Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Services

*Visit the Appointments page to access the UCC’s AOD services.*

University students may be exposed and have access to substances such as alcohol or other drugs (AOD) on any college campus. Vanderbilt has policies in place to discourage the underage or problematic use of alcohol or other drugs as defined in the Student Handbook.

If a student is concerned about their level of substance use, the UCC offers many types of AOD services. We work in close partnership with the Center for Student Wellbeing, which provides alcohol education and assessment, the Office of Student Accountability, which refers students who violate campus policies regarding use of alcohol and other substances, and with Vanderbilt Recovery Support (VRS), which provides support groups and housing for those in recovery from AOD Use Disorders.​

AOD Services:

• Screening. All students coming to the UCC, regardless of the reason, take the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) as part of their initial assessment to identify student level of risk for AOD problems.

• Staff Education. All UCC staff members are trained to identify possible AOD problems and to address high risk behavior.

• Specialized Therapists. Members of the AOD Team are available as consultants to other staff members.  Some students may be seen directly by AOD Team members as needed.

• Group Therapy. The Forward and Beyond (FAB) Group is solution focused and goal oriented, with an emphasis on harm reduction. Students will have the opportunity to explore life choices as they continue to move forward in college and beyond.

• Medical Assessment and Management. A qualified medical team is available to assess for medical treatment of co-occurring conditions and/ or evidence-based treatments of substance use disorders.

• Referrals. The UCC will refer students to other resources as needed.

Our Philosophy:

We recognize that alcohol and drug use takes place on a continuum, as illustrated below:

We acknowledge that there is greater likelihood of significant change if students set their own goals. These goals may range from recovery with a goal of abstinence, to motivation for change consistent with a harm reduction model. Students can collaborate with their providers to see where they best fit on the continuum above, and what interventions or referrals would be most appropriate. We know that AOD use often co-exists with other mental health problems. We address these issues with attention to both. Improvement in one area may not be possible without improvement in the other, as well.  Members of the AOD Team work with other staff therapists and medical providers to develop treatment approaches accordingly.