Site Map

Info and Services

From this page:

Community Building

The CDSA programs office aims to improve community relations through the creation and implementation of:

1. MIT Community Forums: town hall meetings between administration and students to discuss issues and policies associated with alcohol and other drugs
2. Community Interventions: programs tailored to residential floors, greek chapters, or dormitories to discuss specific issues within the community and devise a response to address or prevent similar issues in the future. The Campus Alcohol Advisory Board (CAAB), an Institute-community coalition, successfully developed and implemented 18 "Frank Talks about Alcohol" programs in the student living communities
3. Educational Resources: through informational brochures, posters, and advertisements
4. Support Initiatives for Parents including distribution of the Alcohol 101 interactive CDROM and information for parents describing how to talk to your student about alcohol and other drugs
5. Events and Program: co-sponsored with student organizations and other departments.
6. Don't Cancel That Class: If an instructor plan to be absent from a scheduled class meeting, faculty members are welcome to request CDSA staff to present programs on AOD-related issues in lieu of canceling class.

AOD Policy & Procedure Evaluation and Revision

The CDSA programs office has initiated and is currently conducting a review of all alcohol and other drug policies, procedures and their implementation. Such a review is 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.

Education & Training for Students & Staff

The CDSA programs office develops and implements the training component of its strategic plan. This initiative is designed to increase the awareness of alcohol and other drug issues, as well as enhance the skills and capacities for community members to assist and support one another. The CDSA programs office has provided seminars and in-service training to MIT professional staff from multiple departments, including:

• Counseling and Support Services
• Housemasters and Graduate Resident Tutors
• Mental Health department of MIT Medical
• Medical Consumer's Advisory Council of MIT Medical
• The annual MIT Medical conference seminar for health care professionals sponored by the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Nurses Association.

The CDSA programs office intends to increase training of students and student organizations regarding the personal, social, academic, and legal issues associated with substance use. These consultations vary in focus from policy and procedure issues, legal regulations and liability, to the effective detection, intervention and referral of individuals with alcohol or other drug problems.

Consultation Services

Since its inception, the CDSA programs office has been involved in over 30 consultations with difference segments of the MIT community, such as:

• Interfraternity Council
• Graduate Council
• The Tech
• Residential Life Associates
• MIT Sloan School
• Student Athletic Advisory Committee
• Dormitory Council
• Medlinks peer advocates
• Residential living groups (including dormitories, living groups, fraternities and sororities)
• Housemasters
• Graduate Resident Tutors
• FSILGs

Social Marketing Campaign

The social marketing initiative represents the development of a comprehensive media campaign to address multiple health issues. The CDSA programs office, in collaboration with MIT students and the clinical and professional staff from MIT Medical, have formed the Social Marketing Committee to address a range of student development issues.

This campaign is designed to correct the widespread misperception that certain behaviors associated with alcohol use are normal and acceptable. The alcohol portion of the campaign is to be implemented in the Spring of 2003. The comprehensive media campaign will be developed during the Spring 2003 term and implemented during the Fall 2003 term.

We are always looking for student involvement in this campaign, so please contact us at cdsa@mit.edu if you are interested.

Social Events On- and Off-Campus

A significant means to prevent alcohol abuse involves the frequent availability of social opportunities on campus that do not include alcohol. Since it's inception, the CDSA programs office has provided, and continues to provide support for these types of social activities.

Working with the MIT Police, MIT Medical, and the trained student emergency medical technicians, the CDSA program office has functioned to coordinate a medical support system and create 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.