The Network Addressing Collegiate Alcohol and Other Drug Issues

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be conducting more Town Hall meetings on underage drinking in 2014. These meetings are held throughout the country, bringing local, community-based organizations together to educate and empower communities to support underage drinking prevention initiatives.  Town hall meetings are open to the public, and any nonprofit can use their materials.  Further, SAMHSA is looking for organizations to serve as hosts.  Check out their webpage to see if that’s something your campus can do.

NASPA, a student affairs administrators association, announced that the BACCHUS Network would dissolve and transfer their programs to NASPA.  For over 30 years, the BACCHUS Network supported student leaders on campuses across the nation, helping them conduct peer education and safety programs on alcohol and other health topics.  Some may recall their earlier manifestation: The BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network.  

BACCHUS released a statement stating, "Bringing BACCHUS under the NASPA umbrella will expand our combined offerings in the health and safety area, while also strengthening both BACCHUS’ core focus on peer education and NASPA’s opportunities for undergraduate students.” 

NASPA expects that its resources and membership will expand the opportunities for BACCHUS programs.

There are two college-centered AOD conferences in California this coming year to put on your calendar: The NASPA AOD and Violence Prevention Conference, January 16-18 in San Diego; and California Higher Education Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Conference, April 3-4 at CSU Channel Islands.  Both offer opportunities to learn from others about what’s new in AOD prevention. More information on these two conferences will be relayed through The Network as it becomes available. Hope to see you there.

Most reports on marijuana-legalization efforts in California have stated that a ballot initiative is in the works for the 2016 election.  In fact, some of the most noted activists have said that California is not ready to pass legalization in 2014. However, it appears that there is a rift between some of the groups, with one organization, Americans for Policy Reform, attempting to have a ballot initiative qualified for the 2014 election.