Students at Clarion University are receiving the message about drug and alcohol abuse loud in clear. CORE Survey results indicate a huge shift in attitudes about drugs and alcohol over the last five years.

Among the striking information from the survey:

• The percentage of students who consumed alcohol in the past 30 days dropped 35 percent (46 percent in 2010, 71 percent in 2005).
• The percentage of students who reported some form of public misconduct at least once in the past year as the result of drinking or drug use declined 46 percent (23.8 percent in 2010, 43.3 percent in 2005).
• The percentage of students who reported experiencing some kind of serious personal problems at least once during the past year as a result of drinking or drug use declined 43 percent (17.9 percent in 2010, 31.5 percent in 2005).
• The percentage of students who indicated they would prefer not to have alcohol available at parties they attend increased 31 percent (50.3 percent in 2010, 34.7 percent in 2005).

Jimmy McGee, coordinator of health promotions for Clarion University, views the improvements as the result of the university's efforts to reduce binge drinking, cooperation between officials both on and off campus, and an influx of monetary support through several grants.

"We will be looking for a seven percent decline in alcohol and drug use over a two year period," said McGee. "We surveyed students living in the residence halls or Reinhard Village by e-mail in February 2010 and will be surveying the same students again in February 2011."

The 39 question CORE Survey, so named for its core value questions, was developed by Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., and has been in use for many years.

"This will be a key year for us," said McGee. "BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening Intervention for College Students) will be implemented on all campuses throughout the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and state-wide through a social norms marketing campaign."

In October 2009, the PASSHE Statewide Coalition for the Prevention and Reduction of Underage and Bing Drinking was awarded a two-year $500,000 STOP Act Grant from the U.S. Education Department, titled "Challenging the Primacy of Alcohol in the Campus Culture of the 14 Universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education." The purpose of this grant is for the PASSHE universities to work collaboratively with one another in an effort to create a system-wide, evidence based plan to reduce high risk drinking among first-year resident students of all 14 campuses.

Clarion University is using its portion of this grant and additional funding received from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to provide educational programming and workshops. McGee also points to communication from the office of the president and administrators, increased enforcement, initiatives from the Clarion University/Clarion Community Drug and Alcohol Task Force, faculty and staff involvement and interaction with students, and consistency with policy and procedures for getting the message to the students.

McGee and Matt Shaffer, coordinator of Judicial Residential Education for Clarion University, serve on the Clarion University/Community Drug and Alcohol Task Force. Clarion Mayor Andrea Estadt and Clarion Police Chief Mark Hall are developing a Crime Watch Program through the Task Force with Clarion University planning to be heavily involved.

The Fall 2010 semester will push social norms messages via posters throughout campus. Student focus groups will help in analyzing and refining the results.

Clarion University views this effort as campus wide. "We want to get all employees to make an effort to participate through their interaction with students as part of their everyday activities," said McGee.

Click here to view all of the survey results

For additional information contact McGee at jmcgee@clarion.edu or telephone 814-393-1949.

Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.