Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week highlights some sobering facts
With no topic off-limits, Acadia’s Health Promotion team set up interactive info booths in the Beveridge Arts Centre (BAC) and Student Union Building (SUB) throughout the week to address different themes relating to drug and alcohol use. The organizers, which included co-op students from Acadia’s psychology and kinesiology department, made smart use of treats and trivia to engage the community.
The week tackled subjects such as alcohol’s effects on the mind and body, cannabis myth-busting, safer partying tips, naloxone kit training, illicit drugs, psychedelics, and issues related to student conduct and bylaws. For those who missed the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week activities, the whole week is highlighted on the @healthyacadiau Instagram account.
You can still catch these events!
Keep It Social - Mocktail Competition: Thursday, March 14, 4pm - 6pm @ the SUB
Enjoy free mocktails and snacks! Vote for your favourite booze-free cocktail and bring the recipe home. Plus, join us in making charm bracelets, keychains, and other crafty surprises.
St. Paddy’s Carnival and Pizza Party: Saturday, March 16, 6pm – 10pm @ the SUB
Fuel up on free pizza and get in on the fun of bouncy inflatables, mini golf, high striker, washer toss, ladder all, and more!
The week has given Acadia’s community an opportunity to have honest conversations that touch on health and safety, socializing, experimentation, and personal responsibilities. For some young adults, a harm reduction model where they partake mindfully and cautiously is more on their radar. For others, they’ve recognized that they’d rather pass on certain substances completely. It’s not just hangovers and an expensive night out they want to avoid; some students shared that the idea of doing or saying something regrettable while under the influence was a source of anxiety.
“We’re not interested in telling people what they should or shouldn’t do,” said Harleen Kaur Sethi, a B.Sc. Psychology co-op student who helped to pull the event together. “Rather, we want to make sure people have the best information available so that they can make decisions that are right for them.”
“We also won’t shy away from addressing the scary things that can happen,” Harleen said. “It’s important people know how to respond in an emergency situation involving an overdose or alcohol poisoning.”
If you are partaking, consider these Keep It Social Tips:
- Stay hydrated: Match every alcoholic beverage you have with at least one non-alcoholic beverage.
- Use the buddy system: Stick with your friends and look out for each other. Call it a night together if you or your buddy appear to be intoxicated.
- Respect the community: Be mindful of noise, maintain control of your social gatherings, and stay aligned with local laws and expectations set in Acadia’s Student Code of Conduct.
So far, approximately 550 students have engaged in the awareness week activities. Among those surveyed, 96% indicated they learned something new; 77% of those people said they would now make a small change in how they use alcohol. One of the top facts that stunned students was related to alcohol’s potential impact on their health.
“Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen – in other words, it can cause cancer,” said Courtney Sheedy, Campus Health Promotion Coordinator. “So many of us avoid cigarettes for that reason – but a lot of students were surprised by the big list of health risks that increase the more someone drinks.”
The experience on campus was informative in more ways than one. Harleen remarked that working on this event gave her an invaluable glimpse into what her professional life could look like. “I love that Acadia provides the opportunity for undergrads to do things like this,” she said. “It’s really piqued my interest in promoting health awareness as a career.”