CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — Winter break provides an opportunity for parents to reconnect with their college students and discuss substance use, mental health and decision-making ahead of the next semester.
The transition from high school to college can be challenging for students in the Lowcountry, and South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Office of Substance Use Services says this break is a chance for parents to check in with their children and encourage them to keep their health a priority.
“I think the other thing about winter break is it’s just a really logical point of reflection for students, whether it’s their first or second semester, to ask themselves how did the fall go, what’s been going on,” said Aimee Hourigan of the University of South Carolina.
Students face new pressures
The agency says many students return from the fall semester feeling overwhelmed by new pressures from academics to social or peer pressure expectations. Some parents may not know how to start these conversations without lecturing.
“Listening is a big part of conversations. It’s not just talking at, it’s talking with,” said Michelle M. Nienhius of the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
OSUS encourages parents to create an environment where students feel comfortable sharing how they’re doing. The approach should be informative as well as supportive from a place of understanding that their college experience may not look the same as their parents.
The” youth, young adults in particular, want to know why is it that I shouldn’t use this, or why should I contemplate how much I should or shouldn’t put into my body. They want to know the science, they want to know how it effects their bodies, their brains,” Nienhius said.
Substance accessibility increases
Despite a national decline in alcohol and drug use among college students, the agency says accessibility to substances has increased, making open conversations more important.
“If you have not paid attention to what’s being sold in your local grocery stores, convenience stores, vape shops, smoke shops recently, then you have no idea what’s out there. You don’t know that there are products that look just like energy drinks but they’re not. They’re THC laced products. Same thing with the gummies and the candies,” Nienhius said.
The agency launched a website with conversation starters for parents, including learning terminology and spotting potential dangers.
“Avoiding the lectures in the confrontation is really important because they’ve had at least one semester now of independence so you want to respect that and give them a chance to assert themselves and talk about what they want and they’re experiencing,” Hourigan said.
Parents and caregivers can find resources on starting conversations with college students at openconversationsc.com.
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