Substance Use Mitigation Team

The Substance Use Mitigation Team is an inter-departmental group of faculty and staff who work to address harmful substance use concerns on campus. We are happy to offer the below resources to guide you in these topics. If you have a substance use topic you would want to learn more about, submit your idea here. You may see your topic in upcoming lunch and learn series. 

If you have interest in joining the our team, please email Will Evans, Senior Assistant Director, Wellness Programs.

Each year the SUM Team hosts a series of Lunch and Learns for staff and instructors. These sessions are designed to help your better support students, understand the current alcohol and other drug environment, and integrate substance use prevention into your interactions with students. 

Fall 2025 Lunch and Learn Series

What Drive Drug Use? 

Responding to substance misuse in society necessitates understanding what drives drug use, as well as what causes people to cease harmful drug use. This session provides a brief overview of leading views of what drives drug use, as well as presenting an alternative and more comprehensive view of drivers of drug use.

Presenter: Craig K. Svensson, PharmD, PhD, Dean Emeritus & Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University College of Pharmacy

September 26 | 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM in the CoRec Howard Taylor Conference Room

Sex, Drugs, and…Student Health? Leveraging Sexual Health Approaches to Advance Student Elbowing

Sexual health is a vital component of overall well-being for individuals. Despite its importance, significant sexual health disparities persist in the United States and globally. This session explores a range of sexual health initiatives, highlighting the key barriers and facilitators to successful community-academic collaboration, with a focus on addressing the complex interplay between substance use and sexual health outcomes.

Presenter: Randolf Hubach, PhD, Director of the Sexual Health Research Lab and the Center for Rural and Migrant Health, Purdue University.

October 23 | 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM in the CoRec Howard Taylor Conference Room

Social and Cultural Influences on College Students' Alcohol Use

Alcohol use is highly prevalent among college students and there are a multitude of environmental conditions that influence alcohol initiation and use. To understand what aspects are most salient for alcohol use/abstinence for current undergraduate and graduate students, 25 semi-structured interviews with students from private and public universities including Purdue were completed. Study findings highlight salient targets for prevention/intervention programming for currently enrolled students at major universities.

Presenter: Amy M. Loviska, MS, Graduate Research Assistant, Human Development and Family Science

November 13 | 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM in the CoRec Howard Taylor Conference Room

To register for in-person attendance (include a lunch) click here.

Social Connectedness and Alcohol

Hear insights from Fraternity, Sorority, Cooperative Life and Residence Life staff members about their perspectives on how substance use impacts social connections. Learn how two large campus departments help students navigate these issues and how the lessons they’ve learned can be applied elsewhere.

Presenters: Representatives from Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life at Purdue University and Residential Life at Purdue University

December 5 | 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM in the CoRec Howard Taylor Conference Room

To register for in-person attendance (include a lunch) click here.

Join us for the annual Alcohol Summit to learn more about substance use trends and prevention. This half day event includes presentations on substance use research, a panel with Purdue Fire and Police, and a student panel. Lunch is included. 

The 2026 Alcohol Summit will take place on March 6 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Registration information will go out in spring 2026.