Syracuse University’s alcohol poisoning awareness campaign has won $60,000 after placing first in a national challenge, beating 29 other college programs in the process.

The program, BE Wise, won a competition created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which challenges schools to use technology to prevent high-risk drinking on campuses. SAMHSA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The University of Central Florida and the University of Tennessee placed second and third, respectively, said Richard Lucey, special assistant to the director of SAMHSA.

He said this was the administration’s first time holding the challenge, which began in May. He said SAMHSA officials wanted entries to model a comprehensive approach for students across campus, something he believes SU’s BE Wise program accomplished.

Lucey said BE Wise’s website was “interactive, designed not only to reduce drinking, but the outcomes of it.” He also described the campaign overall as engaging, dynamic and interesting.

SAMHSA, Lucey said, recognized that the usual approach of simply telling underage students not to drink is ineffective, and believed BE Wise’s non-judgmental yet informative approach is effective.

BE Wise has successfully engaged students, faculty and staff because the campaign has also worked closely with the Hill Communications public relations firm at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, said Katelyn Cowen, health and wellness promotions specialist at SU.

Cowen said the campaign team is still deciding on what to do with the award, but it is possible that the money could go toward other initiatives that address abuse of other substances.

“The award allows us to have more resources, but it also allows us to get recognized nationally,” said Rebecca Dayton, associate vice president for the health and wellness portfolio of the Division of Student Affairs.

Dayton said that on top of the $60,000 award, SAMHSA will pay for representatives of BE Wise to present the campaign’s model at the national 2014 NASPA Mental Health Conference in San Diego from Jan. 16-18.

Dayton said the award will not only benefit continuing research into the BE Wise campaign, but will also help make this tool accessible to other campuses by sharing their model at the conference.

“I am really proud of the fact that high-risk drinking has come into the forefront of campus conversation,” Dayton said about the campaign’s recognition.

Dayton also attributed the success of BE Wise to the students on campus who were involved with the conception and creation of a comprehensive, understanding and accessible message for other students.

For the future, Dayton said, she would like to expand BE Wise’s focus on abuse of other substances, in addition to alcohol.

Cowen, the health and wellness promotions specialist, said she would like to see the program use some of the award money to gauge how effective the campaign has been.

Said Cowen: “We want to do a solid evaluation of the campaign and make sure we have been enhancing the campus in a better way.”

Published on November 5, 2013 at 1:17 am

Contact Anna: almerod@syr.edu