THE RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM, THE POWER TO ACT: A CONFERENCE FOR NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE NEWSPAPER EDITORS ON THE ROLE OF THE CAMPUS PRESS IN ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES

• NCJ Number: 141534
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: (1992) Pages: 329-336
• Author(s): H Wechsler; W DeJong; G R Shapiro; A T Lavin
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 8 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: SAMHSA Ctr for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

College newspapers represent a powerful but underutilized medium for educating students on health care issues, including those related to drug and alcohol use on campus.

Abstract

Editors of these publications are in a position to exercise significant influence among readers. In addition to communicating factual information about the prevalence and impact of drug use among college students, editors can use the press to advocate changes in student attitudes and behaviors and in college or community policies that affect drug use. A pilot conference was held to help New England college newspaper editors realize the importance of educating their peers about drug use and other health- related issues and to offer concrete suggestions on how these topics can be incorporated into college newspapers. Public health specialists and journalists attending the conference focused on the incidence and impact of alcohol and other drug use among college students; how to start a health column or special health section in college newspapers; potential of the press to effect change; and social, legal, and ethical issues raised by an "activist" press. 4 references and 1 table