Alcohol and Drug Education Programs
a. General Description
Student Life Alcohol and Drug Education Programs (ADEP) serves Texas
A&M University students. To proactively address issues of campus alcohol abuse, ADEP
coordinates campus-wide events as well as provides presentations, training, and
consultation on alcohol and other drug issues. Early intervention, recovery support, and
referral services are available to address individual student problems related to alcohol
and other drug abuse. Staff research and evaluate student drug use, and investigate
specific problems associated with alcohol and other drug abuse. Resource development and
dissemination helps provide the University community with factual, up-to-date information
concerning alcohol and other drug abuse issues.
b. Target Audience
- Texas A&M University students
- Friends and family members of students experiencing alcohol and other drug abuse issues.
- Staff, faculty, and student leaders who interact with students experiencing alcohol and
other drug abuse issues.
c. Delivery of Services and
Programs
Drug Prevention Presentations:
- Alcohol and Drug Education Programs proactively addresses issues of campus alcohol
abuse. Staff coordinate campus-wide events as well as provide presentations, training, and
consultation on alcohol and other drug issues. Special training and programs have been
developed specifically for First Year Students at Texas A&M. Prevention education and
presentations are directed to the entire campus community. Speakers provide group
discussions for campus organizations and classes on illicit drugs and alcohol abuse.
Additionally, ADEP coordinates and participates in campus-wide events to proactively
address issues of campus alcohol abuse. These programs are directed toward all Texas
A&M University.
Early Intervention Services:
- The coordinator of Student Life Alcohol and Drug Education Programs holds licenses and
certifications appropriate to alcohol and other drug abuse evaluation, diagnosis and
clinical counseling. To address student problems with alcohol and other drugs, four levels
of intervention have been developed. The first level is an informational class called Alcohol
101. The second level, Alcohol Education Workshop, is a more intense,
two-session workshop followed by a Substance Abuse Screening Inventory. The third level
consists of full evaluation by the coordinator. If the student has an existing alcohol or
other drug addiction, the fourth level of intervention consists of an evaluation of the
student’s ability to function. If the addiction clearly negates the student’s
ability to function effectively at this University, the coordinator gives direct referral
for treatment.
Referral Services:
- Students and staff who request or require treatment that goes beyond the scope of ADEP
receive referral services. Parents of students who have issues of abuse or addiction
receive referrals to support resources such as Al-anon, Nar-anon, etc.
Counseling:
The coordinator provides counseling to students in the following
circumstances:
- Faculty, staff, other students, self, or the judicial system refer students to evaluate
the existence of alcohol and other drug abuse or addiction.
- Law enforcement, emergency medical services, or Student Conflict Resolution Services
refer students involved in an alcohol and or drug incident.
- Students who are suffering or have suffered from the abuse of alcohol and other drugs
personally.
- Students who are suffering from the behavior of alcohol and other drug abusers.
- Student athletes who violate the University Athletic Department policy concerning use or
the screening process for alcohol and other drugs.
Training and Consultation:
- Faculty and staff (most notably residence hall staff) are trained on basic
identification and referral issues to assist in early identification of students who
exhibit symptoms of alcohol and other drug.
- Professional consultation is provided to faculty, staff, and students who have concerns
about students they contact. The concerned individual receives focused information which
may result in intervention and treatment for the student.
- Additionally, ADEP collaborates with Gender Issues Education Services in providing the
Peer Education Program, a formalized training of student staff in very basic prevention
and intervention techniques. These trained students form a core of peer role models for
the student body.
Resource Development and Dissemination:
- A major focus is to provide the University community with factual and current
information concerning alcohol and other drug abuse issues.
- Legal information, health information, resources, and policies are updated annually in
the following publications: Class Schedule, Whoop!Start (new student handbook),
Official University Calendar, Parent’s Handbook, and Residence Hall Staff
Manual.
- Available for student use is a resource library which includes comprehensive educational
materials on alcohol and other drug related issues. Frequently students working on speech
projects, media, political science, social science, education, or health-related studies,
use these library resources. Additionally, student leaders and residence life staff use
the library resources for their training and programs. Resource materials include: files,
journals, newsletters, books, videos, cassettes, slides, and posters. A new resource used
for education and adjudication purposes is a computer station with CD-ROM that provides
interactive alcohol education.
d. Marketing of Services and
Programs
- Letters are sent out each year to Deans, Department Heads, and Faculty concerning
programming and referral services.
- Brochures and publications.
- Battalion ads (campus newspaper), articles, Hallabaloo (Residence Hall
Newsletter), the Other Education Newsletter.
