WOLFVILLE, N.S. - A Nova Scotia university that saw one of its students die last year after a night of drinking has vowed to make changes to its alcohol policy following a report from the province's top doctor.

Acadia University in Wolfville will work with public health and emergency health services to learn how to respond to issues related to high-risk drinking behaviour, according to a university alcohol strategy released Thursday.

The strategy said the school will also create a group specifically trained to reach out to high-risk students, and will work with staff and students to change their attitudes about binge drinking.

The university's commitments are in response to a report on alcohol risks among university students that was also released Thursday by Robert Strang, the province's chief public health officer.

The report comes nearly a year after a 19-year-old Alberta man died following a night of drinking in his residence at Acadia.

University president Ray Ivany said the provincial report will help steer the school in the right direction when looking at its alcohol policy.

"My colleagues across North America recognize the importance of changing the culture of high-risk alcohol consumption among young people for both their immediate safety and their long-term health," Ivany said in a news release.

"The report from (Strang) told us that while we were already headed in the right direction, we can go further by adopting best practices employed by others and engage more members of our campus community in our efforts."

Health Minister David Wilson said binge drinking is happening on universities across the continent and isn't unique to Nova Scotia. He said awareness about its dangers is key to changing behaviour.

"We were all young once and we all recognize that being young, people are active and try things that probably they shouldn't," Wilson said Thursday.

"We need to be sure that we remind them, educate them and show that there are consequences to binge drinking."

Related on HuffPost:

Alcohol Addiction Signs From Everyday Health

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• Abuse: Not Meeting Responsibilities

  <i>Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:</i> Repeated substance use to the point of not being able to meet responsibilities -- not performing well at work, being suspended from school, being repeatedly late or absent from required duties, or neglecting household tasks.

• Abuse: Involving Risk

  <i>Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:</i> Repeated substance use when there is risk involved, like operating equipment or driving a car while under the influence.

• Abuse: Difficulties With The Law

  <i>Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:</i> Repeated difficulties with the law related to substance use -- being arrested for physical aggression or drunk driving, for instance.

• Abuse: Personal Or Social Difficulties

  <i>Abuse, the regular use of a substance that leads to serious psychological and/or physical disability, is shown by one or more of these symptoms during the same year:</i> Insisting on using the substance regardless of continued or repeated personal or social difficulties because of it, verbal or physical aggression with a loved one, or frequent arguments about the substance use.

• Dependence: Needing Great Amounts

  <i>Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:</i> Needing greater amounts of alcohol to satisfy cravings.

• Dependence: An Inability To Reduce Use

  <i>Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:</i> Using the substance longer than planned or more frequently and in greater amounts. An inability to reduce use, despite a sincere wish to do so.

• Dependence: Going Through Withdrawal

  <i>Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:</i> Going through withdrawal when not using alcohol, with symptoms such as tremors, restlessness, and agitation.

• Dependence: Avoiding Withdrawal

  <i>Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:</i> Taking a substance or a similar one to avoid the effects of withdrawal.

• Dependence: Spending Time On Alcohol

  <i>Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:</i> Spending a significant amount of time trying to acquire the substance. Spending less time at work or on other activities because of substance use; a person may completely abandon previously enjoyable activities.

• Dependence: Drinking In The Face Of Difficulty

  <i>Symptoms of alcohol dependence, a physical need to drink, are identified as three or more of the following within the same year:</i> Continuing to drink despite being aware that alcohol is causing psychological or physical difficulties.

• Addiction: Saying Inappropriate Things

  <i>Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:</i> Does he/she frequently say inappropriate things?

• Addiction: Slurred Speech

  <i>Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:</i> Does his/her speech slurred?

• Addiction: Missing Work

  <i>Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:</i> Does he/she miss work?

• Addiction: Off Balance

  <i>Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:</i> Is his/her balance off when they walk?

• Addiction: Trouble With The Law

  <i>Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:</i> Has he/she gotten in trouble with the law, for example, with drinking and driving?

• Addiction: Health Problems

  <i>Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York City, helps determine the severity of alcohol addiction by asking the following questions:</i> Is he having health issues related to alcohol addiction, such as heartburn, liver problems, high blood pressure, or insomnia?

• Question To Ask: Should I Cut Down?

  <i>Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.</i> C stands for cut-down: Do you ever feel that you should cut down on your drinking?

• Question To Ask: People Getting Annoyed?

  <i>Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.</i> A stands for annoyed: Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

• Question To Ask: Ever Felt Guilty?

  <i>Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.</i> G stands for guilty: Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?

• Question To Ask: Drinking To 'Recover'?

  <i>Take the CAGE questionnaire -- if the answer to two or more of the four CAGE questions is yes, it is likely you have a problem.</i> E stands for eye-opener: Have you ever had to drink as soon as you wake up to steady your nerves or get over a hangover?