Wake Forest recognized for alcohol and drug prevention programs

Wake Forest University is the recipient of the 2020 AFA/CoHEASAP Award for Outstanding Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program. This award annually recognizes an outstanding campus and/or inter/national organization for its efforts in broad-based alcohol/other drug prevention efforts and the impacts they have had. 

Wake Forest University received the award in recognition of its intentional sequencing of multiple initiatives over the course of Wake Forest students’ collegiate career. Recognizing that a single program is not likely to change the culture of an entire undergraduate campus, staff in the Office of Student Engagement and the Office of Wellbeing (as part of the University Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition) partnered to layer workshops, trainings, campaigns and that would be relevant to students at particular points in their time as a student. Staff considered what education and intervention students needed upon starting college, when they joined fraternities and sororities, and as they took on additional responsibilities in their student organizations/chapters. These programs include AlcoholEdu, Get Well-Oriented, Social Norms Campaigns, Bystander Intervention Training, Alcohol Skills Training Program, Training for Intervention Procedures, and Social Host Training. Customized assessments of these initiatives also provide coalition members with a better understanding of how to work with student leaders and organizations to reduce harmful behaviors. 

This award recognizes a multi-year effort of visioning, intentional design, and coordination between departments to address the complex social problem of alcohol misuse among students.  By layering preventive training at different stages of the student experience, using evidence-based practices as student conduct outcomes, and other educational and awareness initiatives we have realized significant reductions in alcohol-related medical transports.  We are grateful for this recognition of staff leadership and commitment, especially in the Offices of Wellbeing- Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention, Student Engagement, and Fraternity and Sorority Life.
– Dean Adam Goldstein, PhD.

Since the inception of the sequenced programming, the University experienced annual reductions in students needing evaluation and/or transport to the emergency room for the overconsumption of alcohol. In 2015-2016 – the baseline year before the augmentation of alcohol prevention programs – there were 155 students evaluated for over-consumption of alcohol and 86 needed transportation to the emergency room. In 2019-2020, there were 110 students evaluated for over-consumption of alcohol and 65 students needed transportation to the emergency room. This is a 29% decrease in the number of students evaluated and a 25% decrease in the number of students transported.

Originally formed in 1983 as the Inter-Association Task Force for Alcohol/Other Substance Abuse Issues (IATF), CoHEASAP (Coalition of Higher Education Associations for Substance Abuse Prevention) has served as the leading, independent voice on this critical student issue, and has represented a coalition of 20 different higher education associations for over 25 years. Throughout CoHEASAP’s history, National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW) has served as one of the most recognized and successful programs sponsored by CoHEASAP. CoHEASAP also sponsored a comprehensive NCAAW awards program with support from the U.S. Department of Education, the beverage industry, and federal and state government partners. To continue this legacy, the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors sponsors the AFA/CoHEASAP Award for Outstanding Alcohol/Other Drug Prevention Program. In order to be considered for the program, special consideration will be given to those applications that demonstrate the following:

•     Ongoing, comprehensive prevention efforts
•     Collaborative partnerships
•     Demonstrated program effectiveness (change in culture/behavior)
•     Creativity regarding student engagement

While campuses are eligible for this recognition on an annual basis, Wake Forest University is only the fifth campus to receive the AFA/CoHEASAP Award for Outstanding Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program over the past twelve years. 

Following the 2019 Everfi Impact Award for Excellence in Alcohol Prevention, this award solidifies Wake Forest’s position as a national leader in this field.