Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drugs Task Force (AToD) will kick off the semester with the National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. This event will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from noon to 2 p.m.

Not only did AToD have a hand in this event but many other advocates, who want to inform students, did as well. Some of these advocates include peer educators from The Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct. These individuals look to develop methods to address not only student conduct on campus but also to address various alcohol and drug issues that arise within the University community.

Katelin Burger, Graduate Assistant for the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct, explained that the event would be more than just another drug awareness event but it aims to shatter the myths on drugs and alcohol.

"The health observance week of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week was created in 2010 by scientist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) who are part of the National Institutes of Health. The Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct and AToD task forces are using this event to address environmental and individual factors to reduce substance use and have chosen to portray this event because it will allow students to gather not only facts, but also ask questions about the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain, body, and behavior," Burger explained. "Students can benefit from this event by gaining the knowledge to make informed decisions about their behavior and lifestyle choices."

For students or guests who may be questioning the event and the message it hopes to portray, Burger made a valuable statement of the importance of this event.

"Like it or not, students are generally at an age where the choices they make have an impact on them for the rest of their lives. If they care now and make the right decisions now, they will be thankful later on in life. The Kean community is looking to promote education not only in the classroom but within the University environment that would promote students to make sound decisions that allow for a healthy, joyful and fulfilling life. Students should attend this event so they can make the most informed decisions about their choices," said Burger.

Some surprising facts about drugs and alcohol include:

• Alcohol is a drug which is a substance that changes the chemistry of your brain and reduces a person’s ability to think rationally. 
• Addiction is not curable but is manageable. An addict is in recovery their whole lives but addiction is entirely preventable.

Come visit the event to learn interesting facts that can help build responsible members of the community! If there are any questions visit CougarLink for more information.