NEWPORT NEWS — Eight community organizations across the commonwealth, including Christopher Newport University, were recently awarded $60,627 in Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority Alcohol Education and Prevention grants to help reduce underage and high-risk drinking.
The selected organizations’ proposed projects will aim to prevent high-risk drinking and the devastating impact it can have on Virginia’s communities, Virginia ABC said. Grantees will reach audiences across all ages with the important message of prevention, including teens, college students and those recovering from domestic violence.
Christopher Newport’s $10,000 grant will establish a designated substance use prevention workgroup at the university under the Wellness Action Team for Captain’s Health, or W.A.T.C.H. Within the program, campus leadership will be trained in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Strategic Prevention Framework and best practices to address problematic alcohol consumption on campus, according to the authority.
“We are extremely appreciative to be awarded a grant by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to support a new effort focused on student wellness and alcohol safety and responsibility. Nationally, nearly half of all full-time college students ages 18-25 report drinking alcohol, and nearly 30% engage in binge drinking on a monthly basis (National Survey on Drug use and Health),” said Jill Russett, Associate Professor of Social Work.
“The Campus Wellness Action Team for Captains Health will help lead this project using student-centered approaches to reduce underage and high-risk drinking,” she added. “The grant will support year-round educational campaigns, guest speakers, wellness giveaways, and a campus-wide climate survey; all with the goal to help students gain tools to make safe choices around alcohol use.”
Russett will be joined in leading the project by Ashley Dillon, Assistant Director of Care Team Support and Case Management.
The university will also give a comprehensive climate survey to gain an understanding of undergraduate alcohol use and its relationship with other health concerns, according to Virginia ABC. CNU students will be educated about the risks of underage and high-risk drinking through educational campaigns and promotional items distributed at campus events.
Over the coming year, CNU and other grantees will work in partnership with Virginia ABC’s Community Health and Engagement Division staff to implement their plans.
“Virginia ABC’s Community Health and Engagement Division works to eliminate underage and high-risk drinking by building the capacity of community groups to educate individuals and prevent alcohol misuse,” said Virginia ABC CEO Dale Farino. “We look forward to partnering with these grantees to positively impact the communities they serve.”
A full list of grant winners can be found here.