Anna Rose Wiencek

H&S 490

March 28, 2017

Assignment One

Step 1: Quality of Life Assessment

The Healthy 2020 people have set a goal for substance abuse. They state that their goal by 2020
is to, reduce substance abuse to protect the health, safety, and quality of life for all, especially
children (Healthy People 2020). Healthy People 2020 found that around 22 million Americans
had an issue with substance abuse, which lead to having a substance problem (Healthy People
2020). That is a lot of lives being affected by drugs and a lot of people who are having health
issues due to substance abuse. Now Healthy People 2020 stated that about 95% of the people
who had a problem were unaware of their problem (Healthy People 2020). The lack of education
is leading to the issue of something that can be treated. It is important we help these people
because what they do effects their own life, their friends, their family, and community. This also
Demographic Data Butler Ohio
then
County
Median Age 36.4 39.2 leads to
Language other than English spoken at 1.88% 1.31%
other
home
High school graduation 91.4% 88.9% health
Bachelors degree 28.14% 26.1%
Median household income $71,328 $62,817
Persons below poverty 6.79% 7.3%
Population with limited English Proficiency 2.98% 2.39%
Population of 18-24 11.97% 9.52%
Populations with limited English Households 1.88% 1.31%
Access to Liquor Store 8.96% 6.9%
problems. With drugs being more accessible this issue becomes even more important to stop
now before it is too late. I have decided to take that broad category and target a school in Ohio
called, Miami University. They have an alcohol problem on their campus and I hope to reduce
the use of alcohol on their campus.

Step 2: Quality of Life and Social Assessment

Table Demographic of Butler County, Ohio.

 All information was found on www.communitycommons.org

The data from Community Commons showed that Butler County has an issue with
alcohol. Every data point that involved alcohol was in the red zone meaning they have higher
than normal rates for that area. Now Butler County is home to Miami University, which is the
school I am targeting for preventing alcohol consumption. I also found that Butler County has
more access to a liquor store than Ohio does. Also that Alcohol Consumption is this area is not
only higher than Ohio, but it is higher than the national average (Community Commons). That
number is also in the red zone. Now only a small amount of people in Ohio of a Bachelors
Degree, which is a lot lower than I accepted (Community Commons). I first learned about
nutrition and alcohol in college. The median household income is higher than the state of Ohio,
which is good because as we have learned a lot of health issues stem from low-income areas
(Community Commons). I find that good data to have because when dealing with health and
having to deal with money is extremely tough.

I found that Butler County is in the red zone for literacy. This could cause issues with
health as we learned in class literacy is a big a factor when it comes to health. Not being able to
understand labels and understand health issues could lead to more issues. It is a small number,
but the community commons put it in the red zone (Community Commons). Having to educate
people who dont speak English is tough. This could be an obstacle to tackle in Butler County
on improving literacy and how health is talked about.

Step 3: Epidemiological Assessment

Butler County Stats on Health Outcomes: Information found on the CDC under the County
Health Status Indicator (CHSI). On this website they rate the areas in zones: red, yellow, and
green. Green meaning it is better and not an issue in that county. Yellow means that it is in
between and not a major issue, but still needs to be looked at. Red means that it is a problem and
needs to be fixed.

Table on Butler County Health Outcome

Health Outcome Butler County America

Unintentional Injuries Yellow: 41.4 per 100,000 50.8 per 100,000
Overall Adult Health Yellow: 16.3% report unhealthy 16.5% report unhealthy
I found that Butler County is almost at the national level for issues involving alcohol. I
found that unintentional injuries are very high in Butler County and those are preventable
(CHSI). Those include falls, slipping, and tripping. From my previous classes a lot of those
unintentional injuries are caused by alcohol related issues. The risks are close to being worse in
Butler County than on that national level. Overall Adult Health is almost as high as the national
level (CHSI). This could also be a lack of resources to be healthy. Most of the data was in not in
the green space. Only about one health date point was in the green space. Most of the issues are
in the yellow or red zones.

The National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism lists women to be at a higher
risk for binge drinking (NIAAA). Miami does have a higher female population that could be a
factor into the alcohol consumption. Exposure to environmental problems is an issue (CDC). At
my school the environment is alcohol friendly. With 8 bars being 18 & up there is a lot of access
to drinking. One that could be an issue is lack of education (CDC). This was a broad topic, but I
find that the school does not educate the students enough on alcohol prevention and signs of
alcohol poisoning. The NIAAA lists Greek Life as one of the high risk for alcohol abuse and
Greek Life is extremely present at the university (NIAAA).

