State Leaders Convene to Tackle Challenge of College Alcohol Problems

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2005

Contact:

Center for College Health and Safety *
CCHS@edc.org

St. Louis, Missouri -- Increased enforcement of the age 21 drinking law, higher alcohol excise taxes, and restrictions to prevent youth-oriented alcohol advertising are among several strategies top alcohol experts and prevention specialists from 36 states will be discussing at today's Statewide Initiatives Leadership Institute.

The four-day event is the seventh in a series of national meetings involving leaders of statewide campus alcohol prevention initiatives, including policy advocates, state substance abuse and liquor control officials, and college and university staff. They meet to address the serious issue of college alcohol abuse, a problem that claims 1,700 lives annually.

Participants will celebrate the successes they have achieved in addressing the college alcohol problem, and will hear from states with data to support their alcohol prevention initiatives. In particular, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded “A Matter of Degree” program will present evidence on the effectiveness of changing the environment that supports high-risk alcohol use. Their use of this approach produced reductions in drinking rates and adverse consequences like falling behind in school work, getting hurt or injured, or drinking and driving.

This “environmental prevention” approach is further supported by recent evidence from the Harvard School of Public Health showing environmental prevention strategies significantly reduce both heavy alcohol consumption and its associated consequences. This approach requires top campus administrators to work hand-in-hand with local and state government officials and community leaders to limit alcohol sales to underage youth and eliminate irresponsible marketing practices by local bars, restaurants, and liquor outlets.

"The research literature makes it quite clear that trying to educate students about the ills of alcohol doesn't work,” states Laurie Davidson, associate director for the Center for College Health and Safety and director of the Campus Alcohol Prevention and Intervention project. “This new research from the 10 A Matter of Degree campuses adds to our understanding of what does work. Statewide initiative leaders must redouble their efforts to provide campuses the resources, skills, and tools to mount comprehensive prevention programs that center on efforts to change the campus and community environment.”

The Center for College Health and Safety's Campus Alcohol Prevention and Intervention project has conducted the Statewide Initiatives Leadership Institute since 2000. The Institute encourages and supports coordinated efforts aimed at changing state and local alcohol policy, increasing enforcement, and providing early intervention and treatment. This year's Institute will focus on targeting individual students at risk, linking campus alcohol prevention and violence prevention efforts, and sustaining momentum during times of diminishing resources.

“The biggest challenge for statewide college prevention initiative leaders is how to assist campuses in implementing proven strategies when their funding is being cut or eliminated,” Davidson said. “Research tells us that campuses that are involved in statewide efforts are more likely to use science-based approaches.”

Since 1996, the Center for College Health and Safety (CCHS) has worked to promote and sustain statewide and regional initiatives to support college alcohol and other drug prevention. CCHS currently assists 48 statewide initiatives. The Institute is generously supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The Center for College Health and Safety
The Center for College Health and Safety is a part of the Health and Human Development Programs of Education Development Center, Inc., an internationally known educational research and development organization located in Newton, Massachusetts. CCHS assists colleges and universities in developing, implementing, and evaluating prevention policies and programs that address a broad range of health and safety issues at institutions of higher education. The Center also conducts research to expand current knowledge about effective strategies to promote health and prevent alcohol, tobacco, drug use, violence, injuries, and high-risk sexual activity.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based in Princeton, N.J., is the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care. It concentrates its grantmaking in four goal areas: to assure that all Americans have access to quality health care at reasonable cost; to improve the quality of care and support for people with chronic health conditions; to promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and to reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse - tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

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* The Center for College Health and Safety (CCHS) conducts several activities funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that in the past have supported the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention. These grant activities were conducted under the auspices of the Higher Education Center, a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Starting in March 2004, all non-ED supported activities conducted by CCHS are no longer affiliated with the Higher Education Center. Please consider any mention of the Higher Education Center by name within materials developed under these previous activities with this in mind.