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By: North County Times News Service
February 23, 2006
LOS ANGELES - Incoming UCLA freshmen will be required to participate in an online alcohol awareness program starting this fall, the school announced Wednesday.
The program, AlcoholEdu for College, is used in more than 450 universities around the nation, according to officials. Students will receive information about drinking based on their own experiences and personal backgrounds.
UCLA officials said the school has already succeeded in cutting student drinking problems, with surveys showing the rate of high-risk drinking is half the national rate.
"UCLA always has taken a proactive approach in this area, and AlcoholEdu will enable us to enhance our efforts," said Montero.
Janina Montero, UCLA vice-chancellor of student affairs, said the program will give students the tools needed to make "healthy and safe decisions"
According to the UCLA Drug-Free Schools Committee, freshmen are most susceptible to high-risk drinking during their first few weeks on campus. AlcoholEdu is the first online program available designed to help incoming students during this period.
Pamela Viele, director of health education at the UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center, said AlcoholEdu's interactive multimedia format is designed to appeal to today's students who use computers as part of their daily lives.
"The program aims to motivate behavior change, undermine unrealistic expectations about the effects of alcohol, link choices about drinking to academic and personal success and help students practice healthier and safer decision-making," said Viele.
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