- Banners (street banner in Bryan, vinyl and paper banners for campus buildings and for
outdoor events).
- Display cases in Memorial Student Center (MSC), Evans Library, Harrington Education
Center, YMCA building.
- Use of student organization listservs for promoting campaigns or events.
- Hot air balloons, promotional items (T-shirts, squeeze balls, Frisbees, sunglasses,
beach balls, lollipops, stadium cups, buttons, stickers, pens, pencils), crash car
displays, posters.
- Press releases to The Battalion (campus newspaper), The Bryan/College Station
Eagle (community newspaper), and Aggie Hotline (University listserv).
- Public service announcements and guest appearances on radio and television.
- Website registration and links (Links to ADEP website on University homepage, various
governmental websites, national alcohol and other drugs abuse prevention websites, and
alcohol and other drugs information websites. Registered with major search engines).
- The introduction and conclusion sections of all presentations made by ADEP and programs
highlight referral services and library resources.
e. Collaborative Efforts
Intradepartmental Collaboration:
- Gender Issues Education Services (Collaborative programs, development of Aggieland, A
Community of Respect program for New Student Conferences, training for student
organizations, and Co-Advise peer educator training).
- Greek Life (Greek organizations prevention programs).
- Student Conflict Resolution Services (Collaborative programs, recovery support, referral
for treatment, Judicial Board training, educational workshops and community service for
adjudication).
- Services for Students With Disabilities (Americans with Disabilities Act issues for
recovering students, cross referrals).
University Collaboration:
- Academic Programs (curriculum infusion, service learning projects, guest speakers,
resource library for lectures, debates, papers, projects).
- Student Activities (Collaborative programs, policy development, advisor training).
- Texas Aggie Bonfire (alcohol awareness programs, community service projects).
- Student Government Traditions Council (Ring Day, Elephant Walk, Bonfire Alcohol
Awareness Committee)
- Alcohol and Drug Studies in the Department of Safety Education (referrals, legal
updates, training, policy development, curriculum development, peer-education program).
- Athletic Department (Student-athlete drug screening, drug policy programs: evaluations,
education, treatment, and referrals).
- Student Counseling Services (Dual diagnosis, cross referral, staff training).
- Student Health Services (Emergency Medical Services calls, staff training, cross
referrals).
- Association of Former Students (Ring Day resource tables)
- Center for Academic Enhancement Leadership Training Classes (Part of curriculum for each
class).
- Corps of Cadets (Classes for Drill & Ceremony seniors, seniors unit programs,
referrals).
- Financial Aid (Drug Free Schools Act, audit).
- Human Resources (Employee Assistance Program, distribution policy, referrals).
- Multicultural Services Diversity Education (joint programming).
- Residence Life and Housing (Staff training, joint programming, and referrals).
- University Police Department Crime Prevention Unit (Referrals, co-programming, Laws,
policy enforcement, community issues).
Community Collaboration:
- Brazos County Adult Probation (student referrals for evaluation, recovery support,
referrals for treatment, community service).
- Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse (training, programming, guest
speakers, community issues, referrals, annual conference).
- Area Alcoholics Anonymous Programs (recovery support group for students, programming at
events, guest speakers).
- Brazos County Rape Crisis Center (cross referrals).
- Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority (Guest speakers, training, community issues).
- Scott and White Clinic (referrals).
- Systems Offices (Policy/Government, resource coordination among system campuses).
- Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission/Department of Transportation (Laws, policy
enforcement, joint programming).
f. Evaluation and
Assessment
Presentation Evaluations for ADEP and Peer 1 Educators:
- For each presentation, speakers obtain evaluation from those in attendance. This
evaluation information is used with literature review and alcohol and other drug research
for program development. Based on evaluations, presentations are modified and new
presentations are created to fit target audience needs.
Evaluation of programs/services:
- Special events include evaluation measures to gauge number of students reached and
assess whether objectives were achieved. Peer 1 has questionnaires that they randomly
distribute to see which types of programs students are interested in. These are
distributed in classes and at resource tables. Aggieland, A Community of Respect (at New
Student Conferences) goes through an extensive evaluation through an on-going project by
Measurement and Research Services.
Web Page comments:
- All e-mail questions and comments from ADEP Website are archived and used to improve
Website publications.
- Inventories to gauge demand for publication distribution. Staff continue regular
inventories of publications to determine need for reprints and to help gauge preferences.
Tracking library usage:
- Tallies of use of videos and books are kept to gauge preferences. Numbers of students
using library resources and whether students are doing presentations in classes or for
student organizations are tracked.
