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Substance Abuse Prevention
Substance Abuse Prevention
Substance abuse can affect individual student retention, engagement, and academic success as well as the overall UW-Madison campus climate. UHS strives to cultivate an environment where high-risk drinking and drug abuse does not prevent a student from reaching their highest potential of intellectual, physical, and human development.
UHS utilizes the Spectrum of Prevention to create a comprehensive strategy that addresses complex societal issues such as alcohol abuse. We collect data to reduce risk factors, promote protective factors, and implement best practices. Utilizing these data, the UHS substance abuse prevention team collaborates with campus and community partners to implement and evaluate evidence-based policies, programs, and services in an effort to:
- Decrease high-risk alcohol use among UW-Madison students
- Decrease the negative consequences of high-risk alcohol use that affect the UW-Madison community
- Be a tobacco-free campus
- Change UW-Madison’s drinking culture
- Decrease other drug use among UW-Madison students
Policies and data
Students
UW-Madison Alcohol Statement
It is integral to our prevention efforts to send consistent alcohol messages to our campus community. The following message was crafted by university partners to communicate UW-Madison’s values around alcohol abuse prevention:
It is our mission at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to provide learning environments where all students can reach their highest potential.
Changing the culture around high-risk drinking is a priority. We recognize that everyone plays a role in promoting an environment that supports responsible drinking.
We define responsible drinking as legal and low-risk consumption.
Our data shows that the majority of students who drink doso at a moderate consumption level; some do not drink at all.
Students who choose to consume alcohol are impacted by a number of consequences, ranging from academics, well-being, and UW-Madison student status.
As a caring community, we encourage students to be active bystanders and intervene when they witness peers making high-risk choices around alcohol.
As we engage in partnerships for positive change we commit to effective evidence-based strategies that promote the well-being and safety of our students.
Faculty and staff resources
Contact Us
Please direct all media requests to UHS Marketing & Health Communications.
Jenny Damask, EdD
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Program Coordinator
608-265-4901
333 East Campus Mall
Madison, WI 53715
Reonda Washington, MPH, CHES
Alcohol and Other Drugs Prevention Coordinator
608-265-4163
333 East Campus Mall
Madison, WI 53715