ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL
WHITE PAPER

Introduction

“Alcohol is far and away the top drug of abuse by America’s teens. Children under the age of 21 drink 19.7 percent of the alcohol consumed in the U.S.” --Joseph A Califano, Jr.

The use and abuse of alcoholic beverages by University students has long been recognized as part of the University environment. Scenes of students carousing are seen so frequently in literature and the arts that they have become stereotypes. Images of young men and women drinking while socializing and viewing athletic events in public or at home are commonplace in television and print media advertising. Drinking is portrayed in ads as an enjoyable, harmless diversion among confident, active, happy, sexually attractive adults. These people seem successful and fulfilled. Who would not want to be like them?

These images do not transfer appropriately to the college environment. College students are just coming into their own as they discover and explore many interests and possible futures, while developing the skills and knowledge to pursue those interests. The majority of college students are below the legal drinking age of 21; those who drink often do so privately behind closed doors, or in large groups where personal anonymity is assured. In some communities enforcement of the legal drinking age is lax. Drinking is viewed as a milestone on the path to adulthood, and getting drunk at parties, dances and football games is what everyone does. After all, the reasoning goes, drinking is just good fun, and except for a few headaches afterwards there is no harm done.

In recent years, researchers and organizations have begun to systematically examine these behaviors. Dr. Henry Weschler of the Harvard School of Public Health, The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institute of Health, Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention of the US Department of Education, and the Core Institute at Southern Illinois University are some of those who have made significant recent contributions to the study of alcohol and other drug use by college students. Their research shows that high risk abuse of both alcohol and drugs is more pervasive than expected among underage students, and college students in general. (High risk drinking, also termed binge drinking, is defined as having five drinks at one sitting for a male or four drinks at one sitting for a female.) Forty-four percent of all college students engage in high risk drinking at least once every two weeks, and 23 percent of all college students engage in high risk drinking at least three times every two weeks. Illegal drinking by minors and high-risk drinking by adults accounts for one-half of the total sales of alcoholic beverages in the United States each year. Alcohol abuse on university campuses is not a minor problem.

The challenge facing universities and their surrounding communities is multidimensional, with educational, social, and environmental components. Unlike other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, or ecstasy, alcohol is both legal and socially acceptable when used in moderation (two drinks per day) by adults. It is associated culturally with times of celebration and happiness. Changing attitudes and perceptions of alcohol and other drug abuse are as essential to reducing abusive behaviors as consistent regulatory enforcement, sound policymaking efforts, or interventions for troubled individuals. Research has shown that a global, collaborative approach involving all groups touched by alcohol and other drug abuse is the most effective strategy to combat that abuse. We believe the efforts of the Alcohol and Drug Advisory Committee will contribute to enhancing the total student experience at Sonoma State University in positive ways.

Why the Council was Started

“…the College Task Force of the National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Alcoholism…found that 44 percent of college students binge drink biweekly and 23 percent have binged on three or more occasions in the past two weeks. The Task Force set out the resulting annual human carnage of 1,400 deaths, 500,000 injuries, 600,000 assaults and more than 70,000 sexual assaults among college students.” --Joseph A Califano, Jr.

Like many Universities, SSU has historically been aware of the negative impact alcohol abuse can have on the campus community. Various programs have been implemented to address aspects of alcohol and other drug abuse. SSU received a FIPSE grant in the mid-1980’s to initiate a program in the area of Alcohol and Other Drug education. The Craving Ecstasy Lecture Series was founded during the late 1980s and has received support from the Student Affairs Office, the Psychology Department and the Sociology Department. This popular class has given many students a chance to examine addictive behavior and substance abuse issues. The Committee on Wellness and Health Promotion (CWHP) was created to in 1994 to promote individual and community wellness, and to assess and meet campus needs concerning promotion of healthy lifestyles and health education. The CWHP sponsors the Health and Wellness Faire annually each spring, at which healthy lifestyle options are promoted. Staff from the Office of Residential Life have offered students drug- and alcohol-free entertainment options for years, and several Residence Halls have been designated as drug and alcohol-free environments. The Alcohol and Drug Program (ADEP), coordinated by Tammy Cotter, has grown beyond offering alcohol and other drug counseling for student violators of substance abuse policies to educational trainings in Freshman Seminar classes and support for expanded peer mentoring efforts.

