Prevention Basics

Many of the essential elements to developing and implementing effective campus alcohol and other drug abuse and violence (AODV) prevention efforts are the processes by which one creates cultural—or “environmental”—change on a college campus. These processes are germane to much of the work in prevention and public health: building partnerships and coalitions, undertaking a strategic planning process that is informed by prevention science, and taking into account what others in the field are doing to address similar problems.

Strategic Planning

Many prevention professionals have fallen into the “activity trap.” They may feel pressure to take quick, visible action due to a recent unfortunate event or circumstance on campus. Looking at what a similar institution or others have tried, they may be tempted to try the same program. Rather than rushing into any specific activity, however, prevention professionals should undertake a carefully considered strategic planning process to ensure their efforts are appropriate and science-based and will result in outcomes that are likely to solve their specific problems. More…

Coalitions

The challenges of addressing alcohol and other drug abuse and violence problems on campus should not be taken on by any one person in isolation. Successful prevention requires building and nurturing relationships to gain the assistance and partnership of key stakeholders so that the resulting prevention efforts are well received and championed by others. Building a coalition of capable and knowledgeable allies also strengthens the prevention program, bringing to bear a greater breadth and depth of skills and perspectives than any one person can possess. A chief role of an effective campus prevention coordinator is mobilizing and organizing the campus and community and being a catalyst for change. More…

Research and Reports

A fundamental part of the process of adopting an effective approach is considering the research science to see what works. Since 2002, two major national reports have been issued to address the serious problem of alcohol abuse among young adults and college students. More…

Field Examples

While it is unwise to regard any single institution as a model to replicate—every campus is unique in both its characteristics and the nature of its problems in AODV—many good ideas and “for instances” can be derived from looking around to see what others have attempted in their prevention approaches. More…

The Center’s Prevention 101 Series

The Higher Education Center provides critical information to offer practitioners essential tools in many of the foundational processes and prevention approaches cited above. Termed the Prevention 101 series, these introductory publications address a range of topics, such as building coalitions, assessing problems, and evaluating prevention programs. More...