Trojan Outreach took the time last week to bring awareness to the negative outcomes of addiction and substance abuse.
Oct. 20 to 26 is nationally known as Red Ribbon Week, a time where people are educated on the use of drugs and alcohol. It’s also the time when individuals celebrate living a drug-free life.
Trojan Outreach is an organization that works to educate the student body on topics such as health, sex, safety and more. Red Ribbon Week is another important topic the organization wanted to bring to the forefront of college students’ minds.
“When you come to college, you want to explore new stuff, and unfortunately, sometimes that can lead to drug and alcohol abuse,” said Danielle Wormsby, a Trojan Outreach peer educator and a junior biology major from Birmingham, Alabama. “We want to make sure that students know they don’t have to subside to peer pressure.
“They don’t have to partake in things they don’t want to partake in, and there are safer ways to do things.”
One student is glad Trojan Outreach is taking the time to educate students on what she considers to be important.
“I feel like in college there’s a lot more peer pressure just because it’s who you hang around,” said Haley Wheeler, a sophomore biomedical science major from Sylacauga, Alabama. “Sometimes, if you don’t want to go to a party, then you’re considered lame.”To help spread Trojan Outreach’s message, the organization brought Spectracare on campus to allow students to talk to professionals. Spectracare works to inform local communities on drugs, alcohol, mental health and more.
“We found Spectracare at the Health Fair last year,” Wormsby said. “We wanted to make sure they came back to Troy because they have good information.
"We want to make sure students know that there are resources in the area and Spectracare is one of them.”
Spectracare is willing and ready to give students the information they need.
“We want to give students resources to say no and learn why they’re saying no,” said Ashley Shasteen, the prevention coordinator at Spectracare.
Shasteen understands the peer pressure and stress that can happen to college students. She says college students shouldn’t have to worry about being in a situation they don’t feel comfortable in.
“More people than you think don’t drink or do drugs, so you’re not going to be the odd one out to say no,” Shasteen said.
Shasteen adds that students should always have a backup plan if they’re going to a party. They should go ahead and figure out how they are going to tell people ‘no’ if faced with peer pressure.
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