At UHS We:
Strive to ensure health for all through leadership, expertise, and discovery.
Practice predictive prevention — working upstream to identify critical trends, harness innovation, and adopt evidence-based prevention practices.
Our Activities
AlcoholEdu for College, Sanctions, and Ongoing Students
Video: AlcoholEdu for College Overview
UC Berkeley uses AlcoholEdu to ensure every new student receives a base level education on alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarettes. Whether they are abstainers, moderate drinkers, or heavy drinkers, each student receives relevant content, personalized feedback and practical strategies that are appropriate for their needs.
National College Health Assessment From the ACHA
UHS uses the nationally-recognized and widely-used National College Health Assessment research survey from the ACHA bi-annually to assist in collecting precise data about our students’ health habits, behaviors, and perceptions. Includes a significant section on alcohol and other drugs.
Golden Bear Orientation (GBO)
As part of Golden Bear Orientation, UHS staff work closely with New Student Services to deliver effective alcohol and other drug education in Golden Bear Prep, Bear Pact & Bear Perspectives.
PartySafe @ Cal
Through PartySafe@Cal, UHS staff and students work year round to engage, educate & empower everyone in the community to improve party culture and social benefits by decreasing problems related to alcohol.
CERC Sub-Committee on Student Risks
In the CERC Sub-Committee on Student Risks, UHS staff network with staff and students across campus to notice and circulate information about emerging risks to study them, support prompt risk mitigation strategies, and monitor the outcomes.
First 8
This group of campus, city, and student stakeholders was established in 2016 and meets weekly at the beginning of fall semester to foster communication, spot trends, proactively coordinate efforts, and demonstrate a visible commitment to reducing student risk. Email risk@berkeley.edu for more information.
Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Strategies
Our alcohol and other drug activities operate simultaneously to reach individual students, the student body as a whole, and the greater college community. We're guided by the following evidence-based practices:
Diverse Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration and Synergy
We partner with multiple campus, city, state, and national organizations; We all have a stake in and unique resources for preventing high-risk alcohol and other drug behaviors, situations, and settings.
Data-Driven
We use ongoing data collection to examine our assets and challenges and chose strategies to address our unique campus alcohol-related risks and harm.
Harm Reduction/Risk Management
We accept, for better and for worse, that underage and other high risk alcohol and other drug use exists in current campus culture and that there are personal and community practices that are clearly safer than others.
Environmental Risk Management
Approaches that target individual substance users with information and treatment, while necessary, leave intact the environmental conditions that drive the appeal and availability of alcohol and other drugs - virtually ensuring that the culture continues. Environmental risk management unapologetically seeks to address the social, economic, legal, academic, physical and other factors that shape the alcohol culture for all members of the community.
Institutionalization
Sustained success requires Presidential and widespread campus support, funding, visibility, reporting and shared accountability.
For more general background, see:
Reports, Summaries, and Results
Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention, October 2020
Awarded to institutions of higher education that met the highest standards of digital prevention programming, aligned to evidence-based principles including socio-cultural relevance, reach and dosage, and outcomes evaluation (Principles of Effective Prevention Programs - published by Nation, et al. 2003). Awardees have also positioned prevention as central to key institutional outcomes, including: recruitment, student success, retention, and advancement.
UC Berkeley DFSCA Biennial Report
UC Berkeley Annual Notification of Alcohol and Other Drug Information
Alcohol in the Stadium: Fall 2019 Expanded Sales Policy at UC Berkeley Case Study, April 2020
Place-Based Environmental Approach, APHA 2014
California Safer Schools Study, 2012
PartySafe@Cal Case Study Higher Ed Center for Alcohol & Other Drugs, 2012
Topics
Emergency
- 911 or (510) 642-3333 (UCPD) for immediate emergencies
- AOD Risks, Signs of Overdose, and Steps to Take
- UC Berkeley Responsible Bystander summary and full policy