From the Editor

There is a monster that lurks ubiquitously in the dark shadows and sometimes rears its terrifying head when students least expect it. This monster creeps into the lives of some students and comes crashing terrifyingly into the lives of others. It leaves our students drained, worse for wear, coping with its presence and, at the same time, its absence. This monster is also compatriots with a sordid lot: depression, suicide, poor decision making, and addiction. This ogre is substance abuse.

Substance abuse is a harsh, often brutal reality for fraternity and sorority professionals. Many of us dread the late night phone call or the Monday morning meeting to address another incident. We also know that for every phone call we get, there are ten more students struggling with the issue just below the radar.

Essentials this month looks at substance abuse from several angles including alcohol and marijuana use, prescription drug abuse, and the intervention and education we proactively offer students. As you read the following articles, ask yourself the following questions: How can you arm yourself with knowledge about the many facets of the issue? How are you establishing norms and preparing chapter members to address negative behaviors with their peers? How are you helping to change the current culture?

Perception vs. Reality: Marijuana Usage among College Students
Michael Phelps, Olympic champion swimmer, sparked a national debate about marijuana when pictures of him with a marijuana smoking device were made public. The evening news, talk shows, and radio shows were flooded with stories and calls about the incident. In recent years, a number of fraternity incidents tied to possession, use, and distribution of marijuana have been seen. While it seems everybody had an opinion about these incidents, what was lost in the public debate was valuable dialogue regarding the harmful effects of marijuana use. >>Read full article

Generation Rx
College students abuse prescription painkillers more than ecstasy, cocaine, crack, or LSD. The abuse of over-the-counter products has increased as well. Almost 10% of students abuse cough medicine (Partnership for a Drug Free America, 2005, November 16).

These meds come from the pharmacy, the doctor, the Internet, or the medicine cabinet at home, not from a drug dealer on the other side of the tracks. Therefore, fewer than half of America's youth see great risk in experimenting with prescription medicines that can be addictive and potentially life threatening. >>Read full article

Book Review: College Drinking: Reframing a Social Problem
Fraternity and sorority professionals and volunteers are faced with tragedies involving the excessive use of alcohol nearly every semester of every academic year. College Drinking: Reframing a Social Problem (2009) is an excellent resource for professionals and volunteers working with college students. The author, George W. Dowdall, recognizes drinking as one of the most important issues facing today's college student. He indicates that college drinking has only increased moderately over the past few decades, but attention to the issue from multiple angles, including higher education, has drastically risen. >>Read full article

Helping Fraternity and Sorority Members with Mental Health Issues That Lead to Substance Abuse
Many students arrive on college campuses already coping with depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety disorder, and/or many other mental illnesses. Many have been psychologically or sexually abused and have already experienced trauma in their lives. Some have been on medication for their mental disorder. However, once they are on their own, they may forget to take their meds, may choose to sell their meds, or may stop altogether. All of these mental illnesses, if left untreated, may lead to substance abuse. >>Read full article

Essentials Information
Essentials welcomes articles, ideas, and feedback from Association members throughout the year. Please contact Emily Perlow, 2009 Editor, or review the online submission guidelines for more information.

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