Substance Abuse Program Launches this Summer
May 30, 2017
Substance abuse on campus is going to get a cure, thanks to a $125,000 grant (renewable for five years) from the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).
The award, announced by Assistant Dean of Students Frank Rampello, will fund an 
ambitious program that focuses on 18 to 24 year-olds and launches July 1. It includes these components:
- A College Prevention Coordinator (CPC), responsible for coordinating all campus alcohol and drug prevention activities, will be hired.
- A Campus Community Coalition has been created to assist with the implementation of environmentally focused prevention strategies to reduce problems related to college drinking, substance abuse, and the misuse of prescription drugs.
- Screening tools (ScreenU, Alcohol, Marijuana, and Rx campaigns) will be implemented to create opportunities for FSC staff members to uncover previously hidden high-risk individuals who may be susceptible to substance abuse disorders.
- Students whose ScreenU results indicate problematic use will be referred to counseling for intervention and treatment.
- Dr. Shane Owens, Campus Mental Health Services Assistant Director, will assist the CPC in launching a Social Norms Campaign to impact student perceptions and misconceptions related to drug and alcohol abuse.
- The program will sponsor beverage service training programs (“sales to the intoxicated”) for FSC community partners.
Goals of the program include:
- Reduction in underage alcohol consumption/drug abuse on campus and in the surrounding community.
- Reduction in alcohol- and drug-related consequences (academic problems, dropping out, assaults, injuries, medical transports).
- Increase in retail alcohol compliance rates in off-campus drinking establishments.
