Commission on Substance Abuse Prevention

SMU is committed to providing its students with an educational environment in which healthy lifestyle choices can be made. Toward this end, for several years the University has had in place numerous programs, policies and resources aimed at substance abuse education and prevention.

In spring 2007, in response to the tragedy of three student deaths in the 2006-07 academic year related to substance abuse, SMU’s President appointed a Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention to spend several months reviewing existing programs and policies, with the goal of enhancing and updating them.

SMU has adopted more than 30 of the recommendations, and SMU’s programs are now monitored by the permanent University Commission on Substance Abuse Prevention. In addition, SMU offers such resources as educational programs and counseling for students coping with eating disorders, sexual assault and depression.

The President's Commission on Substance Abuse Education and Prevention, which meets monthly to assess its progress in meeting goals, presented its 2008-09 Report, analyzing task force recommendations and  outlining an agenda for the work of the Commission for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Read the report.

Commission/Task Force Timeline

• 2008-09 Report by the Presidential Commission On Substance Abuse Education And Prevention (09/10/2009)
• Task Force becomes Commission on Substance Abuse Education and Prevention (06/08/2009)
• Task Force recommendations implemented (10/22/2008)
• President's decision on Task Force recommendations (04/29/2008)
• Next steps: Task Force (02/04/2008)
• Task Force report is made public (02/02/2008)
• Task Force delivers recommendations to President Turner (01/31/2008)
• Task Force begins study of campus policies and attitudes (09/21/2007)
• Task Force meets with Greek representatives (09/14/2007)
• Task Force begins deliberations, seeks input (09/10/2007)
• About the Task Force

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