The Rotary Club of Hudson will raise funds at its May 19th Gala Auction to help support an important new program offered by Hudson Community First to make all Hudson High School seniors aware of the challenges they may face upon entering college. Main topics addressed are anxiety/depression, binge drinking, drugs, date rape, fire safety and overall wellness.
 
                                
 
Cheryl Rauch and Laura Gasbarro, co-chairs of the new program, stated in a recent presentation to Rotary members that “it is difficult for high school students to leave the protective Hudson bubble and therefore it is Community First’s goal to provide a strategy for all graduating students to stay safe and healthy.” They are “glad to partner with Rotary in this important program for seniors.”
 
On April 11, all Hudson High School seniors were required to attend this college bound program which is part of the ongoing drug and alcohol education series, “No one Starts with Heroin.”
 
The topics addressed in workshop sessions were:
 
  • Anxiety and Mental Wellness.Anxiety is the top concern among college students, followed by depression and relationship problems. The number of college students diagnosed and/or treated for anxiety or depression has increased more than 10% over the past five years. Counseling centers say they are seeing an uptick in the number of students coming to college with long psychiatric histories.
 
  • Binge Drinking and Drugs.Heroin and prescription pain relievers take increasing numbers of young Ohio lives, including more than a dozen Hudson youths. College aged youths are abusing prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, illegal drugs such as Adderall, alcohol, cold medicines, OxyContin and medical marijuana. Binge drinking often begins around age 13 and peaks during the age range of 18-22.
 
  • Fire Safety and Other Safety Issues, including Date Rape.Firefighters respond to an average of 3,810 fires in college residence halls and Greek housing each year. According to FEMA, the vast majority of these sometimes fatal fires could have been prevented through awareness and education. Over 25% of college women report that they survived rape or an attempted rape at some point in their lifetime.
The Rotary Club of Hudson is the sponsor for this newly launched program and has committed to continue its support on an annual basis.
If you share concerns about these issues and would like to join The Rotary Club of Hudson in ongoing support of this all-day workshop for seniors, please consider attending the Gala Auction on May 19th or providing a gift to be auctioned that evening. Information about the event can be found at www.rotaryhudson.org or contact Co-Chairs Ron Strobl, 330-524-1955 or Gail Royster, 330-608-4647.
 
The attached photo features, from left to right; Cheryl Rauch, Co-chair Community First, David Basil, Rotary President; Laura Gasbarro, Co-chair Community First.