97-11-05 Alcohol Prevention Plan Unveiled

COMPREHENSIVE ALCOHOL PREVENTION PLAN UNVEILED AT OHIO STATE

     COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University will introduce its new
comprehensive alcohol and other drug prevention plan during an
open house Friday (11/7) at the Wilce Student Health Center, 1875
Millikin Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

     The plan, funded in September with $80,000 from a 0.5
percent tuition set-aside, will address cultural issues
surrounding student use of alcohol and other drugs, and will
commit to changing the campus culture and environment that
contributes to student use.

     “The goal is not to advocate zero tolerance or abstinence
but rather to provide a framework for a comprehensive prevention
plan which includes low-risk choices regarding alcohol,” said
Jacque Daley-Perrin, director of wellness programs.  “We want to
change the campus culture and create a healthier climate with
respect to alcohol and other drugs.”

     Low-risk alcohol use includes prevention of illegal alcohol
service to minors, reduced likelihood of intoxication and
prevention of alcohol-impaired individuals from causing harm to
themselves or others.     

     The plan places emphasis on environmental issues that
contribute to the campus culture rather than individual student
drinking behaviors.  It focuses on several components, including:

  environmental monitoring, assessment and evaluation --
  monitoring the number of drug- and alcohol-related
  disciplinary sanctions, referrals for counseling and
  treatment, police reports and the levels of use by students
  and employees; and the use of surveys to gauge use,
  consequence and perceptions of alcohol and drugs on campus.

  hospitality services and alliances -- collaboration of campus,
  business and community organizations to develop solutions to
  common alcohol and drug problems.

  social marketing -- conveying the message in the form of
  health information.

  education -- linking alcohol and drug prevention programs with
  other health-related prevention efforts, and encouraging
  academic areas to include an alcohol and other drug abuse
  course or component.

  faculty and student involvement -- supporting student
  advocates and mentors, and encouraging faculty to include the
  prevention message in the classroom through readings, studies,
  projects and discussions about alcohol and other drug abuse
  concerns.

     “The plan includes provisions that allow for faculty
involvement in prevention wherever possible, from weaving
awareness strategies into existing courses to taking five minutes
at the beginning of class to discuss alcohol awareness,” Daley-
Perrin said.  “We want to increase awareness from all angles to
make a cultural change in alcohol knowledge and use.”

     The plan also calls for continued expansion of the Get Real
Alcohol Coalition, a group of 27 campus and community members
that works to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug problems
in the neighborhood adjacent to and on the Columbus campus.

                            #

Contact: Jacque Daley-Perrin, director of wellness programs,
(614) 292-4527.


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Thu, 6 Nov 1997 09:02:15 -0500 (EST)]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.