I remember my first time in Wisconsin, when I was surprised to discover something different about the grocery store. When I found an aisle solely dedicated to liquor, I was genuinely surprised, as I had never seen such a thing back home. It was that moment when I realized Wisconsin is very different from where I come from. Unfortunately, it seems to possess a very universal problem across college campuses throughout this nation—substance abuse.
According to OnWisconsin, almost a quarter of college students nationwide meet the medical criteria for substance abuse or dependence, but 37 percent of them fear seeking help because of social stigma. It is said that 40 percent of student attrition cases involve substance abuse, resulting in $1.2 million to $4.3 million in lost tuition each year according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. On our campus, the Color of Drinking survey, a 2015 study investigating the impacts of campus drinking culture on undergraduate students of color, stated that 65 percent of respondents were negatively impacted by UW-Madison’s drinking culture.
As prevalent as substance dependence is, so are the efforts by campuses to counteract it. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 43 percent of students who are in recovery from an addiction chose to attend their school because of its recovery program.
The Substance Abuse Prevention Program offered by University Health Services provides many services to students, such as walk-in appointments for counseling and consultation services, as well as 24-hour crisis intervention programs, psychotherapy programs and relationship support. Also, all freshmen and transfer students are required to complete AlcoholEdu.
According to the 2015-2016 UHS report, UHS used 12 percent of its funding for substance abuse prevention efforts. In addition to UHS resources, the University offers a comprehensive list of substance abuse support programs and student organizations that specialize in helping students on the path to recovery. Additionally, programs such as The First 45 Days Initiative, a program headed by UWPD, UHS and UW Housing, lead to greater awareness of the negative consequences of alcohol use.
There is no shortage of preventative and support efforts by UHS and other campus services in order to help students avoid and overcome substance abuse. But has there been any progress? According to the 2016 Annual Security Report from UWPD, the number of disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations on campus property decreased from 2,639 in 2014 to 1,983 in 2015. That is a 25 percent decrease in one year.
Also, the social stigma of seeking support from community seems to be fading, as UHS saw an 11 percent increase in clients for substance abuse services between 2014 and 2015.
Overall, UHS and community efforts have yielded wonderful progress helping students lift up from the depression of substance abuse. Based on its current success, it could change the lives of many more students on campus.
However, despite staggering progress, there is more work to be done. Some interpreted the Color of Drinking Survey data to suggest that there is a presence of exclusion and negative consequences from the predominantly white drinking culture.
It could also be a good idea to collaborate health services efforts with the ethnic or cultural minority groups on campus to create a deeper program addressing not only health consequences, but a deeper social cause for drinking and substance abuse. Such a program would bring people together and create a forum for discussion about the drinking culture here in Madison.
We will never understand each other or our differences if we can’t talk and communicate in an open space. There are many reasons why students may fall into the routine of substance abuse; mental, physical, emotional, social, or economic problems are some to name a few.
By creating a judgment-free, open space for students to talk with one another about the troubles they are facing, maybe we as a campus could prevent our fellow students from falling into such toxic habits.
Just by knowing you’re not alone and that there are other students going through the same troubles, students with substance abuse issues will feel empowered to find their path to recovery.
If we understand the cause, we can create more corresponding studies and efforts to personalize the issues to each individual’s need. The substance abuse has been a big issue in the campus, but I believe in the possibility that we can all help each other to overcome this stigma and make such tragedy into an opportunity to step forward.
Hae Rin is a junior majoring in history. What are your thoughts on substance abuse services on campus? Should we continue to focus on medical services, or intertwine them with social services? Please send all questions and comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
