Educating students on the dangers of substance abuse via prevention messaging is a vital retention strategy on the campus of Fort Valley State University (FVSU).  According to SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Statistics and Quality-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 53 percent of full-time college students, ages 18 to 22 reported that alcohol beverages were consumed monthly and about 33 percent engaged in binge drinking during that same time frame.

This is a reality which must be addressed. With the assistance of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), additional support has been provided to FVSU to ensure these words of wisdom remain a constant sense of reminder to the students during the 2021-2022 academic year, especially critical during COVID 19 with recorded increases in these negative pastimes.

“Without this support from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, our holistic outreach strategy would fall short,” states Alvin Lindsey, Director of Outreach.  “We are extremely proud of this relationship with GOHS and look forward to their continued support of our Be the Sober One Campaign.”

The Be the Sober One Campaign designed to deter students from drinking and driving and abusing substances in general is operated under the Outreach Unit of the Office of Student Counseling and Outreach Services’ Peer Educator Program. The grant awarded to FVSU came to the sum of $7,480.44. The grant year will span from October 2021 to September 2022.

“With the increase in the number of persons killed in traffic crashes in Georgia and across the nation over the last year, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with partners like  Fort Valley State University to implement programs designed to stop the risky driving behaviors that are contributing to a majority of our serious-injury and fatality crashes,” Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said.”  “Many of the fatal traffic crashes on our roads are preventable, and we will continue to work with our educational and enforcement partners to develop programs and initiatives that are designed to get Georgia to our goal of zero traffic deaths.” 

Innovative and educational programming under the Be the Sober One Initiative include such interactive activities as mock driving simulations, operating golf carts while wearing goggles which mimic the influence of alcohol and/or marijuana usage; mock tails, where students are taught how to prepare delicious alcohol-free beverages; viewing of the Alcohol Literacy Challenge, an evidenced based practice, educating students on the true effects of drinking and other engaging and creative outlets.