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Who We Are

An academic center at The Ohio State University, the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery is a joint collaboration between the College of Social Work, the College of Pharmacy, and the Office of Student Life. Executive Director, Dr. Jim Lange, leads the multi-disciplinary team and an Internal Advisory Board. This board governs the Center and consists of the Deans within the College of Social Work and the College of Pharmacy, as well as the Associate Vice President of Health and Well-being in the Office of Student Life.

Learn more about our team

What We Do

The Higher Education Center provides tools, training, and technical assistance to professionals across the country working to address collegiate substance misuse. Since its establishment in 2014, tens of thousands of professionals across the country have participated in training and networking opportunities through the Center. We currently offer regular web-based trainings and monthly virtual water cooler chats to enhance the skills and knowledge of campus professionals. HECAOD members have access to biannual learning collaboratives, which provide targeted training on a specific prevention, intervention, or recovery related topic. 

In 2017, we launched ScreenU®, a web-based screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) program that helps students identify their risk of experiencing harms from their substance use and connects them with both strategies to reduce their risk as well as resources local to their campus and community. Over 90 campuses across the country currently implement ScreenU with their students.

The Higher Education Center believes in the strength of collaboration. We have convened the National Consortium of State Coalitions , which brings together the leaders of statewide collegiate wellness coalitions to network and learn from each other, and coordinate the Collegiate Impaired Driving Collaborative, a collective of national partners focused on addressing the issue of impaired driving amongst college students. 

In addition to this work, the Higher Education Center has led local initiatives funded by the following organizations: the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and the International Town-Gown Association.

Our Mission

It is the mission of HECAOD to empower those working to address collegiate alcohol and drug misuse and associated harms to implement evidence-informed strategies within the continuum of prevention through recovery.

Our History

In 1995, the U.S. Department of Education funded The Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention (HEC), whose mission was to help college and community leaders develop, implement, and evaluate programs and policies to reduce problems experienced by students related to alcohol and other drug use. Due to federal budget cuts, HEC was closed in 2012 leaving a national void in national leadership related to collegiate prevention. While at The Ohio State University, the former co-director, Dr. John Clapp, secured funding in 2014 through the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to re-establish these efforts. HECAOD formally celebrated its launch with a ribbon joining celebration in April of 2015. Expanding its scope across the continuum, HECAOD now supports campus professionals working in prevention, intervention, and recovery.

Become a HECAOD Member Today

Gain access to tools and training that can support your work today.

Learn more about HECAOD memberships