'Women on Wednesdays'

JOHNSON CITY (Feb. 7, 2018) – “Alcohol 101” is the topic to be addressed by counselor Loren Biggs in the “Women on Wednesdays” lecture series at East Tennessee State University on Feb. 21.

This free public talk, the sixth in this 2017-18 lecture series sponsored by ETSU’s Women’s Studies Program, will begin at noon in the presentation room of the Multicultural Center on the second floor of the D.P. Culp University Center.  A light lunch will be provided.

Though alcohol consumption is widespread in today’s culture – be it “happy hours,” “bottomless mimosa” brunches and other occasions – some who choose to drink do not learn to drink responsibly, according to Biggs, a counselor and coordinator of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Outreach in the ETSU Counseling Center.

In her talk, Biggs aims to provide basic alcohol education, addressing current trends in alcohol consumption both nationally and at ETSU.  She will speak on what a standard drink is, how many drinks one might safely consume and the benefits and risks of drinking.  She will also discuss how to recognize an alcohol emergency, how to know if someone is a problematic drinker and where and how to get help.

Biggs received her B.A. in English at Wake Forest University and her master of social work degree at Smith College School for Social Work.  In her work as ETSU’s AOD coordinator, she uses a biopsychosocially informed harm-reduction approach to educate students and community members about the choices they can make and resources they may access to support their academic, interpersonal and professional health and wellness.

The “Women on Wednesdays” series is designed to raise awareness about the research, scholarship and community engagement that women at ETSU are doing; to provide a venue where women on campus and in the community can discuss and support each other’s work; and to give students an opportunity to meet faculty who could become mentors for their studies.