Empowering 49
College Students

Charlotte, NC

The Ready to Thrive (RTT) substance Abuse Awareness program

Proudly partnering with the Mecklenburg County ABC Board’s Small Grant Program to empower 49 college students to make more informed decisions regarding alcohol and substances.

The Ready to Thrive (RTT) substance Abuse Awareness program will provide 40 high-achieving, at-risk college students with educational resources, incentives, and an expert-led workshop for empowerment. To increase economic mobility, social capital, racial equity, our program provides students with an understanding of substance abuse. Additionally, new for this year, Thrive is proud to be partnering with Deloitte to host a Design Thinking Focus group for 9 students to help guide resource and content development for the program.

Younger adults and racial/ethnic minorities, report having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use and elevated suicidal ideation. Research shows that reducing the rates of excessive drinking and drug use among college students could have profound impacts on student retention and positively impact their long-term success and employability. The NIAAA research shows that about 25% of students report suffering academic consequences related to drinking too much, including skipping classes, lower test scores and grades.

By investing in these students through the RTT Substance Abuse Awareness program, curated resources and workshops, we will provide these students with equitable access to this information to empower them in the classroom. Learning more about substance abuse could be one of the most impactful tools for driving college success.