PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Binge drinking is a significant problem on college campuses throughout the country. Injuries and fatalities from impaired driving are among the most severe consequences of excessive drinking. Substance abuse prevention programs that involve collaborative efforts between students can more effectively address the issues of binge drinking and driving while impaired.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Peer Education: INSIGHT, CATCH and PASSAGES programs is to develop a means for students to interact with and educate each other on issues relating to alcohol and drug use and abuse. Specific objectives include:

• Educating the college campus community through workshops, presentations and alternative programs

• Promoting collaborative prevention efforts between students from various schools throughout New Jersey

• Provide the means for college students to interact with younger at-risk children

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

This peer education initiative consists of three programs designed to encourage awareness of alcohol and other drug consumption issues. The INSIGHT program, specific to Trenton State College, consists of peer educators who implement creative programs during National Health and Wellness Week each fall and spring semester. It is a part of Trenton State's Alcohol/Drug Education Program (ADEP). All of INSIGHT's activities revolve around the issues of alcohol and drug use, misuse, and abuse. Creative activities implemented include "Hillwood Squares," where professors, coaches and college administrators occupy the "squares" and students ask them health-related questions; and "Doubled Up," a "Dating Game" variation, enabling students to socialize in an alcohol-free environment. The peer educators at Trenton State also provide substance-free entertainment, lectures, and other programming for UV's, the college's non-alcoholic night club. This helps reduce the incidence of drunk driving around the campus.

The second facet of the peer education project is the statewide CATCH (College Advisory Taskforce for Campus Health) and safety program. CATCH enables students from different colleges and backgrounds to share ideas on prevention of alcohol and drug abuse. In August 1994, Trenton State held the first statewide three-day CATCH conference. It included educational lectures, workshop information, programming ideas and presentation skills training. After the conference, CATCH members met on a monthly basis at sponsoring schools throughout the state.

The third element of the peer education effort is PASSAGES: Students to Leaders. This program, which links high school and college students with middle and grammar school children defined as "high risk," is still in the development stage. Once complete, it will provide a variety of prevention/mentoring projects and education enrichment programs to "children at-risk" in Mercer and Ocean Counties. It also will provide college and high school students firsthand exposure to social issues and problems facing these communities, while promoting leadership development opportunities for the participants.

RESULTS

Trenton State's INSIGHT Program has grown significantly in the past four years. Today there are 12 active peer educators who offer educational and substance-free programming to their fellow students, as well as to students from surrounding colleges. Two additional CATCH conferences have taken place, and have led to the further development of peer education programs at participating colleges. A total of 450 students participated in the three CATCH conferences. The 1995-96 academic year will require CATCH members to submit a monthly report to the CATCH coordinator identifying activities they have offered on their campuses. This information will be compiled in a bi-monthly newsletter. The PASSAGES program is scheduled to be implemented during the summer of 1996.