SUNY New Paltz was one of 20 SUNY/ CUNY universities awarded a five-year $625,000 grant in May 2017 through the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). The university received $125,000 annually from May 2017 through May 2022, part of which paid for a full-time College Prevention Coordinator. The College Prevention Coordinator oversaw all funded prevention activities, including the development of a campus-community coalition, campus-community needs assessment, and alcohol and substance use interventions. While the primary goal was to prevent and reduce college underage drinking and other drug use, prevention efforts also aimed to reduce excessive alcohol use and other drug use among students who are 21 years of age and older. As a result of the project goals, it was expected that the New Paltz community will see a resulting decrease in alcohol and drug-related consequences such as academic difficulties, overdoses and injuries, and assaults.
After the grant ended, the University expanded the position and appointed Jackie Cirello as the Coordinator of Wellbeing Initiatives and Outreach, now Associate Director for Student Wellbeing & Prevention Education, to oversee prevention efforts on campus.
News articles:
https://hudsonvalleyone.com/2017/12/09/suny-new-paltz-hopes-to-reduce-drug-and-alcohol-abuse/
