The Virginia Higher Education Substance Use Advisory Committee (VHESUAC) is pleased to report on coordination of college alcohol and other drug education, prevention, recovery and intervention programming in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VHESUAC partners include public and private institutions of higher education (IHEs), student leaders, state agencies and statewide organizations committed to reducing student substance use and promoting effective policies and practices.

VHESUAC aims to create an environment and culture that values student health and safety and supports prevention and intervention efforts on campuses across the state. VHESUAC hopes to accomplish this by promoting a collaborative and coordinated effort among Virginia’s colleges and universities to advocate for prevention programming and treatment services, implement researchbased approaches and facilitate a network for information sharing and action planning.

Virginia ABC’s Community Health & Engagement Division coordinates VHESUAC. The structure includes two tiers: the Executive Council and Workgroup.

During this reporting period, Executive Council and Workgroup members met to continue implementation of the Virginia Higher Education Substance Use Prevention Strategic Plan. Members analyzed the applications for and reception to the VHESUAC Campus Recognition Program, an annual recognition programs for colleges and universities across Virginia that launched in March 2023. This program allows VHESUAC to publicly recognize campuses for their efforts in furthering campus substance use education, prevention, intervention and recovery efforts on their own campuses. Members had these conversations at the regularly scheduled meetings, which were conducted in-person at Virginia ABC Headquarters in Mechanicsville. This report intends to detail these meetings, as well as explain the formation of VHESUAC, its current structure and its vision moving forward. This report will also describe the touch points VHESUAC has with the various institutions of higher education across the commonwealth through the VHESUAC Campus Newsletter.

Statutory Authority

Pursuant to SB 120 and HB 852 of 2018 and Chapters 210 and 211 of the Acts of Assembly, an Act to amend and reenact § 4.1-103.02 of the Code of Virginia, relating to alcoholic beverage control; substance abuse prevention; Virginia Institutions of Higher Education Substance Use Advisory Committee established:

“The [Virginia ABC] Board shall also establish and appoint members to the Virginia Institutions of Higher Education Substance Use Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee). The goal of the Advisory Committee shall be to develop and update a statewide strategic plan for substance use education, prevention, and intervention at Virginia's public and private institutions of higher education. The strategic plan shall (a) incorporate the use of best practices, which may include, but not be limited to, student-led peer-to-peer education and college or other institution of higher education recovery programs; (b) provide for the collection of statewide data from all institutions of higher education on student alcohol and substance use; (c) assist institutions of higher education in developing their individual strategic plans by providing networking and training resources and materials; and (d) develop and maintain reporting guidelines for use by institutions of higher education in their individual strategic plans. The Advisory Committee shall consist of representatives from Virginia's public and private institutions of higher education, including students and directors of student health, and such other members as the Board may deem appropriate. The Advisory Committee's membership shall be broadly representative of individuals from both public and private institutions of higher education. The Advisory Committee shall submit an annual report on its activities to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1 each year."