High Stakes within Higher Education: Understanding Cross-Sector Approaches to Substance Use and Gambling on Campus

Campus professionals across all student-facing sectors occupy a critical position in shaping student health, well-being, and academic retention. With substance use trends continuously evolving and the rapid expansion of sports betting and prediction markets, every campus stakeholder plays a vital role in early identification and intervention. Recognizing subtle warning signs is key to supporting students who may be at high risk of experiencing harm or developing a substance use or gambling disorder. This session will provide an essential primer on the landscape of alcohol, cannabis, and gambling among college students. Explore how these interconnected issues threaten student success and gain actionable strategies to actively identify and support vulnerable students from your distinct vantage points on campus.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the Coalition of Higher Education Associations for Substance Misuse Prevention (CoHEASAP), including its mission and membership.
• Review substance misuse and gambling trends on college campuses, including multilevel risks to college student health, well-being, and academic retention.
• Understand strategies for preventing and/or reducing harms of substance misuse and gambling on campus, including cross-sector approaches.