Department of Education asks colleges to help curb drug use
The Department of Education is asking for the help of universities in conjunction with President Obama’s 2011 National Drug Control Strategy.
According to data published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in 2007, half of all full-time college students engage in drug abuse or binge drinking every month. Additionally, one in four of those students met the medical criteria for substance abuse or dependence.
The 2011 National Drug Control Strategy supports Obama’s goals of reducing illegal drug use by 10 percent within five years and having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.
In a letter to higher education institutions, DOE Director Kerlikowske and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan wrote:
The detrimental consequences of substance use on academic performance are significant and demonstrate why we must invest in prevention efforts among youth. About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking, including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades.
The strategy calls for more educational campaigns on college campuses, as well as early intervention for at-risk students. The Department of Education also plans to partner with collegiate recovery programs and student organizations to increase peer communication. The letter also lets colleges know about federal agencies that can assist in creating prevention programs on campuses.
Do you think these plans will have an affect on drug and alcohol abuse among college students?
