Dear Baked or Bored,

It is exciting and refreshing to picture you at the beginning of your journey to fun and fulfillment without always tanking and toking up to reach this destination. You acknowledge at the outset that your trip (no pun intended) will be full of obstacles, challenges, temptations, and other potholes that might slow you down, or send you back to the starting line. Reducing any degree of psychological or physical dependence does not occur overnight, and can be realized through measured reductions in use of, in your case, alcohol and marijuana.

With your question to Alice, you have clearly begun to consult a map and ask for directions before your cast off. You don't have to stop here! Talking with a counselor at your school who can help you define specific goals, like how much you want to cut back, and at what pace, might also make for a smoother ride. Sharpening your awareness of your social, academic, professional, and spiritual interests can go a long way toward finding a few of those "bazillion" activities you mentioned. And make pit stops along the way, checking in with your counselor, or a supportive friend or relative, who can help you stay on course.

Tempting detours, like ever-present alcohol or that stray joint, might also be averted by some planning. Think about how you will respond if someone encourages you to have a drink or take a hit: maybe you could say, "Thanks, but I'm cutting back for a while," or "No, I have a big urine test tomorrow." Set limits for yourself (and state them to others, if appropriate) if you choose to place yourself in situations where alcohol and other drugs are present. Learning yoga, meditation, and other relaxation techniques have helped many on the same road to "dry fun" cope with stress resulting from this change in lifestyle, as well as provide motivation for improving mind-body health. Don't forget to consider physical exercise in this category, too.

As you may know, Alice is a big fan of searching for groups whose activities match some of your non-drug interests. Maybe organizations that work toward a cause in which you strongly believe, athletic groups, political campaigns, reading circles, writing and theatrical clubs, or professional organizations will be the ticket. These groups are usually free and full of people who fall somewhere between "drug-reliant" and "bookworm." Staying on this trail, how about activities where drugs just wouldn't quite cut it: working out at the gym (also free at most universities); museum hopping (most are heavily discounted for students with IDs); in-line skating or biking; taking tours of different NYC neighborhoods; or going up to the top of the Empire State Building (natural highs, if you ask Alice). Peruse Time Out New York magazine and the New York City section of bookstores for publications of cheap and free offerings. Last, but not least, keep your eyes open for flyers and posters on bulletin boards for similar samplings.

If you are at a school or university, contact student activities for information about student organizations you can use as resources. At Columbia, the Office of Student Activities at x4-3611 lists all of the student organizations on campus. If none of this works, you may have a different problem from the one you have described. At Columbia, Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) at x4-2468 can help you out with counseling and support group needs; and, Alice!, Columbia University's Health Education Program, at x4-5453 has regular stress management courses. At other campuses, contact the health service for similar resources.

Thanks for your question... and your perspective.

Alice

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