The Office of Special Programs and Cultural Series held a drug and alcohol program to educate students about the effects of drug and alcohol use Oct. 27, in the E.E. O’Banion building.
The program was set up as a talk show with Jasmine Berry as the host and four panelists.
The panelists were Donnie Howard, Shandon Neal, Darryl Williams and Sheleah Hughes.
There were a number of topics discussed during the program such as experiences with substance abuse, peer pressure, and drinking experiences at college.
Neal said, “Students here tend to be a tad less independent. The drug and alcohol experience in my opinion has decreased. Things have changed since I was a freshman.”
The effects of alcohol can also interfere with education according to Darryl Williams.
Williams said, “When alcohol starts interfering with your school work, then it is a problem.”
The students in the audience were very attentive as the panelists talked briefly about the experiences they’ve had with drugs or alcohol.
Howard talked to students about his experience with smoking weed.
Howard said, “I’ve tried smoking weed as a teenager, and it is something I’ve never tried again.”
Howard along with Williams saw firsthand how drugs affect the community as well.
Howard said, “I was 16 or 17 when I saw guys in the neighborhood who were drug dealers with the fancy cars and clothes.”
Williams followed saying, “I saw the jewelry, cars, clothes and women, but they never told me about the consequences.”
The program allowed students to ask the panelists questions about not only their experiences, but advice they have for those currently using them.
Hughes said, “My advice is today is the day. You have to find someone being positive, try to be like them and turn it around.”
Williams said, “If you’re drinking and smoking thinking it’s going to get better, well it is only going to get worse.”
Many students felt the program was helpful and informative.
Junior nursing major Latrice Daniels said, “The panelists gave good advice to young students who might be experiencing peer pressure to use alcohol or drugs. Hopefully their experiences made someone re-think about their decision to use them.”