Duke names first head of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Center
Thursday, August 28, 2008
DURHAM, N.C. -- Thomas Szigethy, who instituted a number of innovative substance abuse programs at the University of Connecticut, has been named Duke University’s associate dean and director of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Center.
As the new school year begins at Duke, Szigethy will begin meeting with students, parents, faculty, staff and other interested groups on and around campus to discuss issues surrounding alcohol and substance use on Duke’s campus.
“Alcohol and substance abuse are issues that often have their roots in the college years, with effects that can last a lifetime. In that respect, Duke is no different than any other college or university,” said Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek. “Tom will help us -- that means everyone on campus -- identify and understand our behaviors and how they contribute, both positively and negatively, to alcohol and substance use issues here at Duke.”
Prior to arriving at Duke, Szigethy spent four years at the University of Connecticut, where he created a systematic prevention strategic plan for the university community; advised student groups dedicated to prevention of substance abuse and promotion of healthy behaviors; created a forum for campus and neighboring communities to discuss substance use topics as a community issue; and implemented Brief Alcohol Screening for College Students.
He also developed and implemented a variety of programs that provoked students to think about drinking. One such program asked students to reduce their alcohol intake by one drink, and to donate the cost of that drink to support impoverished families in Vietnam. When students discovered that this simple change could feed an entire family and educate a child for a year, it got them thinking and talking, and changing their behaviors.
“There are a number of levels to substance issues: the individual behavior, the group behavior, and the cultural view of the behavior,” said Szigethy. “We will have to work on all of these levels to be effective, to show students there is more to campus social life than intoxication.”
Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta noted while that Duke has long been engaged in efforts to address harmful uses of alcohol and drugs, “we realized that to maximize positive outcomes would require having expert guidance. Tom provides both the science and the art that will allow us to tailor our approaches to reducing harmful uses of alcohol and other substances. He also brings an engaging personality and great humor, both of which will be great assets to his work.”
Szigethy said he is aware that his job will be difficult, that people will see him as an “alcohol policeman,” but he insists that’s not the case. “I think the beauty of this position is that I get to get people to think about the decisions they’re making,” he said, “but I’m not enforcing. That’s someone else’s job.
I like talking to people and really getting to the core of what’s affecting them. They’re not going to tell their peers, but when they come to me they are aware that they want to make a change. That’s when they can make a real change for the better in their own lives.”
Prior to his work in substance abuse prevention, Szigethy spent 12 years as a child welfare trainer, supervisor and investigative social worker for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the Department of Social Services in Massachusetts.
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As the new school year begins at Duke, Szigethy will begin meeting with students, parents, faculty, staff and other interested groups on and around campus to discuss issues surrounding alcohol and substance use on Duke’s campus.
“Alcohol and substance abuse are issues that often have their roots in the college years, with effects that can last a lifetime. In that respect, Duke is no different than any other college or university,” said Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek. “Tom will help us -- that means everyone on campus -- identify and understand our behaviors and how they contribute, both positively and negatively, to alcohol and substance use issues here at Duke.”
Prior to arriving at Duke, Szigethy spent four years at the University of Connecticut, where he created a systematic prevention strategic plan for the university community; advised student groups dedicated to prevention of substance abuse and promotion of healthy behaviors; created a forum for campus and neighboring communities to discuss substance use topics as a community issue; and implemented Brief Alcohol Screening for College Students.
He also developed and implemented a variety of programs that provoked students to think about drinking. One such program asked students to reduce their alcohol intake by one drink, and to donate the cost of that drink to support impoverished families in Vietnam. When students discovered that this simple change could feed an entire family and educate a child for a year, it got them thinking and talking, and changing their behaviors.
“There are a number of levels to substance issues: the individual behavior, the group behavior, and the cultural view of the behavior,” said Szigethy. “We will have to work on all of these levels to be effective, to show students there is more to campus social life than intoxication.”
Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta noted while that Duke has long been engaged in efforts to address harmful uses of alcohol and drugs, “we realized that to maximize positive outcomes would require having expert guidance. Tom provides both the science and the art that will allow us to tailor our approaches to reducing harmful uses of alcohol and other substances. He also brings an engaging personality and great humor, both of which will be great assets to his work.”
Szigethy said he is aware that his job will be difficult, that people will see him as an “alcohol policeman,” but he insists that’s not the case. “I think the beauty of this position is that I get to get people to think about the decisions they’re making,” he said, “but I’m not enforcing. That’s someone else’s job.
I like talking to people and really getting to the core of what’s affecting them. They’re not going to tell their peers, but when they come to me they are aware that they want to make a change. That’s when they can make a real change for the better in their own lives.”
Prior to his work in substance abuse prevention, Szigethy spent 12 years as a child welfare trainer, supervisor and investigative social worker for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the Department of Social Services in Massachusetts.
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For more information, contact:
Chris Heltne, Director of Communications for Student Affairs
919.684.3567 | chris.heltne@duke.edu