College Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention

To address the problems of dangerous drinking, other drug use, and violent behavior on college and university campuses, the U.S. Department of Education established the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention, which HHD operates.

Students’ decisions and patterns of alcohol use are influenced greatly by the campus and community environment, especially local norms and access to alcohol. The Center works with institutions of higher education to develop and implement a comprehensive, environmental strategy that can produce enduring, large-scale changes that result in healthier and safer places to live and learn.

A cornerstone of the Center’s work is building a college community’s capacity for strategic planning, thus providing a process—rather than a product—they can use to address the substance abuse and violence issues that arise on their campuses.