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University of Virginia Students Work to Prevent Alcohol Abuse at Foxfield Races

The University of Virginia's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (known as ADAPT, a group of student peer educators) will present "Everything You Wanted to Know About Foxfield,” a program that is part of safety education activities surrounding the spring Foxfield Races in Charlottesville. The program takes place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Newcomb Hall Theater.

The students have also produced a Foxfield safety video for YouTube, which they hope will reach U.Va. students in a new way. "We still have our cups and posters, and they are awesome," said Lucy Boyd, a third-year student and peer health educator in the Department of Student Health. "This year we also wanted to use a very modern means of communication. We are very pleased with the way it came out. We hope the U.Va. community enjoys this video for its humor and wide array of people speaking in it, but also learn a thing or two about how to make Foxfield a fun-yet-safe experience."

Wednesday's panel presentation will include representatives of the Foxfield Racing Association, Albemarle County Police, Alcoholic Beverage Control, Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, the Charlottesville/Albemarle Rescue Squad and U.Va. administration. A question-and-answer period will follow. More than 400 students attended last year's presentation.

Topics on the agenda include new Foxfield policies and traffic flow, safe travel options, organizational and personal liability issues, accessing medical services and understanding Virginia laws and penalties for underage drinking. The ADAPT peer educators will provide specific information on minimizing alcohol-related risks and recognizing an alcohol emergency.

In 2009, a team of U.Va. systems engineering undergraduates developed and distributed a series of five educational posters highlighting alcohol safety issues at the Foxfield Races, including signs of alcohol poisoning and safe transportation options. The students received academic credit for the project while working with engineering professor Ellen Bass to improve upon a similar campaign implemented the previous year.

This year's interdisciplinary student team analyzed student survey data collected after the 2009 races, refined campaign messages, tested the campaign components using focus groups, and coordinated a multifaceted campaign. The project was funded through grants from Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control and the U.Va. Parents Committee.

On Saturday, ADAPT students will staff student safety tents in the orange section of the Foxfield Races. Student volunteers will provide free water, snack foods and sunscreen for patrons, and will register non-drinking drivers for the Savvy Fox program. Sponsored by the Foxfield Racing Association and Virginia Eagle Distributing Co., the program provides free T-shirts and sodas to designated drivers.