Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs Prevention Services Awarded $16,028 State Grant for Awareness Programs

Posted by: admin on August 1, 2012, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Prevention Services (ATOD) received a $16,028 grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to support alcohol and drug awareness programs on campus.

Among the programs funded by the grant are the Social Norms Campaign, which seeks to correct student misconceptions about drinking and drug use on campus; the Campus Sweep Enforcement Initiative, which will curb underage drinking by sending additional police patrols throughout campus during peak socializing times; and a Peer-to-Peer Education Program, which will raise awareness about alcohol and drug issues among students and present alternate solutions to illegal and dangerous behavior.

The ATOD office will work hand-in-hand with several other campus groups to bring these services to students, including University Health Services, the Student Activity Association, University Police, the Athletic Department, Residence Life, Student Affairs, and the Re-Invention Student Konnections (RISK) group.

“We are very excited to continue reaching out to students about the hazards of alcohol and drug use,” said Alyson Patascher, ATOD coordinator. “This funding will allow us to continue offering services that keep students healthy.”

The PLCB is committed to providing financial support to address underage and irresponsible alcohol consumption. These grants help fund prevention programs focused on underage and college-age consumption and support related law enforcement activities.

Since 1999, the agency has awarded more than $8 million in competitive grants to hundreds of community groups. ESU is one of 19 colleges and universities to receive a grant in this funding cycle.

ATOD seeks to use best practices to guide comprehensive efforts to reduce and eliminate dangerous underage drinking and the subsequent consequences experienced by ESU students. To that end, ATOD aims to inform students and arm them with honest knowledge to make better overall choices while in school and after graduation.

Please contact Alyson Patascher, ATOD coordinator, at (570) 422-3298 for more information.