In November 2000, after an alcohol-related student death at Chico State and incidents of alcohol poisoning at San Diego State, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed appointed a system wide committee to review CSU alcohol policies and prevention programs. In July, 2001, this committee made its report to the CSU Board of Trustees, which accepted the report and approved its recommendations on July 11, 2001. These recommendations included a requirement for each CSU campus to adopt, actively apply, and consistently enforce comprehensive alcohol policies and programs; the creation on each campus of an alcohol advisory council which develops, reviews and assesses effectiveness of campus programs and goals; the development of effective training, intervention and treatment programs and devotion of sufficient resources to ensure effectiveness of programs and policies; and the preparation of a report to the Trustees every two years assessing the outcomes of campus alcohol education and prevention programs. SSU responded to the Trustees’ instructions by creating the Alcohol and Drug Advisory Council, to be chaired by Vice President for Student Affairs Rand Link. The Council was funded by an initial $25,000 grant from the Chancellor’s Office, which was matched by a $25,000 award from the SSU budget. The Council held its first meeting November 14, 2001, and adopted this mission statement: “To promote the well being of our students by creating an environment within SSU and the surrounding community that supports informed, lawful, and safe decision making regarding alcohol and other drug use.”

Who is Involved

“Colleges and universities are in a unique and difficult position when it comes to dealing with student’s use of alcohol. By the time they enter college, many young people have been drinking for years, albeit illegally. In addition to established drinking patterns, many students bring to campus strongly held expectations that drinking alcohol is an integral part of the college experience and the belief that to do so is their right…As one student explained in an interview, of all the things he was told to expect about college, he heard the most about beer…” –Dr. Patricia A. Fisher

The Alcohol and Drug Advisory Council has drawn its diverse membership from many different groups, both on and off campus. The Council includes staff and administrators from SSU representing Student Affairs, Judicial Affairs, the Office of Campus Life, Residential Life, the Alcohol and Drug Education Program, Analytical Studies and Planning, the Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Police Services, Risk Management, Entrepreneurial Services, and Athletics. Faculty members from the Criminal Justice Administration, Kinesiology, and Business Administration Departments serve on the Council. SSU students representing the Associated Students, the Inter Fraternity Council, Panhellenic, the Alcohol and Drug Education Program, and SAFE, the student peer education organization, regularly attend meetings. The community has been represented by members from the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, the Sonoma County Adult and Youth Development organization (SCAYD), the Cotati-Rohnert Park School District, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Department, the Drug Abuse Alternative Center, and the Orenda Center.

ADAC has a chairperson and four standing committees. The Council meets monthly on the afternoon of the second Wednesday of each month during the academic year. All interested faculty and students are invited to attend.

Chair: Matthew Lopez-Phillips, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and ESAS

Assessment Sub Committee:
Chair: Dr. Rose Bruce, Associate Vice President, Analytical Studies and Planning
Charge: To design and implement assessments of SSU student patterns of alcohol and other drug use and perceptions. To design and implement ongoing assessments of the effectiveness of programs that respond to alcohol and substance use and abuse by members of the SSU community.

Campus and Community Relations Sub Committee:
Chair: Dr. Nate Johnson, Senior Director of Police and Parking Services/Chief of Police
Charge: To create and maintain dialogue with the surrounding community (residents, community organizations, and local government) concerned with alcohol and other drug-related problems by coordinating and strengthening our educational, enforcement and compliance efforts. To identify and advocate for long term, collaborative, prevention-focused initiatives by the stakeholders.

Education and Prevention Sub Committee:
Co-Chairs: Heather Howard, Director, Office of Campus Life, and Michael Daine, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services
Charge: To design and implement coordinated and integrated campus programming designed to reduce alcohol and other drug related unlawful and high risk student behavior. To develop effective training, intervention, and treatment programs related to these issues for the SSU community.

Policies and Enforcement Sub Committee:
Chair: TBD
Charge: To review and recommend campus policies regarding the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. To recommend procedures and enforcement initiatives required to maintain University compliance with campus, system, state, and federal policies and laws. A review of campus policies and procedures regarding the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs will be an initial undertaking of this subcommittee.

