As a tribute to his work to combat substance abuse, a Department of Public Safety official was named to the National Drug and Alcohol Prevention Effort.

Chuck Cychosz, manager of special operations for DPS, joined about 30 other professionals Aug. 16 as an active center associate for the organization.

The National Drug and Alcohol Prevention Effort is an organization dedicated to educating the public about the hazards of substance abuse.

Cychosz said the job includes writing publications, training others and leading education efforts around the country.

He said he wants to tackle a lot of the problems behind alcohol abuse in the Ames and ISU communities and the rest of the nation.

He said alcohol abuse is often related to crime and other public safety concerns.

“[Alcohol is] always a factor,” he said.

“I want to try and help the community get a hold on alcohol abuse.”

Jerry Stewart, interim director of DPS, said the nomination of Cychosz to the national organization reflects the efforts of the entire department.

“This serves as reinforcement that we are emphasizing the importance of substance abuse issues,” Stewart said. “It is especially important to a campus community.”

Cychosz said he is very honored to be named.

“In part, I am humble, though,” he said. “Being selected was because of the work of a lot of people.”

To be named to the National Drug and Alcohol Prevention Effort, Cychosz had to apply to the national headquarters.

After being named to the organization he had to go through a short training procedure in Boston.

Cychosz insists team work on the behalf of the rest of the department is the reason he was named to the organization.

“I’m accepting this role as a part of many people’s talents,” he said.