Donate Today and Help Raise Awareness About Drug and Alcohol Prevention Amongst LSU Students

4070 W. Lakeshore Baton Rouge LA 70803 (985) 778-3632

It was initiation day for Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Louisiana State University and Benjamin Wynne, 20, was celebrating his bid when the celebration suddenly turned deadly. Wynne was just beginning college and had a bright future ahead, but after a night filled with heavy drinking and partying, he was found dead the next morning. Officials say he consumed more than 24 drinks and his blood-alcohol level was 0.588, which is nearly six times the legal limit for automobile drivers. According to research, it is clear that the current situation of substance abuse on LSUs campus is extremely high. According to survey results, 68 percent of respondents have accepted a ride from someone else that was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs and 38 percent of respondents would consider themselves a binge drinker. This information clearly displays that there is a problem on LSUs campus regarding drugs and alcohol and students would benefit from programs offered by the Louisiana Center Addressing Substance Use, which is a drug and alcohol prevention organization on LSUs campus. LaCASU is an outgrowth of Louisiana State Universitys participation in a 10-university research project titled A Matter of Degree (AMOD). AMOD required the 10 universities, all with high binge-drinking rates, to initiate a campus-community coalition, which included better enforcement of alcohol laws, campus alcohol education and campus alcohol policy. LaCASU was founded as a result of the 1997 death of LSU student Benjamin Wynne. The students death was a result of excess alcohol consumption. In order to avoid similar tragedies, LaCASU was created to promote healthy lifestyles among the collegiate community, focusing on eliminating the negative consequences from alcohol consumption and drug abuse. The organization provides many programs and research initiatives targeted to university students in order to foster safe and healthy collegiate communities. The nonprofit offers Alcoholics Anonymous meetings throughout the year for students in recovery, and Students in Recovery Support Group sessions for currently enrolled students every Monday afternoon. During LSU football, LaCASU hosts a sober tailgate for all students in recovery. Although LaCASU offers an extensive amount of programs LSU students could benefit from, 92 percent of students have not heard of the organization. In order to raise awareness about LaCASU, Spark! PR has teamed up with LaCASU to sponsor a th blood drive for all LSU students. The blood drive will be held on April 7 from 9-5 in the LSU student union. In order to increase participation, we hope to offer students who donate a chance to enter a raffle to win a prize. In order for this blood drive to be a success, we are asking if your company could donate a $10 gift card to be raffled off at the event. Your donation can help save lives by funding awareness about this issue. Benjamin Wynnes l ife could have been saved if he would have been more aware of the dangers of alcohol and drug consumption. Spark! PR hopes to increase awareness about LaCASU amongst LSU students in hopes to prevent tragedies like this from happening in Baton Rouge. Please help us share the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse to LSU students by offering a donation. Thank you for your consideration, Emily Schmidt Spark! PR Media &Promotion Director