New Addition to Main Campus Educates Students about Alcohol Use
January 21, 2010
Saint Leo University now has a specialist working
on the main campus full-time to help educate students about the
risks and hazards of alcohol abuse. The addition of the specialist
to the campus community is complemented by the introduction
of a new educational software program on myths and facts about
alcohol use––all with the overall goal of helping students develop
healthy living skills for their college years and beyond.
Heather Lavoie, a specialist with Baycare Behavioral Health
Systems, now works on the main campus. She has an office in
Henderson Hall. It is accessible from the exterior first-floor door
near the volleyball court.She
meets individually with students and is available to make
presentations to student organizations, athletic teams, residence
halls, and can be reached at heather.lavoie@saintleo.edu
or at (352) 588-8372.
Lavoie already has met with advisors in residence
halls to give them some guidance on talking to peers about
alcohol.
Lavoie said her goal is to create a positive dialogue with
students––and to provide them with accurate information about
alcohol. The notion that “everybody drinks,” Lavoie said, “is a
myth, but a lot of college students believe that.”
Discovering that can help underage students, or even students who
are 21 or older, resist peer pressure to drink or to drink
excessively when they really don’t want to. It can also help them
realize that they can find and make friends who have fun without
drinking.
“I also want them to be aware of the negative aspects of alcohol,”
Lavoie said, “including the dangers associated with heavy drinking,
and drinking and driving, and how this affects individuals and the
campus community.”
Lavoie encourages individual students to come and meet her to
talk, and to take with them the health and wellness information she
can provide.
She also will meet with students who have been referred to her
because of a disciplinary issue where alcohol was a factor. Lavoie
can also refer individuals to the Counseling Services Office in
DeChantal Hall, Extension 8199, when warranted. (Click
here a direct link to counseling services.)
In addition, Lavoie will be working with a community coalition,
Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, to keep abreast of local
efforts in our surrounding community to diminish alcohol
abuse.
Saint Leo has been able to bring this alcohol education program to
the main campus without having to create any added expense for the
university.
Lavoie’s salary is underwritten by a grant awarded jointly to
Saint Leo and to her employer, Baycare Behavioral Health Systems,
and to Pasco-Hernando Community College. Her position is funded for
three years. The same grant also paid for access to a self-guided,
educational software program called AlcoholEdu that has been
completed by more than 70 percent of the current freshman
class.
Photo: Heather Lavoie
