Pennsylvania has awarded Neumann University a $212,650 substance abuse prevention grant to support two years of on-campus educational programming.
Planned activities include holding training sessions on substance misuse (from prescription drugs and alcohol to cannabis and opioids), launching a peer support group facilitated by professional counselors on staff, and creating student-led outreach and awareness campaigns on campus.
The training will teach students to recognize signs of misuse, understand referral pathways, and learn harm reduction strategies. The outreach campaigns will empower students to take active roles in fostering a compassionate and safe community.
The Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction (SAEDR) grant -- awarded to Neumann by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency -- supports a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at substance abuse prevention, youth intervention, and public safety enhancement.
On campus, the program is led by Stephanie Davey, Neumann’s co-director for the Office of Student Well-Being and the university’s Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Grant coordinator.
“The support provided through the SAEDR grant allows us to continue building a culture of care and connection at Neumann,” said Davey. “These funds help us expand meaningful, student-centered programs that not only address substance use but also promote overall well-being.”
Dr. Sarah Williamson, Dean of Students, is eager to set the initiatives in motion.
“When students learn to support one another with empathy and awareness, they’re not just building a safer campus. They’re becoming the kind of leaders our world needs,” she explained.
The funding supports programs at the university through June 30, 2027.
Established by law in 1978, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) serves as the justice planning and policymaking agency for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. By bringing together a wide range of experts in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice, victim services, and related professions, PCCD coordinates the examination of problems, proposes solutions, and evaluates the impact of those solutions.