Although there are those who feel that Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services at Tufts is just about stopping students for drinking, according to the director, it actually targets harm more than usage itself.
"[The progam] is a comprehensive, campus-wide initiative that's about helping reduce the harm associated with problematic drinking and drug use," said Margot Abels, Director of Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services, from her office on Professors Row.
Abels, who has a background in prevention and health education, considers the role of Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services on campus to be extensive. Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services works with various student organizations, such as ResLife and the culture centers "to help integrate strategies and programs," she said.
"We do a lot of work putting alcohol in the context of other issues ... to situate the topic in what's really happening to people," Abels added.
Last year, Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services ran a series of Think Tanks - three meetings that took place during two weeks in October. Meetings were posted on TuftsLife.com for all interested students, and specific student organizations received invitations.
The three meetings were attended by the same group of students - about 30 in total - who took part voluntarily. The purpose of the Think Tanks was to talk about the realities of underage drinking: "I want[ed] to hear everything," Abels said.
Abels noted that Tufts programs use an approach to alcohol that is perhaps more realistic than that of other schools.
"We use a harm-reduction model to help people think about how to increase their safety," Abels said. "Some schools' administrators don't feel they have a choice, some state schools for instance. We tend to be a little more progressive: reliant on research, what's effective, rather than doing feel-good health education programs [that might not work as well]."
Being realistic is an ongoing theme at Health Services. "We're not judgmental and moralistic about it, but we're concerned about the stories we hear ... about the students," Abels said.
Tufts Addiction Treatment Specialist Jeanne Heley had a similar take. "Truthfully, many college students will use alcohol or some drugs, and we aren't going to change that reality, so we want to be responsive to students who may have trouble with that," Heley said.
With so much time and effort going into the alcohol abuse and prevention programs at Health Services, one might expect students to take advantage of the resources available to them.
Sophomore Brian Morrissey, however, points out that not all students feel free to utilize the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services on campus - for example, Tufts Emergency Medical Services (TEMS).
"There is a stigma against calling TEMS," Morrissey said. "People see TEMS as sort of a last resort. There were specific times last year when a kid in the hall would have TEMS called on him and be really upset at whoever called. [Calling TEMS] is frowned upon by the [student] population."
Heley explained that when TEMS is called for an alcohol-related problem, "there's a consequence, but it's more intervention than judicial ... it's not a long-term judicial problem."
Even so, Morrissey suggested that more could be done to make the general student population aware of the many other resources available to help students with alcohol problems.
Senior Arielle Jacobs agreed. "I think a lot of students, if they do encounter problems with alcohol, safely assume that they can go to Health Services, but I don't really see [the specific opportunities for help] publicized," Jacobs said.
Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services have much to offer students - individual counseling; support group services; 24-hour-a-day on-call access to physicians, counselors, and deans; professional assessments by a certified addiction counselor; and educational programs, seminars, and workshops.
Freshman Peter Davidson learned about the alcohol abuse and prevention resources on campus through his Residential Advisor.
"I know there is Health Services on Frat Row, TEMS, and I can always go to my R.A. if I'm worried about myself or someone else," Davidson said.
Though Davidson feels informed about what programs are available if he or a friend were ever to have a problem, he "[doesn't] think those services apply to [him] or any of [his] friends."
Many students seem to feel similarly to Davidson. Often, students don't come to Tufts' Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services until they are required to.
Abels sees even such circumstances as opportunities. "[A student who comes to Alcohol and Drug Prevention Services] out of response to a violation isn't lectured - [this is] a chance for [the student] to meet with someone to assess whether there is a problem," Abels said.
"We are really trying to reach all different areas, whether it's publicizing information, or mini-grants to support alcohol-free programs," Abels said. "In terms of prevention, looking at the culture of the campus, there is a lot going on around that."
In addition, Abels urges students who are interested to get involved. "There are so many ways, so many things we are doing," she said.
For more information on The Alcohol and Health Education Center at Tufts, go to http://ase.tufts.edu/healthservices/alcohol.asp.
