University Addresses Substance Abuse Through Living and Learning Program

The University of Vermont is pioneering a program that integrates residential and curricular elements to address substance abuse, according to NBC News.

The program’s participants are 120 freshmen who live in a substance-free dorm. They receive a Fitbit, gym passes and nutrition coaching. They take a neuroscience course, “Healthy Brains, Healthy Bodies.” The class begins with meditation, and covers research on the benefits of clean living, the article notes.

The program, called Wellness Environment, was founded by Dr. James Hudziak, Chief of Child Psychiatry at the College of Medicine and the University of Vermont Medical Center. The program has four pillars of health: exercise, nutrition, mindfulness and mentorship.

“It’s about behavior change,” Hudziak said. “When armed with science, young people can make better decisions.” The program will expand next year to 500 students, including 320 new freshman, as well as currently enrolled students and transfers.

Hudziak explained the human brain does not fully mature until about age 25. “There is no such thing as a bad kid, just bad ideas taking place in the brain during construction,” he said. Young minds are especially vulnerable when exposed to high-risk substances, he noted.

He told NBC News there is “some evidence” the program is working, and data is being collected to assess its effectiveness.