111_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soBpcZUdSf4_reducing drug use; following medical procedure
gpt
Hi, are you Katie?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Hi, my name is Beth. I'm the nurse that works with the nurse practitioner Mrs. Smith that you just saw. Do you have a moment to talk?
human
Uh, sure. What's this about?
gpt
I know you were here to get a prescription for birth control but while you were waiting to see Mrs. Smith, you filled out a healthy habits questionnaire-
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
-and you answered some questions about your marijuana use. Would it be okay if I asked you some questions about how marijuana plays a role in your life?
human
Sure.
gpt
I notice you use marijuana regularly, and I wanted to ask you more about that.
human
Well, you know they just decriminalized it in Virginia, it's not a big deal. I'm not in trouble, am I?
gpt
No. No, no, no. Not at all. Um, I just wanted to ask you how it helps you and how you use it. Can you tell me a little more about how you use it?
human
It's not a big deal. It's just like a couple times a week to relax.
gpt
Marijuana is really useful in your life in helping you relax?
human
Yeah. I mean, I'm here on an academic scholarship so I have to keep my grades up and I'm on the debate team, so there's a lot going on.
gpt
Mm. You're a very successful student and you have a lot of responsibilities, and it's really adding to your stress.
human
Well, yeah. The truth is I'm the first in my family to go to college so I don't know, I guess, I'm in a bit over my head.
gpt
Mm. You've been very successful academically and the transition to college has been hard for you.
human
I've always been an anxious person. Pot just helps me calm my nerves. I'm I in trouble?
gpt
I promise you, you're not in trouble, I wanna help.
gpt
Uh, tell me besides helping you relax, what are some positives about pot?
human
Well, some of these kids are just so much more sophisticated than me so I guess when I party with them, I feel like I'm fitting in. I don't know how else to explain it.
gpt
Hmm. Uh, when you use pot in a group you feel more at home with your peers and more accepted?
human
I don't know if I feel more accepted, more like I'm trying to fit in by using it.
gpt
So how is it working to help you fit in?
human
I'm not sure it is.
gpt
Mm. So smoking pot with your peers to try to fit in more but it doesn't seem to be making you feel more comfortable with your friends.
human
Uh, yeah.
gpt
What are some downsides to smoking pot?
human
I don't know. I- It helps me relax but I guess I'm nervous I'll get caught. Um, my parents would kill me if they knew that I smoked.
gpt
So smoking pot doesn't help you feel more socially comfortable with your peers and it increases your stress because you're worried about your family and legal consequences?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Can you think of any other downsides to smoking pot?
human
Well, I don't have the money for it. I just usually bum it off to my roommate, her parents give her a lot of spending money but I don't know, it's kind of embarrassing to have to do that.
gpt
So smoking pot also reminds you of your financial situation and you don't have extra cash to spend on things?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Katie, it sounds like smoking pot is helping you somewhat in helping you relax and it's also causing you a lot of stress because you're trying to use it to fit in and that's not helping, you're worried about getting caught, you're worried about family disapproval. Having said all that, what do you think you wanna do about your pot use?
human
I don't know. When you put it that way, it doesn't sound like a very good habit.
gpt
Would it be okay if I made a suggestion?
human
Okay.
gpt
You mentioned at the beginning of our conversation that you have a history of dealing with anxiety, have you ever talked to a counselor about that?
human
No. We don't do that kind of thing in my family.
gpt
Can you tell me more?
human
It's just not done. I don't know. It's something for crazy people and we definitely do not have the money for it.
gpt
Mm. So the idea of counseling in your family is for crazy people only and it's looked down upon and the cost would cause a problem too?
human
Yeah. I just don't see it happening.
gpt
Katie, we know that many kids come to college and have a lot of stress and deal with a lot of anxiety, and we've also found that when they talk to our counselors and learn specific skills about dealing with anxiety, they do much better. Um, and it's been really successful for a lot of kids. Um, I'm wondering if you think it might be helpful for you?
human
I don't know.
gpt
Can you describe why you're hesitant?
human
Well, I don't have the money for it so I can't pay for it and my parents wouldn't approve.
gpt
Well, the cost is free and the counseling services we provide, we are legally obligated to protect your privacy. We can't tell your parents. There are some exceptions to that privacy rule, including, uh, mostly if we're concerned about- that your safety.
human
What, like suicidal?
gpt
Exactly.
human
Uh, I would never do that.
gpt
Well, uh, we can go into some more specifics if you decide to see the counselor about what-what privacy rules there are, but for the most part, you wouldn't need to worry about us sharing anything with your parents.
human
Okay. I guess I'll think about it.
gpt
So, uh, if-if you're walking out now, I can walk out with you and just take you around our counseling center. I can even introduce you to one of the counselors.
human
Do I have to go there?
gpt
No. No, no. I just wanted to show you where it is and let- make sure you know about our resources here at the college.
human
Okay, sure. I agree, let's go.