Community Development and Substance Abuse Center for Prevention, Policy & Research

• Education and Training for Students and Staff
• Screening and Brief Intervention [BASICS] for Students to “Self-Check” Personal Alcohol Use
• Social Events On- and Off-Campus
• Environmental Assessment & Student Health Surveys
• MIT Alcohol and Other Drug Collaborative Board & Community Coalition Efforts
• Alcohol-Related Medical Transport
• AOD Policy and Procedure Evaluation and Revision

Building W20, Room 507
http://cdsa.mit.edu/
617-253-7848

The Community Development & Substance Abuse [CDSA] Center is committed to reducing high-risk drinking and illicit drug use among students at MIT. The CDSA Center’s programming efforts promote responsible decision-making around alcohol and other drug use, and strategies to engage in healthy social relationships. The CDSA Center uses a multi-pronged, evidence-based approach involving all essential constituencies at MIT (i.e., Students, Alumni, Faculty, MIT Medical, Athletics, Police, and Staff) to provide the following:

Education and Training for Students and Staff[back to top]

The CDSA Center offers programs to increase awareness of alcohol and other drug use, and enhance the capacity of community members to assist and support one another in dealing with these issues. Two popular programs are:

• PartySafe Social Host Training
  Educates FSILG and dormitory residents on responsible beverage service, as well as legal liabilities and ethical obligations when hosting parties and serving alcohol to peers.
• ENTICE Program
  Encourages student groups to consider and address how their living communities and social affiliations (i.e., fraternity or sorority membership) affect personal alcohol use.

The Center also provides seminars and training to MIT professional staff on policy and procedure issues, legal regulations and liability, and detection and referral of individuals with alcohol or other drug problems.

Screening and Brief Intervention [BASICS] for Students to
“Self-Check” Personal Alcohol Use[back to top]

In partnership with MIT Medical and the to Office of Student Citizenship, CDSA Center offers BASICS, a program for early intervention of potentially risky alcohol use. BASICS is a brief, confidential, two-session “self-check” for all students who may be questioning their drinking. The primary objective of BASICS is to decrease high-risk drinking behaviors and prevent consequences associated with alcohol abuse. To participate in BASICS, you can schedule an appointment by calling 617.253.3277 or by emailing cdsa@mit.edu.

Social Events On- and Off-Campus[back to top]

The CDSA Center promotes the creation of an exciting social environment that does not include alcohol. Two of our primary programs are:

• SaveTFP
  This CDSA Center-funded student group provides fun and quirky, alcohol-free social alternatives throughout the school year. SaveTFP’s social activities are provided to students free of charge, and are designed to reduce stress and appeal to a wide variety of students. Find more information at cdsa.mit.edu/savetfp.
• MIT Mini-Grants
  The Center provides funding to students and student organizations for alcohol-free social events. Email cdsa@mit.edu for more information.

Environmental Assessment & Student Health Surveys[back to top]

The CDSA Center continually strives to comprehend changing environmental factors that promote or protect against alcohol and other drug use. CDSA Center administers an alcohol and other drug survey annually, and a health survey biannually to understand student health-related behaviors and attitudes. All major programs are evaluated in order to identify and enhance their efficacy in addressing specific environmental variables and/or changing student behaviors.

MIT Alcohol and Other Drug Collaborative Board & Community Coalition Efforts [back to top]

The MIT Alcohol & Other Drug Collaborative offers many opportunities for students to take a leadership role in addressing alcohol and other drug issues on MIT’s campus. Students work collaboratively with MIT administration and alumni, as well as members from the city of Cambridge, local bar owners, and other state agencies such as Mother’s Against Drunk Driving. Its mission is to promote responsible behavior with respect to student alcohol use and address other drug use on and off campus. Students and CDSA Center staff also serve on the Cambridge Licensee Advisory Board (CLAB)- a coalition of local alcohol licensees (taverns and package stores), and the City of Cambridge intended to address high risk drinking behaviors, its associated consequences and underage access to alcohol.

Alcohol-Related Medical Transport[back to top]

Working with the MIT Police, MIT Medical, and the trained student emergency medical technicians, the CDSA Center has coordinated a medical support system and created procedures designed to enhance service delivery to the student communities. This support includes approaching medical intervention cases involving alcohol as a health issue that requires a medical/mental health response.

>AOD Policy and Procedure Evaluation and Revision[back to top]

CDSA Center conducts ongoing review of all alcohol and other drug policies, procedures and their implementation. Such reviews are intended to inform future revision or development of policies or procedures, and to maintain partial compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations [34 CFR Part 86] and the Drug Free Workplace Act.

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