Mental health articles

Substance abuse limits an individual’s ability to fully grasp its consequences;
intoxication and denial both cause an emotional distancing from adverse
experiences. In addition, adolescents’ sense of invulnerability and widespread
acceptance of alcohol and drug use further minimize their awareness of substance
abuse. Consequently, some individuals need to experience serious
consequences in order to recognize a problem. In the parlance of Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA), this is called “hitting bottom.” Because of the challenges
of diagnosing alcohol problems and students’ widespread denial and minimization
of problems, institutional leverage is an important tool in getting
students’ attention. Leverage “raises the bottom,” helping individuals experience
the consequences of their substance use (Johnson, 1980, 1986). Deans
and campus judicial offi ces can employ this approach by mandating students
into treatment lest they face suspension or academic failure (Meilman, 1992).
Similarly, coaches can refuse to play a student unless he or she goes for help.
In our work, we have coordinated closely with the judicial offi ce, which can
leverage students into alcohol and other drug (AOD) education and counseling services. While students oft en initially consider this process punitive, by the
end of the program, most report fi nding the experience helpful.
Is leveraging alcohol and drug counseling ethical? Actually, it may be
unethical to do otherwise. Without enforced participation, many students
would never set foot in a college mental health center, with the likelihood that
they would develop more serious substance abuse problems later.