CAMPUS PROGRAM TREATS SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Therapy takes new approach to ridding students of cravings

Students trying to quit drinking, smoking or using other addictive
substances, can now kick the habit with a new program at the University.

Cognitive-Behavioral Assessment and Treatment of Substance Abuse is
going to be different from other drug programs on campus.

According to Harold Rosenberg, program supervisor, it's going to
teach clients how to learn to deal with their cravings for the substance.

"The method we are using is called Cue Exposure Therapy," Rosenberg
said. "The idea behind this is people who have cravings for drugs
that they are abusing, instead of trying to avoid it -- which is
probably impossible -- let's teach students how to cope with those cravings."

Rosenberg said it's important to find out what triggers their
clients' cravings and in therapy, expose those triggers to them so
they can provoke the craving.

This gives the client practice coping with the cravings instead of
giving into it.

One way that these therapy sessions may help students is during
sessions, the clinician uses props and imagery instructions that
increase the level of craving for the client.

After two to four minutes, the props are put aside and the client is
asked to rate his or her craving.

Over the next five to 10 minutes, the clinician and the client wait
for the craving to go down or use coping skills to deal with the desire.

The program is being taught free of charge by seven advanced graduate
students who are psychology trainees.

They have been trained and continue to be trained in conducting
psychotherapy, according to Rosa M. Aguirre, doctoral student.

"The basic idea of this therapy is to break the connection between
'triggers' or 'cues' that have been paired with craving and drug
use," Aguirre said. "Depending on the client's goal, we will support
them at moderating the use of addictive substances or help them with
abstaining from the use of these substances."

Aguirre also said the therapists won't just concentrate on dealing
with the client's substance abuse, but will also help them with
personal problems that may lead to increasing substance abuse.

"For example, if a client comes to therapy and reports that she has
been drinking a lot ever since her boyfriend broke up with her, we --
the therapists -- will be open to not only help this student reduce
or quit drinking, but also help her deal with her breakup," Aguirre said.

The sessions, which started this semester, are held at the
Psychological Services Center located on the third floor of the
Psychology building in room 301.

Each session is 50 minutes long, once per week, but it can be
adjusted depending on the client's need.

In addition, each session is individualized, meaning it's just one
client meeting with one therapist as opposed to a class full of students.

According to Rosenberg, in order for students to sign up for
sessions, they have to call the Psychological Services Center at 419-372-2540.

"They just need to identify that they read about the program and they
want to learn how to cope with their cravings," Rosenberg said. "Our
secretary will then get some information from them and someone from
their team will set up an appointment with them."

Rosenberg admits the turnout isn't as good as he'd hoped, but
understands how hard it is for students to seek help.

"Some students may have a hard time saying that they have a problem,"
he said. "Some students aren't sure if they are ready to quit yet."

Detective Scott Sauer, narcotics detective on campus, thinks this
program can be very effective for students who are open to it.

"I don't know if students will want to admit that they have a
problem," Sauer said. "But I think it's going to be effective for
students who want to participate in it, even if they are forced to do
it because of a court order."

Sauer reflected back on an experience he had with a student who took
some drug classes.

"One student I arrested was ordered to do six months in a drug
program," he said. "He came back to me and shook my hand and told me
he turned his life around and it was a wake-up call for him."

This program may not be for everyone, but Rosenberg is trying to help
as many students as are willing to cooperate.

"If we help just three to five students then that's what we are here to do."