil their fun).
3. Get support from those who feel same as you. Believe it or not, many feel the same as you. It can be a great comfort to have even one person with similar thoughts about substance use/abuse.
4. Stay active. There are dozens of opportunities to be active on college campuses. I would srongly recommend a fitness program. Fitness will give you high that rivals that of using substances. The physiology is very much the same, and you’ll up your confidence to say NO!
5. Be the designated driver ALLTHE TIME. Add to it, “I just don’t feel good when I drink or imbibe.”

HARM REDUCTION:

The Harm Reduction (HR) approach is simple: seek to reduce incidences of harm. HR begins with education and based upon compassionate pragmatism instead of moralistic idealism (preaching). The data shows that most college students will drink alcohol. In that case, showing how to responsibly drink alcohol may save lives, and if nothing else, reduce possible permanent damage to youngsters. HR involves the student in an open forum where pros and cons are discussed (or read privately). It gives the student the choices (where they are currently in their alcohol consumption levels) and where they would like to go. A step-by-step to self-care, healthier choices and well-being is available for students to monitor on their own, and if they want more guidance it is available. HR is proving successful on college campuses, and even high schools. In my opinion, it should begin in middle school with high school students leading the charge. I think HR has had good enough results to keep trying. Getting the student fully involved in making their own decisions reduces normal rebellion against the establishment and norms. HR involves all students, whether or not they drink alcohol, and it gives all time for their opinions in whatever forum desired, open discussion or private.

In a HR forum, discussion about different types of intoxicants can be useful. Showing the facts and then discussing the problems of use has become popular within the school classroom. HR, in this form, can be aimed at reducing the harm done by reducing the amount and how often substances are used/abused. Usually this is done in a setting of group of abusers such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). I would not recommend this in any other setting as it may give ideas to those thinking of experimentation with substances. Variables within may cause great harm to an individual.

HR can also work great things in reducing something seemingly harmless: smoking cigarettes. Reducing smoking cigarettes can lead to a reduction of marijuana usage (there is a direct connection of cigarette smokers to marijuana use). According to a 2003 report from Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) just over 60% of those who smoke marijuana on a regular basis first smoked cigarettes. This data proves that smokers of tobacco are 15 times more likely to try marijuana and become addicted or harmed by its regular usage. This, then can lead to use/abuse of the hard drugs. Also marijuana users are known to increase their “high” by using alcohol along with smoking marijuana. This will complicate the problems associated with pot smoking. Therefore using HR can help us as a society reduce the use of “bad things that lead to worse things.”

CASA has a lot of work with very limited budgets and personnel. It also seems we need to expand drug courts as this can increase treatment and cut down on time between being caught and getting treatment. Drug courts have been very effective in helping middle and high school students get help in short order. Prescriptive care from drug courts is useful for people of all ages according to statistics.

In any case, if you are in need of help because of substance abuse, contact your local hospital for information on where to get assistance.