Washington College stands with Kent County by going purple in support of Kent Goes Purple – a county-wide initiative meant to alert the community about substance abuse. From lighting and decorating sections of the campus purple to participating in the 5K Color Fun Run on September 9, Washington College plays a significant role in educating students on prevention and intervention on all forms of substance abuse.
“We support this initiative because any level of awareness we could generate for the community helps our students,” says Washington College president Kurt Landgraf. “It’s important for all of us to have an appreciation of the destructive nature of substance abuse, and for those who are addicted to misuse – there is help.”
The Washington College Office of Prevention, Education and Advocacy requires all first-year students, along with individuals who may demonstrate substance use and/or misuse, to take online courses for substance abuse prevention and intervention. The College also provides a personalized intervention and prevention course for those who may be using illicit drugs and/or misusing prescription drugs.The information provided specifically in this course aims to: recognize how psychoactive drugs affect the brain; identify types and categories of psychoactive drugs; understand addiction, tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal; and learn what to do in case of overdose.
On campus, most of the College’s public safety officers have received NARCAN training to administer naloxone, a medication that can countereffect opioids, in the event of an accidental overdose.
To learn more about Kent Goes Purple, register for the Kent Goes Purple 5K Color Fun Run, or to donate, visit: www.kentgoespurple.org. Follow Kent Goes Purple on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KentGoesPurple/.
About Washington College
Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the nation and the first chartered under the new Republic. It enrolls approximately 1,450 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.
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