17 Comments
Jan 30, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

I just watched it twice and I need to watch it more times. What a profound documentary and amazing course. Your comment about walking through an open air drug market where everything is free really struck me. When I instead try to picture parents bringing heroin and needles to tailgate at ND, I can’t - it really shows the double standard with alcohol and “drugs.” Its nice to dream about starting these teachings at young ages (way before college) and kids teaching their parents this approach to alcohol and requesting their parents to quit drinking the way kids of our generation learned about smoking and requested their parents quit smoking.

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Right, but also opiates used to normalized; there was a period of time where you could get it anywhere and it was normal to use. The part that gives me the most hope is the same part that stresses me out; it's a construct.

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Jan 30, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

Wonderful. I am a high school teacher and I would love to be able to offer a course like this. I am going to show this to as many teachers and admin that I can find. Thank you for your work on this. The young man at the end talking about his problem with alcohol just broke me. We have to better as a society with all of this.

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YES! So simple to use education vs. scare tactics.

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Jan 30, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

This is amazing. After growing up as a child of a card-carrying member of AA and a little bit of a “square” teetotaler in high school, I jumped into the party school culture at Arizona State with both feet. It took me until my mid-30s (and the help of your writing, especially QLAW!) to see the truth and shake off the misconception that “alcoholism is a disease” for some people but makes everyone else have super lots of fun!!!! I wish this course had been available at ASU - it should be required at the beginning of sophomore year, IMO.

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It shocked me to see the level of false security because of that binary and other ideas like, you don't form a problem until after college, etc. I take what I've learned for granted, a lot. xx

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Mar 3, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

OMG I just watched this and it was excellent. I work at a peer institution/private university and I'll never forget talking to a few students about drinking one day during the height of 4Loko! Very important. Loved this. EVERY college should play this for their student body. Tailgating is something else!

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Agree and wish all of them would offer Ted's class! xx

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Firstly, it was just so good to see your face, your heart and hear your voice again. This is The Way Of Integrity and the work you have done is already changing the world in ripples and waves. My 15 year old daughter has learned what you have taught through me and her feelings and opinions are influencing her friends. None of them drink, none of them want to drink and they openly talk about how grateful they are that none of them want to drink. It's such a relief for them. And the legal age to start drinking (with parental supervision) here is 14. The legal age to start purchasing your own wine and beer here is 16. Hard liquor 18. We do still have a long way to go but the tide is turning and the momentum in gaining mass. Just look at how much has changed from when you first started with Hip? Just the fact that that young man had the courage and the space, provided by his teachers and you, to tell the truth is a HUGE leap forward. That just would not have happened even 5 years ago. I love you.

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Jul 12, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

So good hol x

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Jan 31, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

Very powerful and well-made film. I shared it with my college-aged sons. I sincerely hope it sparks a movement in other universities. My heart broke for the student who spoke up, I hope he gets the support he needs

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Didn't Clara do a great job? Yeah, I think this is an idea that will catch on.

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Jan 31, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

I cannot WAIT to watch this. I'm so thankful, and it is so good to see this will become more available to other educators. I wish all the time I had been better educated in high school. You are right. We have no idea what we are getting into with alcohol and it's not fair. Thank you, Holly!

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YES! xx

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Hi Holly! I'm a professor interested in bringing this to my school - do I email your substack email? Thanks so much. I hope this can spread to many institutions!

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Yep just respond to the email and I’ll forward to Ted!

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Jan 31, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

Done, I appreciate it!

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