April is alcohol awareness month, and the non-profit organization, Screening for Mental Health, is offering an online alcohol screening program called College Response, available at collegeresponse.org.

The program consists of 10 to 12 questions that serve to evaluate a student based on his or her attitude and behavior towards alcohol.

Jason Marshall, program manager of College Response, is looking forward to helping more college students with the program.

“The good about it is that it is completely anonymous and gives students feedback and a referral to someone who could help them,” said Marshall. “We have proof that screening helps people, and our evaluation was put together by a psychiatrist over years of research.”

Dr. Douglass Jacobs, associate professor of psychiatry, founded the Screening for Mental Health in 1991. The program was developed when he put together the first successful large scale community depression screening.

College Response also offers an in-person screening tool, and there are eight universities in Georgia that have it available on campus. Besides screening students for alcohol, College Response also evaluates eating disorders, depression, bi-polar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder.

“Our program not only provides health screening, but it also provides education and treatment resources,” said Kathryn Quirk, marketing and communications manager for Mental Health. “College Response is a very responsible price because it is meant for the college population.”

Quirk would like for the program to be available at UWG.

“I know alcohol abuse is prevalent in most universities,” said Quirk. “Students may not consider themselves alcoholics, but our program will help the students who want help.”

UWG’s campus police are also working hard during alcohol awareness month. Lieutenant Charles Marlar has arrested students for drinking on campus.

“Some are very cooperative and are a little drunk,” said Marlar. “Others are really drunk.”
Marlar encouraged students to drink responsibly.

“Obey the law,” he said. “If you’re under 21, you can’t drink. If you’re legal, know your limit and have a designated driver.”
 

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