Methodology

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Strategies

• Information Dissemination. Increasing knowledge and changing attitudes about substance use and abuse through activities such as classroom discussion and media campaigns.
• Prevention Education. Teaching participants important social skills such as drug resistance and decision making.
• Alternatives. Offering opportunities for participation in developmentally appropriate drug-free activities to replace, reduce, or eliminate involvement in substance-use-related activities.
• Problem Identification and Referral. Recognizing individuals with suspected substance use problems and referring them for assessment and treatment.
• Community-based Processes. Expanding community resources dedicated to preventing substance use and abuse through activities such as building community coalitions.
• Environmental Approaches. Promoting policy changes that reduce risk factors and preserve or increase protective factors such as stepped-up enforcement of legal purchase age for alcohol and tobacco products.

The Alcohol and Drug Advisory Council serves as liaison between the individual efforts of campus and community organizations, and as a source of connection and information between them. As such it fosters collaboration between the programs of these groups, provides opportunities for assessment of their effectiveness, and provides guidance as needed for future efforts. Campus activities being supported include:

• Peer education efforts on the Sonoma State campus are organized around the efforts of the student organization SAFE, the Student Advocates for Education. Student peer mentors attend the Foundations of Leadership class, and receive additional training in peer mentoring techniques. Peer mentors are available to make presentations for Freshman Seminar classes, at programs in the Residential Community, and during events such as the Safe Spring Break Week and the Health and Wellness Faire.
• Residential Life programming has many events which promote healthy alternatives to alcohol and other drug consumption. For example, at some events “mocktails” are served, non-alcoholic substitutes for alcoholic beverages. Several of the residence halls are substance free, where students pledge to abstain from use of alcohol and drugs. The Office of Residential Life co-sponsors many campus events, such as Welcome Week, Safe Spring Break Week, and Alcohol Awareness events.
• The Alcohol and Drug Advisory Program (ADEP) collaborates with SAFE, the Office of Residential Life, and the Student Health Center on educational efforts concerning alcohol and other drugs. ADEP also administers marijuana and alcohol education programs for student violators of SSU’s Alcohol and Drug policies. Less serious offenses are handled in on-campus educational sessions. More serious violations are referred to the professional staff at the Drug Abuse Alternative Center (DAAC) in Santa Rosa for more intensive assessment and treatment options.
• The Core Drug and Alcohol Survey has been administered by the Office of Analytical Studies and Planning in 1997, 1999, and 2002. The most recent surveys have been funded by ADAC. The data collected is analyzed to establish baseline data on drug and alcohol attitudes and usage at SSU, to assess effectiveness of current drug and alcohol programming, and to refine future programming to target specific, high-risk behaviors and groups showing a high incidence of high-risk behaviors. The most recent Core results show that male and female student athletes, and fraternity members are more likely to engage in high-risk drinking behaviors; they will be among the specific targets of forthcoming social marketing campaigns.
• Council members have obtained funding to extend the work of the Council. The Vice President for Student Affairs Office applied for a grant from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety of approximately $53,000 to fund a social marketing campaign to reduce high risk drinking behaviors and incidents of drunk driving on campus, and an assessment to determine the effectiveness of this campaign. SSU was one of eight CSU campuses selected for the award. Concurrently, the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control issued $50,000 mini-grants to both the Cotati and Rohnert Park Police forces to assist them in increasing enforcement of laws forbidding serving alcohol to minors in the local communities.

Goals to Be Accomplished
“Sonoma State University has the responsibility to provide a healthy environment where the use of alcohol and other drugs does not interfere with learning. To that end, the University is committed to maintaining a campus environment that makes abuse of alcohol and the use of illegal, controlled, and harmful drugs an unacceptable behavior.” --SSU Philosophy Statement on Drugs

The goals of the Alcohol and Drug Advisory Council have been formally summarized in the Council’s Vision Statements. These are:

SSU will have a campus community environment where:

