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New project to combat underage drinking, drug abuse
UD’s Center for Counseling and Student Development will receive more than $1.2 million over three years through the federal grant program. UD President David P. Roselle announced the grant at a July 20 news conference in Hullihen Hall. The announcement of the new SAMHSA grant follows closely on the heels of the completion of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)-sponsored program, which provided UD about $1.1 million over 10 years to focus attention on the need for public policy changes and for a community and campus awareness-building campaign aimed at curbing high-risk alcohol abuse. Substance abuse is a well-documented problem on university campuses across the country, and the grant from SAMHSA, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will assist participating institutions with their efforts to reduce the health and social consequences of that abuse. Universities are expected to screen and refer students in need to appropriate treatment, utilizing either campus or community resources.
“A person’s life is shaped in late adolescence and early adulthood, and drug and alcohol abuse can seriously derail an individual’s emotional and social growth,” SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said in announcing the grants. “College and university health service centers provide an ideal setting to identify and intervene early with students who are abusing drugs or alcohol,” he said, adding, “Brief and early intervention can help keep students on track toward healthy and productive lives.” “The University of Delaware has been a national leader in addressing the problem of high-risk, or binge, drinking among young people as an important public health issue,” Roselle said. “It is clear that substance abuse by students continues to be one of the most difficult problems confronting our campuses, and we are pleased that SAMHSA has recognized the gravity of the situation and has provided funding to help colleges and universities better deal with the issue. “We’re also pleased that UD can continue in its national leadership role in attempting to come to grips with the problem,” he said. John Bishop, UD associate vice president for counseling and student development and professor of individual and family studies, said the SAMHSA grant is geared toward intervention and treatment. Bishop was project director of the RWJF-sponsored initiative at UD. “One result of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project was confirmation through regular evaluations that many UD students experience personal disruptions in their lives and academic careers as a result of the way they or others choose to use alcohol and illegal drugs,” Bishop said.“The new SAMHSA grant will expand UD’s capacity to educate students about the risks associated with substance abuse and to provide an expanded array of treatment options for those so identified,” he said. Nancy J. Nutt, director of the Wellspring Student Wellness Program and principal investigator for the grant, said UD has identified three specific goals for the funding:
Steve Martin, senior scientist with the UD Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies, said the fact that officials sought the grant shows that UD is aware of the problem and committed to providing appropriate assistance to students. “The awarding of this grant provides further evidence that the University of Delaware administration is well aware of the problems associated with the use of alcohol and illegal drugs and is putting resources in place to help students find good solutions,” he said. "I was very pleased to hear that the University of Delaware was a recipient of a SAMHSA grant to combat underage drinking and drug abuse,” Jack Kemp, director of Substance Abuse Services for Delaware Health and Social Services, said. “I think it is another example of the willingness of the UD president and administration to take pro-active steps to develop initiatives that will benefit both UD students and the Newark community. We look forward to assisting in any way that we can to help make this a resounding success." Other colleges and universities that received SAMHSA grants are the University of Arizona, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Hartford, the University of Hawaii, the University of Massachusetts, Bristol Community College in Massachusetts, Northeastern University, New Mexico Highlands University, the State University of New York at Albany, the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Tennessee. UD is the only institution that participated in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program to also receive a SAMHSA grant. UD’s place as a leader in the implementation of environmental and cultural changes that reduce the adverse effects of high-risk drinking was noted earlier this year by U.S. Navy Vice Admiral R.A. Route, the Naval Inspector General, after Navy staff visited campus in early May to learn more about dealing with such behaviors among young sailors. “We recognize that changing a deeply ingrained societal problem takes research and time,” he wrote in a letter following the visit. “The University of Delaware is to be commended for its commitment to establishing community partnerships, for reducing environmental risk factors and initiating long-term cultural changes.” Article by Neil Thomas To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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