U-M CREATES POSITION TO ADDRESS DRUG ABUSE

The University of Michigan has created a new position in the Division of
Student Affairs to coordinate efforts to fight alcohol and other drug use
and abuse, U-M announced Friday.

The appointment of Patrice Flax was recommended by the two recent committees
formed to look into binge drinking and drug and alcohol use.

"My goal is to work with students to emphasize the strengths they have that
can help them protect themselves from the bad things that can happen when
they abuse alcohol," Flax said.

Her experience in health education began while she was a graduate student at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received an M.S. degree in
health education in 2000. During her time in Madison, Flax was a health
educator, working with alcohol and sexuality issues. She also has a master's
degree in social work from San Jose State University and a B.F.A. in art
history from Drake University.