Title: Passive Messaging Board Campaign to Promote Alcohol and Drug Awareness to Rutgers

University Freshmen

Name: Joanne Strand

Preceptors: Tanisha Riley, Health Education Specialist

Agency: Health, Outreach, Promotion, Education (H.O.P.E.) of Rutgers Health Services

Purpose: To increase knowledge and awareness on safer behavior and risk reduction regarding alcohol

and drugs among Rutgers University freshmen in residence halls on campus through the use of passive

messaging boards highlighting the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

Significance: Each year, 1,825 college students ages 18 to 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional

injuries. Additionally, 696,000 students ages 18 to 24 are assaulted by another student who has been

drinking and 97,000 students ages 18 to 24 report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape

(National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 2016). Furthermore, 47,000 people died in the

United States in 2014 due to an overdose in prescription drugs, prescription opioid pain relievers, cocaine

and heroine (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016). The first 6 weeks of freshman year are a vulnerable

time for heavy drinking, alcohol-related consequences, and drug abuse because of student expectations

and social pressures at the start of the academic year. This evidence indicates a gap in understanding the

dangers of alcohol and drug abuse along with other external factors. Passive messaging boards can

address these gaps in knowledge and help overcome peer pressure to educate freshmen on the dangers of

alcohol and drug abuse. This was shown to be true in previous successful internship projects at H.O.P.E.

Method/Approach: Seven outreach attempts through email and Facebook posts were conducted each day

to 294 resident assistants (RA’s) of freshmen residence halls. The posts were to urge RA’s to set up

alcohol and drug workshops and to promote the passive messaging board campaign. Information was

spread through the distribution of educational reading materials and research was conducted on effective

passive messaging techniques. Research proves that messages are more effective when repeated and well-

maintained and structured boards with balanced photos and text are vital (Business Insider, 2014).

Outcomes/Results: 63% of freshmen residence halls participated in the passive messaging board

campaign. The boards highlighted strategies that students can practice to remain safe if they decide to

drink or do drugs and website links to Rutgers Health Services. All of the resident assistants who

implemented a board were overall satisfied with their board, as conducted by a survey. Additionally, 60%

of students in residence halls with a board stated that after reading the board, they had increased

knowledge of H.O.P.E., as conducted by a survey emailed to residents by their respective RA’s.

Evaluation/Conclusion: Approximately 150 residence assistants learned about H.O.P.E.’s services

through promotion of the passive messaging campaign. Resident assistants will be asked to report their

satisfaction of the bulletin boards through surveys. In the future, this campaign could be improved by

assessing if the boards decreased alcohol and drug abuse amongst freshmen with pre and post tests.