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Although the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention was denied state funding last year, the organization introduced a new anti-drunk-driving program with minimal student fee funding.
COSAP Director John Steiner said the organization makes due with funding allocated by the Student Fee Review Board. SFRB denied funding for FY 2012, when COSAP requested $16.82 per student.
However, for FY 2013 COSAP requested $0.82 per student, the lowest amount requested by any organization, but SFRB recommended it be funded $0.84 per student.
COSAP’s newest program, Designated Lobos, offers students incentives to be designated drivers. After students sign up for the program, they receive a red wristband that they can show at participating bars to receive free nonalcoholic drinks. Steiner said that 12 local bars are participating in the program, including Coaches, Kelly’s Brew Pub and Nob Hill Bar and Grill.
If participants are designated drivers for parties, they can send a message with a picture of themselves wearing their wristband to COSAP via Facebook. This enters them into a drawing to win a prize such as a free movie ticket, a trip for two to Las Vegas, an iPad or $50 in LoboCash. Steiner said COSAP trusts that the students submitting photos stayed sober.
“It’s an honor system,” Steiner said. “I don’t think that too many people will take advantage of that.”
Steiner said COSAP doesn’t advocate abstinence from drinking but instead tries to help students make better choices when they drink. He said that because many students choose to drink, providing them with resources to stay safe will be more fruitful than trying to change their minds altogether.
According to COSAP’s Student Lifestyles Survey, an annual survey that asks 700 to 900 students about their alcohol and drug habits, about 33 percent of student participants in 2010 reported having driven while drunk and about 61 student participants reported drinking underage.
Steiner said the organization holds tabling events by the SUB and in Smith Plaza to advertise new programs. He said that so far, 109 students have registered for the Designated Lobos program.
A similar program, Designated Drivers Do It for Their Friends, was created by COSAP several years ago, but the program was cut due to lack of funding.
He said COSAP also produced an informational booklet, “Fun in the 505,” which lists activities for students that don’t involve drinking. The booklet was distributed across campus during the University’s Welcome Back Days at the beginning of the semester. He said the organization also encourages students to not drink and drive by publicizing upcoming DWI checkpoints via Facebook and hanging posters around campus.
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Steiner said COSAP will continue to implement new programs to keep students safe.
UNM student Martin Overfield said that in order for the program to be more successful, there need to be better incentives.
“If you could turn it into a job, that would be really successful. But I wouldn’t go out of my way for it,” he said. “They don’t make me want to do it.”
Overfield said that he would be most inclined to participate in the program if it offered more realistic incentives, such as money or college credit for participation in the program.
UNM student Kristin Eggleston said the program is a good idea and that the University should encourage safe drinking practices.
“People should be encouraged not to drink,” she said. “Hopefully it will be successful, but if people are going to drink and drive they will do it anyway.”
