Building healthier campuses together.
2014
Governor Pat McCrory made history by launching a groundbreaking pilot program that transformed the landscape of collegiate recovery in North Carolina. This visionary initiative established recovery programs at six pioneering institutions, including North Carolina A&T State University—our nation’s first Collegiate Recovery Program at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU)—and others like UNC-Charlotte, the state’s very first recovery program.
2016
The Department of Health and Human Services teamed up with Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) to bring on board the state’s first Collegiate Recovery Program Coordinator—now known as the Director of Scholastic Recovery. This partnership has become a driving force behind nearly 30 successful collegiate recovery programs. This collaboration also laid the foundation for the North Carolina Higher Education Consortium (NCHEC).
2019
The Department of Health and Human Services took another leap forward by launching the Collegiate Policy Advisory Committee (CPAC). With leadership from APNC and the NC Institute of Medicine, CPAC crafted a visionary roadmap to reduce substance use among college students.
2020
With the roadmap, APNC began developing the NC Higher Education Consortium (NCHEC), a centralized, statewide powerhouse for technical assistance, training, and peer-to-peer learning. This initiative marked a significant shift in collegiate prevention efforts, culminating in the launch of NCHEC in Fall 2022, which solidified North Carolina’s leadership in evidence-based substance use prevention.
2021
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Department of Health and Human Services funded NCHEC to complete a statewide needs assessment of college campuses.
2023
NCHEC merged the assessment with the original CPAC roadmap to craft the game-changing NC Collegiate Prevention Strategic Recommendations report. This comprehensive report is poised to drive impactful change in collegiate addiction prevention across North Carolina over the next few years. This report will be reviewed and updated every three years.
NCHEC Today
NCHEC now stands as the premier resource for Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) professionals on college campuses across North Carolina. It also paves the way for the next generation of substance use professionals through innovative programs, including technical assistance and specialized training.
