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Speak Up

Speak Out

Comm. Skills

Dedicated to the Elimination of Alcohol Poisoning and Overdoses, Drinking and Driving, and Alcohol Dependency

Speak Up - Speak Out was initiated in the Spring of 2002 to facilitate student action to address alcohol-related issues among their peers. Issues that students can take action on include alcohol poisoning and overdoses, drinking and driving, alcohol dependency, and alcohol-related disruptions and inconveniences resulting from others' alcohol use decisions.

Do not become a silent partner to other people’s excesses. SPEAK UP and SPEAK OUT to make a difference in your life, the lives of friends, and the lives of your peers. Students are encouraged to:

• SPEAK UP and take appropriate action to: 1) Ensure health, safety, and life; 2) Resolve situations where someone's alcohol use disrupts your life; and 3) Encourage friends who may have an alcohol abuse problem to seek assistance
• SPEAK OUT by supporting and promoting these efforts among friends and peers, and by working with other students and members of the community to create a friendly, healthy and safe campus and community environment.

We invite you to explore these web pages, and join us in these efforts.

Program Goals | What You Can Do

Goals of "Speak Up - Speak Out"

1. Provide students communication skills that will empower them to speak up and take action a) in potentially dangerous situations, b) when their lives have been disrupted by another persons drinking, c) when they suspect a friend may have a drinking problem;
2. Increase the percentage of students who intervene on their friends and peers to prevent alcohol poisoning and overdoses and drinking and driving;
3. Decrease the number of students who drink and drive, and increase the number of students who use non-drinking drivers;
4. Decrease the number of alcohol-related disruptions and inconveniences resulting from another person's alcohol use decisions (e.g., having your sleep or studying interrupted; being disrupted by a load party; being insulted, humiliated, hit or pushed by an intoxicated person; having your living space messed up or having to clean up after intoxicated friends and peers); and
5. Increase the number of students who seek assistance for alcohol-related problems.

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What You Can Do . . .
The first step is to identify those situations in which you can take action, and learn the Communication Skills discussed on this site to help you be successful when you decide to take action.

The Speak Up section contains tips on how and when to Speak Up when confronted with the following situations: potential alcohol poisoning or overdose; drinking and driving; when someone's drinking has a negative effect on you; high-risk drinking; and a friend may have an alcohol problem.

Learn about how you can spread the message by Speaking Out on these issues. There is much that you can do as an individual, and ways to involve campus and community organizations to prevent negative outcomes related to alcohol use and abuse.

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