CORE Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use
Wechsler Study of Alcohol Use
g. Resources
Personnel:
- Senior Coordinator--Responsible for the operation of broad-based program of alcohol and
drug abuse prevention and supervision of program staff. Provide professional counseling
services to students who exhibit substance abuse problems. Involved in research and policy
development on issues related to substance abuse.
- Coordinator Campus-Wide Alcohol Education--Oversee the development and implementation of
educational programs, displays, and activities concerning alcohol and other drug abuse
prevention. Present programs and workshops, work directly with student groups in reducing
opportunities for alcohol abuse, and promote the availability of resources to students and
staff concerning alcohol abuse prevention. Work with professional and pre-professional
residence hall staff to train them in how to address alcohol issues in the university
living environment.
- Coordinator First Year Student Alcohol Education--Focus on providing programs and
outreach to first year students on issues surrounding alcohol and other drugs. Direct
outreach and advocacy to first year students through involvement in orientation,
leadership classes, and extended orientation programs. Serve as primary advisor to peer
education group. Co-teaches (with Gender Issue Education Services) Peer One Educators
class.
- Graduate Assistant--Assist Coordinators with direct student outreach. Develop campus
displays and advertisements about programs or issues related to mission of the office.
Make presentations to student groups and instruct the early intervention programs for
campus alcohol rule violators. Assist with campus surveys and research activities. Assist
in planning and implementation of campus special events and outreach efforts.
- Clerk III/Secretary--Primary contact concerning office functions. Coordinate office
administration, including purchasing, payroll and professional staff calendars. Register
and follow up on all sanctioned program attendees. Supervise two student workers. Schedule
meetings, programs and display reservations.
- Office Assistant/Student Workers(2)--Assist Secretary with day-to-day office functions.
Answer telephones, sort mail, maintain campus poster displays. Help with registration of
sanction class attendees. Make photo copies, send faxes, maintain resource library in
orderly fashion, and help students use computer information center.
Community resources:
- Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission, local law enforcement, and District
Attorney’s office provide assistance with programming. Also assist with educational
efforts (e.g., review publications concerning legal issues, respond to legal questions we
receive from students in presentations or through website).
- Texas Department of Transportation provides publications and programming resources.
- Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse-resource library provides videos
and other media resources for training ADEP staff and peer educators.
Grants or other income generating resources:
- Corporate sponsorship for programming (AT&T donates approximately $4500 annually)
- Community businesses donations for programming (up to $500 value)
- Mother’s Clubs donations for peer education programs
- Technology grant funding from Vice President Student Affairs office for Aggie Health
Ring (Website development for health-related entities on Texas A&M University campus)
Joint programs:
- Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse-joint programs: Building Bridges
Conferences each spring.
- 1998, Spring Semester -- Public Health Campaigns Concerning Alcohol Issues on Campus.
Curriculum Infusion Project. Designing Health Messages--Speech Communications 460. College
Station: Texas A&M University.
- 1997, Summer Session -- Service Organization Program Review—Assessment of
Campus-wide Alcohol Education Programs. Curriculum Infusion Project. Use of Public
Relations Case Studies--Journalism 356. College Station: Texas A&M University.
Affiliated centers:
- BACCHUS & GAMMA Peer Education Network
- Central Texas Drug Prevention Consortium
- AIDS Services of the Brazos Valley
- Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance
- Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse Recovery for Adolescents Program
(RAP)
- National Red Ribbon Rally and Campaign
- Texas A&M University System Peer Education Consortium
Cooperating institutions:
- Formal Cooperative Relationship
- National Group Rides and Designated Drivers (GRADD)
- Join Together Online
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Partnerships Against Violence NETwork
- The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention
- The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Receive Substantial Resources from these Institutions:
- National Health Information Center
- Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
- Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
- National Criminal Justice Reference Service-Drug Policy Information
Clearinghouse:
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Data Archive
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- The National Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network
- The National Women's Health Information Center
- The Office of Minority Health Resource Center
h. Primary Obstacles
- ADEP budget cannot compete with the large advertising and marketing budgets alcohol
distributors have available for media campaigns.
- Community offers incentives for students to make alcohol a social imperative (e.g.,
student organizations easily clear $300 by having events at bars).
- Optional orientation programs, such as Fish Camp and T-Camp, are student-run
organizations. Organization leaders do not perceive the need for alcohol education
programs at their programs or for alcohol education training for their student staff.
- Residence Life education classes and staff training are not well coordinated to
incorporate adequate information. High turnover in the areas of Residence Life, Career and
Academic Enhancement, and Student Activities complicates staff training needs.
- Networking on a large campus makes it more difficult for program collaboration and
events scheduling
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