Substance abuse can affect individual student retention, engagement, and academic success as well as the overall UW–Madison campus climate. UHS strives to cultivate an environment where high-risk drinking and drug abuse does not prevent a student from reaching their highest potential of intellectual, physical, and human development.
University Health Services provides numerous programs and support services to help students who struggle with alcohol and other substances.
UW–Madison Statement on alcohol
It is integral to our prevention efforts to send consistent alcohol messages to our campus community. The following message was crafted by university partners to communicate UW–Madison’s values around alcohol abuse prevention:
- It is our mission at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to provide learning environments where all students can reach their highest potential.
- Changing the culture around high-risk drinking is a priority. We recognize that everyone plays a role in promoting an environment that supports responsible drinking.
- We define responsible drinking as legal and low-risk consumption.
- Our data shows that the majority of students who drink do so at a moderate consumption level; some do not drink at all.
- Students who choose to consume alcohol are impacted by a number of consequences, ranging from academics, well-being, and UW–Madison student status.
- As a caring community, we encourage students to be active bystanders and intervene when they witness peers making high-risk choices around alcohol. As we engage in partnerships for positive change we commit to effective evidence-based strategies that promote the well-being and safety of our students.