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Alcohol and Other Drug Issues

Students may feel a great deal of freedom when leaving home and coming to college, especially for the first time. Although this is a wonderful and rewarding experience for most, there may be some issues that become difficult to handle. The availability of alcohol and drugs may become one of these issues.

Some students may find themselves drinking too much, using illegal drugs, or engaging in underage drinking. At times such behaviors may result in lowered academic performance due to inability to concentrate on studies, not getting up for classes due to a hangover, or just being tired. Sometimes legal difficulties (such as a DUI or underage possession of alcohol) may occur. Sometimes students may be told by their friends that they drink too much and that they need to get help. In some cases a student may come to the University of Georgia in recovery from previous alcohol and/or drug abuse. All of these things may indicate a problem with alcohol and/or drugs and the need for initial or further treatment.

CAPS has an Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Program (AOD) for the purpose of helping students with their concerns about alcohol and drug usage. Trained therapists are available for treatment of students in this program. If students are mandated for treatment by the UGA judiciary system or by county or state courts, they must sign up for an assessment at the Health Promotion Department on the first floor of the University Health Center. The Health Promotion Department can also be reached at 706-542-8690. CAPS staff is also involved in this assessment. The mandated student may then be referred to Prime for Life: Campus, BASICS+, or to the community for services. For more information please see Alcohol and Other Drug Mandated Program.

If you are concerned about your alcohol and other drug use, you can take an online assessment:
• Online Self-Assessment (Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Alcohol, Eating Disorders, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress)
• e-CHUG: Online Self Assessment for Alcohol

Entering the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Program
A student may voluntarily enter AOD treatment by calling CAPS at 706-542-2273 for a telephone screening. If appropriate, the student may be scheduled for an initial consultation appointment (see Scheduling an Appointment). The clinician conducting the initial consultation appointment will most likely refer a student with alcohol and/or drug problems to a member of the AOD Treatment Team for a follow-up appointment.

During the initial appointment with the AOD clinician, an intake assessment will be completed. Because an interdisciplinary approach is used in treatment in the AOD program, students may be referred for a more detailed psychological and medical evaluation. Psychological testing and physical exams are often recommended at the University Health Center. There are additional fees associated with such services. The AOD team is a multidisciplinary team comprised of therapists/psychologists, psychiatric staff, medical staff, and Health Promotion staff who are all bound by confidentiality.

With the added information obtained from the testing and the physical examination, the clinician presents the student's information to the AOD team who then recommends treatment, which may include but is not limited to:

• Services at CAPS in the AOD program, which may include individual therapy and occasionally group counseling
• When appropriate, an outside referral will be made. Sometimes the student may be referred to a treatment center if the alcohol and/or drug problem requires more intensive treatment than can be provided at CAPS.
• Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are recommended.

Alcohol Screening

Online Self-Assessment
(Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Alcohol, Eating Disorders, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress)
e-CHUG: Online Self Assessment for Alcohol

For Additional Information: CAPS/Health Promotion programs and services