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DARE to BE
Hosted by:
University of Colorado Denver
Please briefly describe your Communities Talk activity.
In collaboration with the University of Colorado Denver, the event/workshop was in-person. DARE to BE was a dynamic and engaging workshop designed to empower first-generation Asian American college students with the knowledge, skills, and strategies they need to make informed decisions about alcohol and drug use. The 2-hour workshop aimed to foster a safe and supportive environment where participants could openly discuss the challenges they face and gain valuable insights into harm reduction. The workshop tied to how mental health—such as stress, racism, model minority myth, and peer pressure—can increase the temptation to experiment and try substances. We had a good turnout, and students asked many questions concerning partying and drinking around campus. Students in attendance were actively involved, asking questions and engaging in conversations about alcohol misuse, underage drinking, and substance abuse.
How does alcohol and other drug misuse affect your community?
Due to high levels of stress, peer pressure, and mental health stigma, many underage Asian American youth and college students use alcohol to self-medicate.
Which prevention strategy(ies), as defined by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, best fit your Communities Talk activity?
- Information Dissemination Strategy - focuses on improving awareness and knowledge of the effects of AOD issues on communities and families through “one-way” communication with the audience such as speaking engagements, health fairs, and distribution of print materials.
What goal(s) did you hope to accomplish with your Communities Talk activity?
- Hold meetings or discussion groups on alcohol and/or other drug misuse prevention.
- We had conversations with students about balancing the temptation of engaging in drugs and alcohol, standards on campus, and the accessibility of cannabis produced great questions and responses from students and faculty.
Did you accomplish your goal(s)?
Yes
How did you overcome these challenges?
We didn't experience any challenges in promoting and hosting the event.
What are your next steps?
- Host follow-up meetings or activities
Organizations that conduct Communities Talk activities often involve other organizations in the planning and execution of events. Please indicate which type(s) of organizations you involved in your activity planning.
Which of the following best describes the primary audience(s) for your Communities Talk activity?
- Asian community members
- Colleges or Universities
How did you reach and engage your primary audience(s) to encourage them to participate in your activity?
We worked with the school staff, and the staff helped us with outreach to the underage students. The Communities Talk stipend helped to pay for printing and other materials, which eliminated expenses and assisted the staff with promoting the event through use of flyers and other materials.
Which Communities Talk resources (or other SAMHSA resources) were most helpful for your activity?
- StopAlcoholAbuse.gov website
- Communities Talk website
- Current resources were sufficient for our work with first-year students. We did not want to put a lot of information in front of them, because we didn’t want them to be discouraged.
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