Daily Forty-NinerThe OPTIONS program at Cal State Long Beach provides students
with opportunities to have fun together in positive, healthy ways, without
the presence of drugs or alcohol.
OPTIONS is an alcohol and other drug abuse prevention program which helps students meet others who are committed to the same ideals.
"Our focus on prevention is to get students who don't have alcohol or other drug abuse problems and help them to feel more connected and confident, helping them to feel less isolated," Shifra Teitelbaum, OPTIONS coordinator said. "Sometimes if all their friends drink or use then it's hard to decide otherwise."
Every Wednesday at 2 p.m. OPTIONS holds an organizational meeting, but the more informal gathering for personal growth, interaction and discussion is at 3 p.m. every Wednesday at Student Health Services, Room 266.
"People assume you're going to come in and yell at them...but (they) want to join something with a more positive angle," Teitelbaum said.
"There's sort of a sense (from students) that if I'm one of those people who drinks once a month or less, all of a sudden I feel like I'm part of this big group and if I don't know anybody else like that, then I'm obviously missing out on knowing those people," Teitelbaum said.
If there are doubts about joining the organization, Teitelbaum recommends attending the wellness and fun activities meeting at 3 p.m.
"We generally make a real effort to be inclusive and catch everybody up on everything," she said. Meeting activities and topics range from Pictionary to volleyball, bowling, stress management, body image and relationships.
Another facet of OPTIONS is its intern and leadership programs. Volunteers from all majors make up the core of the organization.
"We have a lot of students who stay with us for a long time who generally kind of grow in their leadership and responsibility," Teitelbaum said.
Interviews for next semester's interns will take place in April.
One major program OPTIONS sponsors is "Chill Out," taking place the last week of the semester to help students deal with the stress of finals. The program provides free massages, food and stress kits. "It's really solid," Teitelbaum said.
For more information, one may contact OPTIONS Program Assistant Johanna Johnson at (562) 985-8231 or visit the web site at http://www.csulb.edu/~options.
The Resource Center is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.