Positive peer pressure makes a difference

Courier News, Home News Tribune, myCentralJersey.com

By Sharon Lutz

Chugging beer as a pledge in a fraternity house was the last thing James Callahan did as a young college student. I attended his funeral service as a student at Rutgers University more than 20 years ago.

What have we learned in the last two decades regarding alcohol consumption in the young adult population?

The impact that young adults have on each other’s behavior can be significant in the outcome of a night out. At some point in our lives, and often at seemingly insignificant times, we all encounter that crossroads where just one choice, one decision, one action will mean everything in determining the direction of our future. Do you take that drink? Get into that car? Let that person drive?

However, just as one mistake or impulsive decision can negatively change the course of one’s future, making the right decision at the right time can make all the difference in saving a life or avoiding needless tragedy.

Alcohol-related deaths are 100 percent preventable, and peer pressure, both positive and negative, can have a significant impact on attitudes, choices and behaviors. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, peer mentors are essential because, most importantly, they are trusted by classmates, they have hands-on knowledge about drinking situations by their peers and they are able to bridge the gap between campus and community efforts to change problem behavior.

When we think about prevention we need to engage and empower the population we intend to affect. Drunk driving and overdose in our young adults can be measurably changed but not without engaging them in the process. Somerset’s Initiative for Partying Safely (SIPS) intends to do just that: develop a network of positive peer influence with the central communication point at SIPSNATION.com.

The April 28 Community Forum at RVCC will provide the foundation for this initiative, providing an outlet for young adults to describe how they define partying safely. The forum will also provide an opportunity to hear the stories of individuals whose lives have been forever changed by one destructive decision.

Every one of them wishes they could go back to that one moment and do something differently, and each person chooses to share their story openly in the hope that it will make a positive difference for someone listening. If you are a young adult who wants to be a positive influence on your peers, join us on April 28 at RVCC from 6-8 p.m. and tell us how you would make a difference.

Sharon Lutz is the executive director of EmPoWER Somerset.