Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.36 Pubdate: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 Source: Oregon Daily Emerald (U of Oregon, OR Edu) http://www.dailyemerald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/12/04/3fcf6493959ff?in_archive=1 Copyright: 2003, Oregon Daily Emerald Contact: http://www.dailyemerald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1518 Author: Athanasios Fkiaras SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM STAYS OPEN DURING HOLIDAYS The University's Substance Abuse Prevention Program Is Providing Counseling As Well As A Hot Chocolate Bar Drew Carter's memories of past winter holidays are not as bright as he would like them to be. Christmas was a time of isolation for him. "I used to build a wall between me and my family, and I would get depressed," he said. Carter, 32, became a drug abuser at age 14. He said that substances provided a form of entertainment and a chance to fit in with his peers. However, after being arrested for possession of marijuana and going through court-mandated rehabilitation at age 22, he began to look at his life differently and experienced what he deemed his "turnaround." "Being faced with consequences opened my eyes," he said. Carter stayed sober and has been helping out Oregon youth since the rehabilitation allowed him a chance to re-evaluate his past choices. He said he aspires to be a positive role model for students who might be going through what he experienced as a teen. Now preparing to graduate from Pacific University with a degree in school counseling, he is interning at the University Substance Abuse Prevention Program for his work sample. "SAPP provides comprehensive curriculum to inform students on how choices will impact their lives," Carter said. SAPP courses are open to all students who want to take them, and they are mandatory for others who have been charged with alcohol or drug offenses of possession, selling, allowing or furnishing. SAPP Director Miki Mace said that the reason students continue to return to SAPP is because the program offers practical and meaningful solutions that students can apply to their everyday lives. Mace pointed to the two primary reasons youth might turn to substance use as pleasure and/or pain. She said that students are especially vulnerable during the holiday season, when anger, hunger, tiredness and loneliness become issues for various persons with or without families and a home to turn to. This is why she and her staff keep the office open to all students who might need support of any kind. "Students are always welcome here, whether it be for a class because they are in a crisis, or simply for a place to go," she said. Mace and her staff make it a point every month to have some sort of free refreshment stand in the office so that students can come by and have a place to socialize, relax and feel at home. For the month of December, the SAPP office will be furnishing a hot cocoa bar, and Mace said all are welcome. "Even if (the program) was just to help one student, it would be worth it," staff member Ann Kokkeler said. The University Substance Abuse Prevention Program office is located at 180 Esslinger.