The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, requires that any institution of higher education that receives federal financial assistance must adopt and implement a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and alcohol abuse by students and employees.

Pursuit to this requirement, the Department of Education General Administrative Regulations Part 86 requires that colleges and universities annually distribute specified drug and alcohol prevention information to students and employees  and conduct a biennial review of their drug and alcohol prevention programs.