In light of the upcoming Spring Break, the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Initiative is hosting “Reducing Irresponsible Drinking and Drugs” week to educate Sam Houston students about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
R.I.D.D. week began on Monday, March 3 and will continue until Friday, March 7.
“We are doing this before spring break because students are going to go out and drink,” Lisa Joyner said. “It’s to make sure they stay safe over break.”
Events held earlier in the week include ‘Catch a Bull by It’s Mock-tail’ and “Interaction Reaction” on Monday, the “Designated Driver Recruitment Drive”, “only You Can Help” and “Play it Safe” on Tuesday, and “Survivor Spring Break”, “Save a Kat” and “Take it to the Hoop” on Wednesday.
“If you hit it with all the different programs we have, it’ll make a difference,” Joyner said. “Hosting events before major breaks and the beginning and ends of semesters reminds Sam Houston students of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse as well as make informed decisions,” Joyner said.
The events for Thursday include “Safe Sex/Smart Sex” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the LSC mall, and “Collegiate Leis” from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in LSC 304.
“Safe Sex/Smart Sex” will be an interactive display by members of B.A.S.E. “Collegiate Leis” will focus on responsibility, forms of contraception, effects of drugs and alcohol, as well as an opportunity to make real Hawaiian-style leis.
On Friday, “Spring Break Survivor Kit” will help students form emergency kits for spring break from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the LSC mall area. “wRite of Passage” and “Decisions Under the Influence” will be available through various residence halls at different times.
“[On] Friday, we know a lot of students won’t be here, but we’ll give out info about being at bars and clubs,” Joyner said. “We don’t want to lose students when we get back to Sam Houston [after Spring Break].”
As for future plans, A.D.A.I. will keep broadcasting their message through various classes and events on campus, as well as keep building programs like iDrive.
“We’re going to try to do a lot more things as the semester goes along, but the biggest would be kicking off the driving program and the Kinesiology 215 programs,” Joyner said. “Students come out to learn sexual choices — drugs and alcohol can affect those choices.”
For more information, visit the RIDD Web site at http://www.shsu.edu/mailer/riddweek.pdf.