Greetings Wake Forest University Parents and Families
College is an exciting milestone for both you and your student. It is a time of new experiences, a time of transition, and a time to stay connected. If you have already spoken with your Wake Forest student about alcohol great; however, it is a good idea to revisit the conversation. You may need to adjust your communication style as your student develops greater independence. If you have not spoken with your college student about drinking, it’s never too late to have that conversation. We hope the resources provided prove helpful for you with your student!
Need To Know
- Share your concern and encourage the student to seek help
- If you believe your student is having a problem with alcohol, we ask do not blame/shame them, but share resources you think could help.
- You can call 336-758-4371, email, and/or visit Jonah Neville, Assistant Director of Wellbeing, for support and resources
- We want you to continue to stay actively involved in the life of your student. Even though they may be away at college, they continue to be an extension of your family and its values.
The Office of Wellbeing provides private, anonymous individual consultations for students to discuss any concerns around alcohol/other drugs and addiction. More information is provided below:
Collegiate Recovery Community
A friendly and safe environment for students in recovery to support one another in their academic and professional endeavors. Deacs in Recovery is a supportive community for students to connect through similar experiences and efforts to stop or reduce their use of substances or other potentially harmful behaviors. This includes substance use (e.g., alcohol, cannabis, etc.) as well as process/activity addictions (gambling, eating disorders, etc.).
Link to the CRC- https://aod.wellbeing.wfu.edu/collegiate-recovery-community-1-0/
Individual Consultations
Designed to support students around how their substance use may be impacting their wellbeing and empower them to make decisions aligned with their personal goals and reduce negative outcomes associated with their use.
Tips for a Positive Discussion
An excellent resource which gives tips on how to have these conversations, as well as more detailed information about alcohol use and abuse in college students is “College Parents Matter . . . Have the Conversation” produced by the Maryland Collaborative to Reduce College Drinking and Other Problems. The website is: http://www.collegeparentsmatter.org/index.html.
Other strategies for having a productive conversation are:
- Ask open-ended questions – To help facilitate a two-way dialogue, ask questions that cannot be answered with “yes” or “no”.
- Listen to your student without interrupting – Show respect when your student is talking. This can help strengthen your relationship and may lead to other personal conversations.
- Give positive feedback – Make positive comments about your student’s responsible choices, and not just the negative choices.
- Be direct – Be sure your student knows exactly where you stand about studying, free-time, and underage drinking. Ambiguity can lead to mixed messages.
- Control your emotions – Try to speak in a calm, relaxed voice so you don’t push your student away. Stay focused and keep to the facts.
- Use summaries – Clarify things your student tells you by saying, “Let me see if I understand…” or “What you are telling me is…”. This shows that you are listening to your student and want to better understand your student’s views.
- Remember, you know your student better than anyone. Find a comfortable communication method that works for both you and your student. Talk with your student frequently.