Football crowds and greek pledges will keep East Lansing buzzing next month, and city officials are hopeful an alcohol and drug awareness campaign will curb drinking and drug abuse in the MSU party scene.
The East Lansing City Council voted last week to observe September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Jean Golden, East Lansing deputy city manager and chief of operations, said the beginning of the school year is an appropriate time to address these issues.
“The more that we talk about alcoholism as a disease and how it has certain predictors, the more we can have young people thinking about it and asking about it,” she said. “We want people to realize that alcoholism is a disease, not a defect and that treatment is available.”
But some students and police aren’t certain that an awareness month will make a difference.
East Lansing police Lt. Kevin Daley said law enforcement provides alcohol and drug awareness year-round, not only in September.
“This month is the same as the next month,” he said. “It’s nice to be highlighted and recognized at this time, but we do the same all year long.”
In efforts to provide awareness to the community, East Lansing is planning a speaking event for city employees about alcoholism. The city of Lansing will sponsor a walk from the Riverfront Park to the Capitol on Sept. 14.
Jasmine Greenamyer, project coordinator at Olin Health Center, said there are several avenues for addressing issues of abuse.
“I get nervous when there are national days, weeks and months because it’s a day-to-day issue,” she said. “There is never (an especially) good time of the year to have this type of campaign.”
Greenamyer added that while the community will become more aware of the issues with this month, students may not pay attention to the campaign.
“I think with our student population people are more concerned about starting school and planning on having a good time,” she said. “Not thinking about if they have an alcohol problem.”
According to Olin Health Center officials, 30 percent of MSU students misuse or abuse alcohol.
Physics freshman Phil Moerdyke said he doesn’t believe the month will influence students alcohol and drug decisions.
“It may help a little bit, but I don’t think it’ll have as much of an impact that they’re hoping,” he said. “People are going to party if they want to party.”
Cindy McCue, one of the founders of Be Responsible About Drinking Inc., or B.R.A.D., said while students may not adhere to the month, it is a good way to prompt universities to start awareness programs.
McCue’s son, Bradley McCue was an MSU student who died of acute alcohol poisoning following the celebration of his 21st birthday in November 1998. His family and friends established B.R.A.D., a nonprofit corporation to encourage responsible decisions with alcohol, after his death.
