Our Counseling Center will offer free, anonymous screenings for alcohol use disorders during TTU Alcohol Awareness Week on Oct. 26.

The goal is to help our students recognize the signs of an alcohol problem and learn where to get support and treatment locally. The screenings, which are free and confidential for all our students, will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon in RUC 307.

“We are excited to offer this opportunity to the TTU community,” says Lisa Macke, Assistant Director of Clinical Services in our Counseling Center. “The screening process only takes a few minutes, so it should be easy to squeeze into a busy student’s schedule. We encourage anyone who would like more information about alcohol abuse to visit the Counseling Center to pick up educational materials and participate in the screening.

"We're hoping faculty and staff will help us encourage students to take part in this screening," says Macke.

As part of the program, attendees will have the opportunity to complete a brief, written questionnaire assessing their alcohol use and talk privately with a health professional about their results and next steps.

Macke says for those students who cannot attend the screening event, the TTU Counseling Center staff and Dean of Students Office is excited to offer the new online TTU e-CHUG program, or the Electronic Check-Up to Go, at www.tntech.edu/counsel/e_CHUG.htm.

"When you access the e-CHUG, you'll enter demographic information, as well as information about your drinking habits and family history," she says.

e-CHUG calculates a number of variables and compares responses to national college norms. At the end of the screening, personalized feedback is displayed in an easy-to-read format. Students may print the results and schedule an appointment to discuss them with a counselor. To schedule an appointment, call 3331.

One in every 13 adults suffers from alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. Millions more drink in ways that can place themselves or others at risk. And for those who don't personally have a drinking problem, they may be directly affected by someone who does - approximately one-half of U.S. adults report a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking.

“Research indicates that brief interventions – such as talking about your drinking with a health professional at this type of event – can help resolve mild to moderate alcohol problems as well as encourage those with more serious problems to seek treatment,” says Douglas G. Jacobs, MD, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Signs that you, a friend, or a loved one may have an alcohol problem:
o Drinking to calm nerves, forget worries, or boost a sad mood
o Guilt about drinking
o Unsuccessful attempts to cut down/stop drinking
o Lying about or hiding drinking habits
o Causing harm to oneself or someone else as a result of drinking
o Needing to drink increasingly greater amounts in order to achieve desired effect
o Feeling irritable, resentful, or unreasonable when not drinking
o Medical, social, family, or financial problems caused by drinking

In 2005, an estimated 221,000 people attended the National Alcohol Screening Day event nationwide. Of those that completed a screening form, 45 percent scored in the hazardous or harmful drinking range.