Center for Prevention and Outreach

NASPA January 2010

New York State College Health Association2010 Annual Meeting

Sheraton Syracuse University HotelOctober 21, 2010

Ellen Driscoll LMSW, CASAC

Comprehensive Bystander Intervention Program Stony Brook University

Comprehensive Bystander Wellness/Education program designed to prevent student death from TOXIC drinking

The GOAL of the RED WATCH BAND is to ensure that all students are provided with accurate information about the dangers of alcohol use and know when, where and how to get help because every second counts.

The MISSION of the RED WATCH BAND is to provide students with the knowledge, awareness, and skills to prevent toxic drinking deaths and to promote a student culture of kindness, responsibility, compassion, and mutual respect.

Community Response to a Student Death

Wellness/Educational Initiative

Peer-based Intervention Program• Secondary Prevention Component

Bystander Intervention Program • Alcohol Poisoning Death Prevention

Changing Drinking Culture

Decreasing Reluctance of Peers to Intervene (call 911)◦ Don’t believe the situation is life threatening◦ Don’t want to get friend/victim in trouble◦ Don’t want to get themselves in trouble

Changing Drinking Culture◦ Tends to take form of binge/toxic drinking◦ Binge drinkers are drinking more when they drink

Reasons for Attending RWB Training, n=40

National impact of college-age alcohol use: 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related

unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes.  599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under

the influence of alcohol. 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual

assault or date rape. (Hingson et al., 2009)

Binge drinkers are more likely than non-binge drinkers to: Damage property Be in trouble with campus police Be hurt or injured Drive a car after drinking

(Harvard School of Health College Alcohol Study, 2000)

How do your college students drink?◦ Where?

◦ What?

◦ How Much?

Definition of BINGE drinking◦ 4+ drinks for women in approximately two hours

◦ 5+ drinks for men in approximately two hours

Toxic Drinking

STEP ONE: Student Engagement◦ Student Leaders/Peer Educators

STEP TWO: Collaboration of Key Stakeholders (on and off campus)◦ Administration, Dept. chairs, Athletics

STEP THREE: Design a Marketing strategy◦ Communications Department for technical assistance

STEP FOUR: Training Program◦ CPR Training – American Heart Association◦ Alcohol Emergency Education & Role Play

STEP FIVE: Recognition of New Red Watch Band Members◦ Sustainability ◦ Recognition and follow up

Reasons for Attending RWB Training, n=40

CPR and Role Plays They NEED to Know

n=40, p<0.05

n=40, p<0.05

Comprehensive Bystander Intervention Program designed to prevent death from toxic drinking.

Adheres to best practices in prevention by encompassing education, peer education and community outreach.

Widely commended by students. Since March 2009, over 2,260 students have been trained nationally.

Described as “missing link” to prevention by university professionals.

115 colleges and universities have committed to implementing RWB at their respective institutions. High Schools have also begun implementing RWB.

EVERY SECOND COUNTS…

College Drinking: Changing the Culture - www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov

Hazing Prevention - www.hazingprevention.org Higher Education Center - www.higheredcenter.org The Gordie Foundation – www.gordie.org National Institution on Drug Abuse - www.drugabuse.gov National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse of National Institute of

Health - www.niaaa.nih.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration -

www.samhsa.gov NCAA Drug Testing Program - www.ncaa.org/wps/portal Alcoholics Anonymous - www.aa.org Adult Children of Alcoholics - www.adultchildren.org Al-anon - www.al-anon.org Anti-Hazing - www.stophazing.org

Website: www.redwatchband.org Contact Person:

Lara Hunter, LCSWRed Watch Band Program CoordinatorCenter for Prevention and OutreachStony Brook University631-632-6729