Step 4: Health Behavior

One of the main lifestyles that influence my behavior is college life. The stereotypical
college life is to have fun and make friends. At Miami it is hard to make friends and have fun
sober. Most of the campus drinks throughout the week and parties on the weekend. The Greek
life in another influence as it is very influential on campus. This is my top priority as I believe it
to be the biggest factor. Changing the bar access and impact the Greek life has can maybe
change the way students view drinking. Adding other social outlets that dont involve drinking
could help with the rates that do drink, but dont want to.

Another health behavior that matters is Interpersonal Relationships and Happiness

(CDC). I find that people who drink a lot are not happy. At the school it is such a force to get
kids to drink that dont want to. Finding healthy relationships could lead to a healthier lifestyle.
This could also change the cultural of the campus.

The Community Commons published that the alcohol consumption in Butler County is
higher than it should be at 19.9% (Community Commons). Every data point that involved
alcohol was in the red zone meaning they have higher than normal rates for that area Death due
to drug poisoning was almost double that of the state of Ohio at 30.3. (Community Commons).
Then the CHSI reported that 18.8% of the population in Butler County binge drink, which is
higher than the state of Ohio (CHSI). This leads to health issues later in life and can lead to
alcohol abuse (NIAAA).

Step 5: Environment

From the power point in class one environmental issue that we need to deal with is policy
making in the community. Changing the bar age to 21 will take the students out of the toxic
location and will force them to do an activity on campus that is not involving alcohol. This will
limit alcohol consumption and the number of students who drink. This will limit alcohol
consumption during the week as the bars have themed nights every day of the week and cause a
lot of issues with alcohol. There are 12 bars that are accessible to students and are all within a
mile radius of each other (Miami University). This policy will change the environment in which
students drink. . The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is a
website that helps with policy making. This talks how in my situation I should to become active
in this creating this new law (NACCHO).

Having this will set up to have a successful shift in the culture there at Miami. This
would be the social part of the environment. The Huffington Post ranks Miami at number 3 for
biggest party school in the country (Huffington Post). That is a big social aspect of this school.
Within that Huffington Post ranks them so highly for their involvement in the Greek System
(Huffington Post). The TV show, Greek, is based off Miamis Greek System. Now since the
university was founded in 1809 there are have nine closures and suspensions of Greek houses
and they all involve alcohol (Miami University). Now this is from a blog that is located in the
schools newspaper that talks about a typical Friday for most students: 12:00 p.m. one goes to
Brick Street to participate in Beat the clock where they chug a whole pitcher of beer for the hour
is up. This is done until 4:00 oclock. 4:30 p.m. one will do a powernap to prepare for the night.
8:30 p.m. the student will eat, shower, and get dressed. 9:30 p.m. one will start the pregame in
their house. 10:30 p.m. one will travel to the frat of their choice because they host parties every
weekend. 12:00 a.m. one will head to the bars to finish off the night until kicked out at 2:15
a.m. (Miami University). That is the social environment for a typical student every Friday and
Saturday. Environmental factor is the belief one has to drink to live the college experience. This
is found on the slide of Levels of Influence at being at the top. The belief that Miami is a huge
party school can change if the culture changes. The only way culture changes is if action
happens. Having other options and other things could change the type of student that wants to go
there, changing the belief.

To gather data I would have a town hall meeting to get firsthand experience on what is
going on in the town. Also to get policy making in process. Having people come and become
educated on what is also going on by bringing in the police, alcohol prevention people, hospital
representatives, and school officials. This should be the start to changing the Miami way. Next
would be to have a survey be conducted by the students to get feedback on their feelings about
alcohol, how much they drink, why they drink, and other things they would want to do. Taking
that information will lead to forming an educational system to teach them. Next would be to go
to the bars and see how many kids under the age of 21 go to the bars. Then after all the data is
taken I would start a campaign to get people involved. Start hanging up posters, so people feel
wanted. Around 43.6% of the campus in 2016 was part of a Greek house (Miami University).
The Greek life in another influence as it is very influential on campus. Miami reported that there
are 45 Fraternities and Sororities (Miami University).

