Results of a report by the New Mexico Higher Education Prevention Consortium on student use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs at seven state higher education institutions was released recently. The report, written by the UNM Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP), an on-campus program of UNM’s Center on Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, and Addictions (CASAA) and the UNM Student Health & Counseling Center, is the first-ever statewide survey of college alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) use in New Mexico.
“The report presents both positive and negative findings,” said John Steiner, COSAP Health Educator and the project’s director. “Many New Mexico college students who drink are choosing safe behaviors such as designated drivers and moderating their drinking. However, students also report behaviors often associated with serious consequences, academic problems and the development of continuing substance abuse problems that can negatively impact their post college lives.”
To view the report visit: College Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use in New Mexico.
The data presented in the report was conducted in fall 2008 via the New Mexico Student Lifestyles Survey developed at the University of New Mexico. It includes measures of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use behaviors and attitudes from more than 3,000 students at seven colleges from around the state.
The purpose of the report is to present New Mexico Student Lifestyles Survey data on ATOD prevalence, binge drinking, academic/other negative consequences associated with alcohol use, drinking and driving, underage access to alcohol, risky alcohol consumption locations and student protective behaviors. The report also features approaches to comprehensive ATOD prevention at institutions of higher education across New Mexico, and describes the history and work of The New Mexico Higher Education Prevention Consortium.
The consortium consists of five, four-year institutions including Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico State University, Western New Mexico and UNM. A pair of two-year institutions, including Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute and San Juan College also participated. The colleges and universities were selected based on geographical distribution, size, and diversity.
“An environment that supports healthy decision making and lifestyles is one of the keys to student success,” said Jill Anne Yeagley, COSAP Program Manager. “Binge drinking, DWI, and overconsumption all contribute to academic problems and should be considered in higher education’s retention efforts.”
“Addressing the alcohol and drug use of our young adults is to address the future prosperity of New Mexico,” added Steiner.
The grant and study date back to 2005 when the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (OSAP) issued a request for proposals for prevention programs aimed at reducing alcohol-related motor vehicle crash mortality among 15- to 24-year-olds. A 4.5 year grant in excess of $500,000 was awarded to UNM COSAP to fund a statewide higher education alcohol and other drug prevention coalition.
COSAP’s objectives in the grant were two-fold: first to support the formation and development of a statewide higher education consortium aimed at addressing ATOD use on New Mexico college campuses and second, to enhance prevention programming efforts at UNM. Grant funding for the consortium ends on June 30, 2010.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at February 4, 2010 04:30 PM