Alan Berkowitz, psychologist and national consultant, gave the keynote
speech during an alcohol summit in the Kirkhof Center, sponsored by
Grand Valley's ALERT Labs and an Ottawa County grass-roots group
'Attitudes Matter.'
Berkowitz told the audience of 50 that positive reinforcement is needed
to help steer kids from drugs and alcohol.
'The majority of young people are making healthy choices all of the
time,' said Berkowitz, an innovator of substance abuse prevention
programs. 'But the media will key in on those who make choices that are
not so good.'
Berkowitz also said Grand Valley's substance abuse prevention program
is one of the best he has seen on college campuses.
Nancy Harper, ALERT Labs director, discussed how the program has helped
decreased the amount of students who drink dangerously. For example, the
total number of students who binge drink (total of 12-15 drinks per
week) has declined by 42 percent since 1999. Seventy-nine percent of
Grand Valley students said they drink moderately or not at all.
Summit addresses dangerous drinking
May 23, 2002
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