• The majority of faculty, staff, students, and other campus constituents are aware of and support the mission of the SSU Alcohol and Drug Advisory Council.
• Our faculty, staff, and students are fully informed of SSU campus policies and state and local laws regarding alcohol and other drug use and are aware of the scholastic, legal, and social problems related to alcohol and other drug use.
• Our faculty, staff and students are collaborating with community groups in efforts to make the community safe and healthy for all citizens including our students.
• Our campus Alcohol and Other Drug policies are designed with student input to be comprehensive and consistent using the latest research and a regular review process that includes evaluating the effectiveness of the procedures and strategies being utilized to enforce these policies.
• Our parents and students, including incoming freshmen, are fully informed of the SSU campus policies and state and local laws regarding alcohol and other drugs use and they are aware of the consistent enforcement efforts and consequences related to those policies and laws.
• An increasing percentage of our students will choose not to binge drink or engage in other high risk drinking behaviors and that scholastic, legal and social problems related to alcohol are relatively rare.
• Early identification, intervention, and treatment are readily available for students who are finding it difficult to address alcohol and other drug related issues and problems.
• There are frequent reminders in all forms of the campus and local media about the actual drinking behaviors of our students, and the real consequences students and the community experience as a result of alcohol problems.
• Recreational and extracurricular activities that are alcohol and other drug free are abundant, actively promoted, and well utilized.
• All appropriate departments at SSU are involved in a comprehensive effort to change the perception of high school students regarding alcohol and other drug use in college.

Accomplishments to Date:
“When you get down to it, underage drinking to excess has a negative effect on everything we’re trying to do as a university. It compromises the educational environment, the safety of our students (both high-risk drinkers themselves and other students hurt by their actions), the quality of campus life, town/gown relationships, and our reputation.” --Dr. Judith Ramaley, Former President, University of Vermont.

During the two years of its existence the Alcohol and Drug Advisory Council has successfully accomplished several significant tasks.

• ADAC has successfully fostered and maintained collaboration between diverse campus and community groups: Sonoma County Department of Health Services, The Cotati-Rohnert Park School District, local professional agencies such as Sonoma County Adult and Youth Development (SCAYD), the Drug Abuse Alternative Center (DAAC) and Orenda Center, and enforcement agencies such as the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, SSU Police Services, and Cotati and Rohnert Park Police Services.
• On April 15, 2002, ADAC sponsored SSU participation in the teleconference "Alcohol Intervention in College Communities." The teleconference included descriptions of successful strategies and best practices from Universities around the United States in combating alcohol and other drug abuse. Successful environmental and social marketing approaches were described. Participants stressed the value of collaboration between Universities and their surrounding communities to successfully oppose beliefs and behaviors supporting alcohol abuse.
• In April 2002 the CSU held its first annual Alcohol Advisory Councils Education Conference. SSU was represented by 5 Council members including representatives of SSU’s Alcohol and Drug Education Program and the Drug Abuse Alternative Center. They facilitated a workshop, “Working Together Works,” illustrating the collaborative educational approach ADEP and DAAC take with serious drug and alcohol abusers. The workshop received many positive remarks from conference attendees as feedback
• ADAC has supported evaluation of the Core Survey administered in 1999, and the most recent survey conducted in 2002. The results indicate that, in nearly every case, self-reporting for percentages of high risk behaviors with alcohol and drugs by students at SSU mirrors the national statistics collected by the Core Institute at Southern Illinois University. Surveys also show that students erroneously believe that SSU approves of student alcohol consumption, and that the average student consumes significantly more alcohol and marijuana than is actually the case. This data provides a useful point of departure for future social marketing campaigns.
• Council members successfully negotiated a liquor license agreement with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and representatives of a 7-Eleven Market under construction directly across East Cotati Boulevard from the Residential Community. Restrictions were accepted on the license to limit sales of alcoholic beverages to between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, to limit size of beer containers to 22 oz. and below, to eliminate all alcoholic beverage advertising from the exterior of the building, and to forbidding loitering and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the parking lot surrounding the building.
• ADAC members were awarded a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety to support social marketing campaigns to reduce student high risk drinking behaviors, and to combat drunk driving. Members also supported successful mini-grants received by the Cotati and Rohnert Park Police Departments from the ABC.
• Council members participated in the Youth Alcohol Access Community Meeting, held March 13, 2003. This meeting addressed alcohol abuse by minors in the Rohnert Park area; students, educators, health professionals, representatives from local and county government, police officials, and representatives from the ABC were in attendance. Two speakers outlined the problems associated with youth access to alcohol, and the participants agreed to focus on educational efforts targeting student hosts of parties, and increased enforcement efforts for sales of alcohol to minors. Participants will meet next year to assess results.
• The Council Steering Committee composed of the Council chair and sub committee chairs met during Spring 2003 with a consultant provided by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs in order to develop a strategic plan for the work of the Council. This planning process led to the council’s adoption of its Mission and Vision Statements.

Related Links

Committee on Wellness and Health Promotion

Alcohol & Drug Advisory Council

Alcohol & Drug Education Program