National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week

National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week is an event that promotes safety and health in the context of young adults who are experiencing new freedoms in an educational space. It’s an opportunity to make sure students and faculty are informed and given the tools they need to make wise decisions for themselves, as well as being equipped to help others if needed.

History of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week

Abbreviated as NCAAW, this event was started by the Coalition of Higher Education Associations for Substance Abuse Prevention (CoHEASAP). The purpose behind this organization’s initiative is to empower and equip organizations in higher educations to promote better educational and lifetime success by minimizing the issues and occurrences of substance abuse among college students.

Because of differing academic schedules, some college and university campuses celebrate National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week at different times. For instance the event might be planned for earlier in the month of October, it could take place at another time of year, such as in February or July.

While this event is celebrated across the nation, each college and university campus tends to celebrate it with their own flair based on the student population and need. Some campuses choose to have each day of the week focused on a different element of alcohol awareness, such as alcohol facts & statistics, partying smart, drunk driving prevention, consent, harm reduction and more. Other schools might give out merch such as t-shirts or cups to celebrate the event.

How to Celebrate National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week

This important events provides an ideal opportunity for parents, teachers, guidance counselors, health care providers and friends to have meaningful conversations with the college students they know. Other ways to observe this event include:

Attend Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week Events

Many college campuses across the nation host events for this week that encourage their students to have fun and celebrate without the negative impact of alcohol or other drugs. Presentations, seminars, stand-up comedians, films and much more can be enjoyed during this week in a format that encourages a healthy approach to alcohol.

Get Educated on Collegiate Alcohol Facts

One good way to participate in the observance of National Collegiate Alcohol Awarness Week might be for students, parents and faculty to get more informed about the statistics behind alcohol on college campuses. Check out some of these facts to get started with:

• For the past two decades, alcohol use among college students has remained relatively the same with around 80% reporting using alcohol, with at least 1/3 of students reporting binge drinking
• Hundreds of thousands of college students are at risk for a drinking disorder
• Alcohol contributes to around 1500 or more deaths each year among college students
• Although only about half of American undergraduate students are of legal drinking age, many more than this engage in drinking alcohol

In addition, the National Institutes for Health (NCBI) offers resource pages for administrators and event organizers with suggestions to keep their campuses and their students safer through strategies and policies.