Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Alcohol awareness class numbers rise

Students seek dismissal of underage drinking citations

A new program offering students the chance to have their first underage drinking citation dismissed has seen an increase in participation.

“Within the first six weeks of school, numbers were already up by 45 people,” said University Police Chief Bob Roberts.

Offered through West Virginia University’s Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric services, program informs students about alcohol and addiction, and the possible harms resulting from binge drinking.

“This isn’t a punitive program,” said John Spraggins, Student Assistance Program director at the Carruth Center. “We want people to understand addiction is a problem. No one wakes up and says, ‘I want to be an alcoholic.’”

The class is typically six sessions, and can be either one-on-one counseling or in groups of about three to five students. During the class, students could complete worksheets, watch videos or write papers.

“We do anything that we think might most effectively help that student,” Spraggins said. “We help them set goals and individualize it. Every student is different.”

The program stresses the fact, if a student is there, they were underage and drinking.

“They are breaking the law,” Spraggins said.

The program intends on helping students realize about 20 percent of the population has an alcohol problem affecting people between the ages 25 and 45 years old.

“Students think it’s just older people who have addictions, but it affects the younger generation,” Spraggins said.

Generally, students in the program are referred through courts or the Office of Student Judicial Affairs at WVU. Spraggins has been the director for 12 years and said there has been a very small percentage of repeat offenders in the class.

“No one thinks that down the road it could be a problem,” Spraggins said. “People just think it’s what they’re supposed to do in college, but some of the binge drinking behaviors can lead to addictions and can harm you in a pretty serious way.”

source: Daily Athenaeum

More Treatment & Detox Articles

How Treatment Centers Help Individuals Cope With Relapse

Unfortunately, relapse is a common occurrence after an addict completes treatment for any type of addiction whether it’s an alcohol addiction or a drug addiction. Luckily, even after relapse you can still get back on track with the help of a treatment center. Treatment centers can help you overcome the feelings of defeat that occur….

Heavy drinkers seek out bargains

A study of heavy drinkers consuming hundreds of units of alcohol a week found they were buying cheaper drink than most other people. One study author said it was “likely” a minimum price for alcohol, as proposed by the Scottish government, would cut these problem drinkers’ consumption. A total of 377 people were interviewed as….

Al-Anon 12-Step Recovery Program: Love It Or Leave It

For those who don’t know or have never heard of Al-anon, it is a 12-step recovery program that is the counter-part to the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step recovery program. It was initiated by Lois Wilson (the wife of Bill Wilson; one of the original founders of Alcoholics Anonymous) as a safe haven and support group for….

Finding Help for an Alcohol Use Disorder

If you suspect that you have an alcohol disorder and have had complications due to your alcohol use, it helps to know the trouble signs so you can make a change early. An alcohol use disorder is defined by The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as a “medical condition that doctors can diagnose….

Moving on: a life after alcohol

Caroline knew she’d reached the pits of despair as an alcoholic when her mother threatened to disown her. Downing five bottles of wine each night was par for the course – and she had no hope and no job. The Whitstable woman’s battle to stay sober is now fought a day at a time. Caroline….