Discouraging the drinking culture VARIOUS MESSAGING
P.E.I. post-secondary schools warn students against substance abuse, impaired driving
Emily Hunter is aware of the pressures faced by young college students when it comes to drinking and substance abuse.
The medical support service student at Holland College believes the popular culture of partying and drinking portrayed in TV shows and books is a significant contributor to this pressure.
“I know some of my friends who went to (a) university just because it was a 'party school.'"
Unfortunately, this can lead to dangerous situations such as driving while under the influence, she said.
HIGH LEVELS
A Canadian Postsecondary Education Alcohol and Drug Use Survey has shown that young adults consume substances at higher levels than the general population,
The survey recruited postsecondary students who were studying online or in person at a Canadian university or college and living in Canada. Across 10 provinces, 40,931 respondents of all ages and programs completed online surveys between Nov. 29, 2021, and April 19, 2022.
The survey showed that among those who drank in the past 12 months at the time of the survey, 11 per cent reported driving within two hours of consuming at least two drinks and 15 per cent of students reported ever being a passenger with a driver who had recently consumed alcohol.
AWAY FROM HOME
Murray Macinnis, Holland College’s director of student well-being, said there is always a concern about alcohol and substance usage among students.
“We've got students coming here for the first time away from home and maybe living on their own and maybe finding an opportunity to consume some alcohol, some substances more in, like, the purpose of having fun and partying," he said.
"But we also see sometimes with this age group, there can be those who are using substances because of stress, poor mental health, loneliness, boredom.”
He said that the college provides a range of support services to its students, including a health clinic and counselling services. The college also offers individual support to help students deal with mental health challenges and can provide referrals if needed.
The school also conducts presentations on mental health and substance use and teaches harm-reduction techniques to students, usually during the first week of school when a lot of students may be feeling the excitement of a party college life.
“When students are first arriving here and experiencing often that freedom and independence, it's really important that we get that messaging out to them,” he said.
Posters pasted around the college display QR codes linking students to the Canada Public Health website and teaching visitors about proper drinking culture, dos and don'ts.
“We use social media and posters to also get some messaging out. And that could be done through our Instagram. But we also will put it on our television digital screens at our buildings and campuses.”
At UPEI, the student union manages the Panther Patrol program, which is a complimentary drive-home program for full-time students.
The program operates from Mondays to Fridays under a 35-hour-per-week schedule.
Rayyan Ramjan, UPEI student union vice-president, said the program has come in handy in transporting students when they attend student union-hosted events, where there is a chance the students may not be able to safely transport themselves back home.
“It's very important for students to have that service available to them during any events that involves alcohol.”
The Panther Patrol program has a limited schedule and may not be able to offer rides beyond certain hours. Students are often required to book a ride in advance to access it. However, the schedule of the patrol service is often adjusted whenever possible to accommodate student needs.
Ramjan said he and his colleagues are doing their best to ensure students have access to free and safe rides.
“We are currently trying to find ways to increase the funding that we can provide through the Panther Patrol and expand the schedule. It would be an amazing opportunity if we were able to find funds, to expand the working hours and possibly get it working for students until late at night.”