Views From the Field

College is an exciting time of transitions, new experiences, responsibilities, and a lot more unstructured free time. For students in recovery from a substance use disorder, the overall collegiate environment can be frightening and isolating.

As Americans enjoy their summer vacations, the campus police chiefs and public safety directors serving our nation’s 4,200 colleges and universities are already turning their attention to the challenges their agencies will face in the new academic year.

In the Broadway musical Rent, during the song Seasons of Love, the cast sings of 525,600 minutes, and asks how do you measure a year in a life. 

Leaders should seek out proactive opportunities to educate colleagues about their responsibility to provide effective, evidence-based programs and services to students ahead of a crisis.

In 2016, according to one national study, Wilmington, North Carolina, was named as the city having the highest rate of opioid misuse in the nation. 

College and university campuses are unique environments when it comes to drug use, addiction, and treatment. 

In my work as a prevention professional, I have begrudgingly come to accept this as a reality that has fostered innovation on our campus. 

As our college and universities continue to diversify, so too must our methods for helping address substance abuse on our campuses. 

As you may know, being this is an even-numbered year, there is an expectation by the U.S. Department of Education that institutions of higher education will engage in a biennial review process, as required by the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act Regulations.

Within the last five years, two-year and four-year colleges and universities have increased their focus on increasing persistence and completion rates for college students.