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Fourth Summit Aims To 'Stomp Out' Abuse

Aug. 26, 2008

Alcohol and Drug Summit logo The SHSU Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative will give advice to members of the university and Huntsville communities on how to “stomp out” abuse during the fourth annual Alcohol and Drug Summit Sept. 11-12.

The summit is designed to raise awareness of the multi-faceted problems associated with substance use and abuse while strengthening healthy attitudes and ultimately achieving positive behaviors, according to Rosanne Keathley, ADAI coordinator.

“The purpose of the summit is to create a unique venue that will allow participants to interact with experts in the field of alcohol and drug education,” Keathley said. “We hope to provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to make responsible decisions regarding substance use.”

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, followed by a series of breakout panels and a lunch and keynote address by NCAA-sanctioned speaker Rick Barnes, who will discuss "Drink Think: A Personal Approach to Alcohol," which details an individual's responsibility with alcohol consumption.

With more than 20 years of higher education experience, Barnes, who also serves on the board of directors for the North-American Interfraternity Conference, is an established speaker on such topics as leadership development, personal success, risk management and substance abuse prevention.

Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to attend as many as seven interactive sessions covering more than 20 topics on things such as the cost of alcohol and drug abuse, mixing energy drinks and alcohol, prescription drugs, the effect of substance use on brain function, alcohol laws, the university’s disciplinary process, risk management, sex and safety. Attendees can also assess their own drinking patterns with alcohol screenings, and women can learn “proactive maneuvers to escape and survive an attack” during a self-defense tactics workshop.

Presentations will be given by university professionals, a medical doctor, the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, Walker County Adult Probation and members of the University Police Department and Counseling Center, as well as those who have faced alcohol-related tragedies.

Saturday’s sessions, which coincide with Bearkat Family Weekend, will include a keynote address by alcohol educators Mary and Bill Hill on “Motivating Millennials to Change the Social Culture” and breakout sessions during which parents can learn from SHSU representatives about the university’s alcohol and drug policies, campus resources for students in need of services relating to use, and how to recognize red flags of use in students. Because of the affiliation with family weekend, parents will not have to register to attend Saturday events.

Registration for the summit is free and can be submitted online or printed from http://www.shsu.edu/adai.

All participants will receive a T-shirt upon completion of summit sessions, various door prizes and the chance to win a Nintendo Wii system provided by the Huntsville Rotary Club.

Students who attend the summit will also be able to earn co-curricular transcript credit and will have the opportunity to win prizes either as an individual or for their student organizations.

For more information, contact Keathley at 936.294.1171 or e-mail hpe_rsk@shsu.edu.

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