Step 6: Peer Reviewed Article

My first article comes from the US National Library of Medicine and it is called, How the
quality of peer relationships influences college alcohol use. It talks about how peers influence
our drinking in college (Borsari,2006). This is a factor that is important to my issue. How we
believe through others that we need to drink. It talks about how peer relationships are a huge
factor in college (Borsari,2006,). This talks about how it is emerging as one of the most
powerful reasons on why people drink. They call it a social learning prospective (Borsari, 2006).
That we base our social skills on people we either idol or people we want to be like (Borsari,
2006). The value of peer relationships influences drinking via three pathways: the lack of quality
of peer relationships, alcohol use being an integral part of peerinteractions, and if peers
disapprove of alcohol us or do not drink (Borsari,,2006). Peer relationships also influence the
maitence of the drinking (Borsari, 2006). Alcohol will always be linked to a social outlet
(Borsari, 2006). Women in college binge drink more often than women who dont go to college
(Borsari, 2006). This experiment was all done through assessments and surveys (Borsari, 2006).
Drinking in college is caused by social rein enforcement as the need for intimacy is great among
college students (Borsari, 2006). In college most students want to be the person with a lot of
friends and looks like they are having a good time. Miami is huge on the social aspect as the
Greek System is important. The definition of social rein enforcement as, receiving
consequences for behavior that wants acceptance (Borsari, 2006). It talks about how people
approve of underage drinking in college (Borsari, 2006).

Now the last thing they talk about is how drinking can result in the only way to have peer
reactions. People dont always know how to react to others, but see the norm and go for it. They
just follow the leaders. The goals is to create stable leadership and education on the risk of
drinking (Borsari, 2006). Now primary data that can be taken is surveys on who influenced you
to drink? Asking in the student union on why people drink could give us a better feedback on
which peers we should target. Also going to parties and watching who instigates it. Collect that
data and put it towards a program to help people become better peers. The changes that need to
be made are having a different culture on who to follow. Taking those leaders out will make
room for different leaders to step up. Having different peers will change the culture of the
campus. The community needs to become more of an influence. Making it known that this is
not just a college town will help people realize they dont own Miami. This is a real life place
that has adults trying to be adults. Having the community make policies and get more involved
on campus will bring them closer to kids and make relationships. Having that might make people
realize that you need to grow up and be mature. Seeing it is easier than just hearing about it.
Following a Frat Brother is not the best to having a successful life.

The second article is from the same site and it is called, Alcohol Use in the Greek
System, 1999-2009: A Decade of Progree. This article talks about how the Greek life has a big
influence on binge drinking (Borsari, 2009). It also talks about how every year it is getting
worse on college campuses for drinking accidents (Borsari, 2009). They call it a major social
issue that influences the whole campus (Borsari, 2009). Most people that have other health
issues in college are related to alcohol (Borsair, 2009). The students at the biggest risk are the
ones in the Greek system (Borsari, 2009). Targeting that population would help my issue.

Greek membership (%)

Consequence Member Nonmember

Academic Problems

Men 35 20

Women 29 14
 Greek membership (%)

Consequence Member Nonmember

Blackout

Men 44 23

Women 42 19

Taken advantage of sexually

Men 16 8

Women 20 9

Hangover

Men 79 57

Women 72 50

The next group is athletes on campus (Borsari, 2009). They are at a high risk of alcohol issues.
There needs to be some baseline information done, but athletes drink a lot due to stress and binge
due to little time to drink (Borsari, 2009I). They call it a tradition of drinking that needs to be
broken (Borsari, 2009). The three most common themes when it came to alcohol and the Greek
system are: selection and socialization into the Greek system, misperceptions of norms, and
enabling the environment of the Greek house (Borsari, 2009). They studied the changes in the
school and student after joining the Greek system (Borsari, 2009). If one drank before college
that person would be more likely to go Greek (Borsari, 2009). That the close bonds formed in
these houses surround the acceptance of alcohol use and promote it (Barsari, 2009). There needs
to be education done to these two groups on safe drinking strategies. You cant eliminate it, but
you can make it safer. Adding an alcohol class will help with reducing the issues. Making it a
policy athletes can not drink during season and have drug tests be done. That could go to Greek
houses as well. At the school I am at the community needs to take the Greek system and make it
smaller. It has too much power over the campus and creates a mob mentality. Making the
community have policies about drug testing can influence that system. Make them report to the
law enforcement for alcohol usage. Having a say on that campus is important because they dont
have one.

Step 7: Validating Needs and Conclusions

The most important target for this health issue is students at Miami who drink too much.
I want to prevent alcohol injuries and health related issues and the kids that drink are the ones in
danger. The biggest issue is that the bars are 18 and up, which cause an environment that is
welcoming of alcohol. This enables one to indulge in their drinking habits. Also that the culture
of Miami is revolved around alcohol, which gives the students a mind sent going in about
alcohol. Then having such a heavy Greek system is a rein enforcement of it being acceptable to
drink a lot and laugh about it the next day. Those are the biggest issues Miami faces. It is hard
to change a culture that has been there a long time. Students go in thinking that they need to
party and drink because that is Miami. Changing a way of thought is hard, but can be done.

Bibliography
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