Beyond the Buzzwords: What Students Really Need to Know About Alcohol & Drug Use
Conversations about alcohol and drug use on college campuses often fall into predictable patterns: warnings, statistics, and blanket rules. While well-intentioned, this traditional approach can sometimes push students away rather than pull them into meaningful dialogue. Bobby Gordon offers a different way forward.
His message?
Skip the scare tactics. Ditch the judgment. Instead, give students the real facts—and the space to make informed choices.
Reframing the Language
Bobby challenges outdated and often misused terms like “binge drinking,” urging a shift toward more accurate, relatable language. Rather than labeling students, he encourages them to understand the impact of their choices.
By clarifying terms like tolerance, withdrawal, and addiction, he demystifies substance use and helps students understand how their bodies and brains truly respond. He makes it personal and relatable—drawing parallels with everyday behaviors like drinking coffee, using energy drinks, or relying on Advil.
Why Perception Matters
Research consistently shows that students overestimate how much their peers are drinking. And those misperceptions often lead them to drink more themselves.
Social normative campaigns have proven that when students are told the actual statistics—like the fact that most students drink moderately or not at all—they begin to adjust their behavior accordingly. Resetting those perceptions is critical to changing campus culture.
A Pact with Students
Rather than preaching abstinence or moralizing behavior, Bobby offers students a pact: he’ll give them the truth without judgement, and in return, they’ll walk away with tools to make better decisions for themselves and their peers.
He emphasizes that substance use isn’t inherently good or bad—what matters are the consequences, motives, and contexts behind it. Whether a student drinks to feel accepted, to relax, or to cope with stress, Bobby helps them understand how those reasons affect outcomes.
Empowerment Through Education
At the heart of Bobby Gordon’s message is empowerment. When students understand how alcohol and drugs affect them biologically, emotionally, and socially, they become more equipped to:
- Set personal boundaries
- Recognize risky behaviors in themselves or others
- Make decisions rooted in their own values, not peer pressure
Moving the Conversation Forward
The goal isn’t just to prevent harm. It’s to replace stigma with understanding. Fear with facts. And silence with open, honest dialogue.
At CAMPUSPEAK, we believe in creating space for conversations that matter. Bobby Gordon’s approach offers a fresh, effective lens for addressing alcohol and drug use on campus—one that centers the student, respects their autonomy, and invites them into lasting change.