UM senior Luke Bell founded the Substance Awareness Club, an endeavor that had been in the works for nearly a year, following his own struggles with substance abuse. After taking a year off of school to seek treatment he is hoping to help others struggling with similar issues.
“I knew that I had some problems in that addiction field that were unravelling my life and making things kind of a living hell,” Bell said.
Through mentorship and rehabilitation, Bell got back on his feet and took charge of his life. The SAC has already hosted some impactful events in its short time as a club. This school year, Bell is looking to bring his experience to spaces where substances are typically normalized.
“A tailgate at the stadium, club meetings and a trivia night with the Rat,” Bell said. “It would be a lot of fun to rent out a venue, but have it be a sober hangout, where you don’t feel the necessity to drink.”
SAC is also working to partner with Verse, an alcohol alternative beverage company that was founded by UM alumni.
On Substance Awareness Day, Aug. 31, the SAC hosted an event in collaboration with F Fentanyl, another anti-substance student organization, to teach students about the dangers of the deadly drug and how to administer Narcan.
Narcan is a brand name for naloxone, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose like fentanyl. At Ultra Music festival this year, the Substance Awareness Club passed out Narcan to festivalgoers.
“Showing people how to use Narcan is huge,” Bell said.
Bell described distributing the Narcan and fentanyl testing strips in the pouring rain, but felt that it was worth it to save someone else’s life.
“It was well worth it because you think about whether or not you really saved lives, and it’s the thought that counts,” Bell said.
Along with being the club founder, he is also a mentor and considers himself an “older brother” to students who are looking to become sober. This summer, a worried father reached out to Bell concerning his son’s alcohol habits. Bell connected with the student to mentor him.
“I talked to this kid, fired him up and told him ‘you definitely don’t need alcohol to have fun.’”
Along with his on campus mentorship, Bell wants to reach a larger audience of people who are ready to get sober. Through fundraising, the SAC is looking to make recovery resources more accessible, especially for those who may not currently have the financial means.
“Another goal is to raise money for people who can’t afford rehab, and take that money and have it act as a scholarship fund.
Bell hopes the Substance Awareness Club can continue to inspire others and offer the support he once needed himself. He explained that during his struggles with addiction, a community like this could have made a difference.
“We take everyone, we’re an all inclusive club,” he said. “Sobriety has no boundaries in that sense, it’s just about wanting to learn.”
Bell wants others to be as excited about sobriety as he is.
“[Sobriety] is this whole thing that I’m stoked about. It’s like getting on a wave or hitting a golf club. It looks good on everyone, you just gotta put it on and wear it.”