With Spring Break just around the corner, it should come as no surprise to hear more discussions turning to the topic of alcohol. That is why OLLU’s Counseling Services has decided to take a somewhat different approach to the so-called, “college drinking issues.”

In the past, Counseling Services has put on events such as “Love on the Rocks,” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” which did not bring in the crowds. This year, though, Dr. Rosa A. Espinosa, Counseling Service director, decided to team up with the San Antonio Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council in a preventative approach to educate students about the consequences of drinking.

“We are not saying don’t drink, because people don’t want to hear that. What we are saying is that if you do drink – this is what can happen,” Espinosa said.

The consequences range from not only the obvious, such as DWIs and alcohol poisoning, but to other serious issues not commonly talked about including alcohol dependency.

Though Espinosa has not noted a rise in drinking on campus, she did say there has been an increase in “awareness.”

“Realizing that, hey, I drink every time I am stressed, sad or lonely. Many students do not know how to manage themselves once they are out and away from home for the first time. So they turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism,” she said.

This is why Counseling Services is putting its name out there. You can learn more by stopping by the mall area on Feb. 21 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to meet the staff and grab a snack.
“We want to be visible and approachable to the students,” Espinosa said.