Students encouraged to participate in alcohol study

The University of Wisconsin System is conducting a survey of undergraduates this month to better understand the impacts of alcohol and other drug use by UW students.

The UW System Alcohol and Other Drug Use Survey will gather information via a Web-based survey. Randomly selected students will be sent an e-mail during the last week of February asking them to complete an online survey. The survey is voluntary, and answers will remain anonymous.

The survey is designed to examine trends in alcohol and drug use, student perceptions of use and consequences of use. The results will help university leaders work with students to determine what kinds of campus health programming and services are most beneficial.

“We encourage all students who are asked to participate in this survey to share their experiences, thoughts and observations about alcohol and drug use,” says Susan Crowley, director of prevention services at University Health Services. “Students can help improve campus policies and programs by taking time to share their points of view.”

Students who elect to participate in the online survey will receive an instant analysis of the impacts of their own alcohol use, including an estimate of their average peak blood-alcohol concentration, and how their level of use compares to students nationally.

The survey is part of a systemwide Board of Regents directive to assess the levels of student alcohol and drug abuse, and the effectiveness of AODA programs.