糖心Vlog传媒

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Conducting First Statewide Collegiate Substance Use Assessment

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Survey Research Center is conducting the first Arkansas statewide assessment of alcohol and substance use in higher education. The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Survey Research Center is partnering with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock MidSOUTH and the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services to conduct the inaugural 2021 Arkansas Collegiate Substance Use Assessment. 鈥淭he Arkansas Collegiate Substance Use Assessment will help the government, institutions, and universities across Arkansas plan, implement, and evaluate activities that will help prevent and treat substance abuse across the state,鈥� said Dr. Derek Slagle, director of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Survey Research Center. 鈥淐ollege is usually a time when students are first exposed to alcohol and drugs. College students are considered a high-risk population for first-time users of illicit substances.鈥� The survey collects self-reported information on alcohol and drug use, mental health status, and perceived attitudes and beliefs among college students in Arkansas. 鈥淔or many students in college, it is their first time leaving home to be on their own,鈥� said Dr. Chuks Odor, a prevention manager at MidSOUTH. 鈥淧arents, friends, and well-wishers are excited for them in this new chapter of their lives. With this excitement comes a lot of challenges such as adjusting to new surroundings, making new friends, studying to maintain good GPAs to graduate, and the pressure to meet various expectations, etc. Unfortunately, some students get introduced to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs as a way to fit into certain groups, to cope with stress, through peer pressure, or in some cases are forced into usage. However, it is important to note that most students do not use drugs.鈥� About 25 community colleges, colleges, and universities in the state are participating in the assessment by distributing the 31-question online survey to their students through Oct. 15. The assessment also includes questions related to COVID-19 and virtual learning to assess the pandemic鈥檚 effect on alcohol and drug use among college students. The data will be used to improve safety on college campuses. 鈥淲hile this is the first college-level assessment of this kind for Arkansas, the assessment is standard in other states across the country,鈥� Slagle said. 鈥淢idSOUTH has been distributing the high school version of this assessment since 2002, and they have been a great partner. Two professors, Dr. Amar Kanekar and Dr. Euchay Ngozi Horsman, also helped with the creation of the collegiate survey.鈥� The results of the assessment, which will be available in January 2022, will be used for the state鈥檚 Substance Abuse Block Grant. The Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, along with other states, receives federal dollars on a routine basis to ensure services are available to promote alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention and treatment programs and recovery support systems for the State of Arkansas. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students can take the survey .