Pushing Limits: College helps addicted students

By Melanie C. Blanchard

blan0107@algonquincollege.com

Addictions have become the focus for Algonquin’s Health Promotions officials this semester.

Their hope is to help students realize that there is no stereotype for addictions.

“It can be anybody. A mother, father, friend or yourself,” said Angie Macdonald, Algonquin’s health promotion nurse.

Also, there are other addictions to watch for. There are addictions to working out, eating, gambling, tattoos and even sex.

“Addiction can be anything that involves some sort of risks or temptation,“ said Macdonald.

For example, people get addicted to the high of pushing their body to the limits when they work out.

Students are at a bigger risk because many are on their own for the first time and have large sums of money in their banking accounts from savings, loans, or OSAP. This makes them a target for gambling, especially online where they can easily wire money from their bank accounts to the gamming site without leaving their dorm.

Simon Kennedy, 24, graduated from college with $10,000 of gambling debt when he used his student line of credit to play online poker. “I have a line of credit and I decided to put a few dollars into online poker. Before I knew it, it wasn’t a few dollars anymore.”

This semester, Health Services is teaming up with counselling to provide support groups not only for addicted students but also recovering students or students that are dealing with addiction in their life at some level.

Approximately every week there will be displays set up that deal with addiction on some level. Health Promotions hopes to have information displays, addiction themed Jeopardy game, a drunk-driving simulator, and intoxication goggles that let you experience what it’s like to walk while intoxicated.

Health Promotions want students to know that help can be sought at any of the services in the school.

“We’re here to support people,” Macdonald said. If a student is looking for help with addictions, they should go to counselling first.

From there Health Services may step in medically and Health Promotions will provide the information for students to deal with their addiction.

If you are looking for any information, feel free to contact Macdonald at extension 2529 or go see them in A-building, room 129D, across from Thunder Alley.