The Alcohol and Other Drug Program (AOD) is dedicated to helping people make healthy lifestyles choices about alcohol and drug use.   The AOD program helps foster a campus atmosphere that encourages people to make healthy lifestyle choices by sponsoring alcohol and drug free events,  conducting educational outreach programs, and by participating in National Alcohol Screening Day.  The AOD Program provides assistance for students with substance abuse concerns.

Additionally, the AOD Program works with a variety of departments on campus in an endeavor to develop consistent and fair policies and procedures as they relate to substance abuse prevention and intervention efforts.  The AOD Program welcomes suggestions and participants!

What is the e-CHUG?

The e-CHUG (electronic Check-Up to Go) is an interactive web survey that allows students to enter information about their drinking patterns and receive feedback about their use of alcohol. The assessment takes about 6-7 minutes to complete, is self-guided, and requires no face-to-face contact time with a counselor or administrator.  This survey is confidential.  The computer records your scores but does NOT record your name or other identifying information.

What does it do?

When you access the e-CHUG, you are prompted to enter information about yourself. In addition to demographic information, it will ask you to enter information about your drinking habits, family history, and to complete the World Health Organization’s AUDIT.

After all information has been entered, you submit the form. The information you entered is then validated and processed. The e-CHUG calculates a number of variables and compares your responses to national and local college norms. Then, your personalized feedback is displayed in standard HTML format.    To access e-CHUG click on the following link:   http://interwork.sdsu.edu/echug2/ETSU

“Do I Have a Problem?”

A common myth surrounding substance abuse is “Only people with addictions have a problem.”  The reality is that there are many negative consequences that result from drinking or drug use:

Inability to meet requirements or responsibilities in the classroom,  in the work place or on the field as you once were able.

Either losing or jeopardizing important work, familial or friend relationships.

Suffering from uncomfortable or unhealthy medical conditions such as nausea, dehydration, blackouts, liver damage and impaired abstract thinking (brain damage).

Experiencing legal problems such as being arrested for underage consumption, drunk driving or possession.

Doing or saying things that harm self or other people (e.g. physical, verbal or sexual violence).

Inability to attain personal goals such as obtaining a degree or sustaining a healthy relationship.

Using substances to deal with stress or emotional problems.

Ever wonder if your drinking or drug choices may have developed into an addiction?

If you can answer yes to the following questions, then chances are you have developed or are developing a dependency.

• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking but found you were unable to do so?

• Have you found yourself unable to stop drinking once you started?

• Does it take great amounts of alcohol to reach the same level of intoxication (i.e. do you have increased tolerance)?

• Have you felt annoyed by people who criticized your drinking?

• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?

• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

If you are experiencing any problems due to alcohol/substance use or if you believe you may have an addiction, we encourage you to contact the Counseling Center at 423-439-4841.  A trained mental health professional can provide a free, confidential consultation.

How Do I Avoid a Problem?

The only way to guarantee that you will not develop a substance abuse problem is to abstain.   If you choose not to abstain, then by following low-risk drinking guidelines you reduce your risk over a lifetime of developing an addiction, a medical condition (liver disease, heart disease, etc.) or  engaging in unsafe activities (driving drunk, having unprotected sex, etc.).  If you fall into one of the below-mentioned categories, then the only low-risk choice is abstinence.

• Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant

• People who plan to drive or engage in other activities that require alertness and skill (such as using high-speed machinery)

• People taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications

• People with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking

• Recovering alcoholics. 

• People younger than age 21.

Low-Risk Guidelines

Men and women who do not drink daily are encouraged not to exceed 3 drinks in one day AND not to drink more than one drink per hour.

The only low-risk choice involved in drug use is to abstain.

What is a Drink?

·        12 ounces of beer or wine cooler

·        5 ounces of wine

·        1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (80 proof)

* Please note that mixed drinks often have multiple shots of distilled spirits, and therefore, are considered more than one drink.

AOD Services

·        Free and confidential alcohol & drug assessment for students.  (We do not provide court mandated assessments and/or educational/treatment programs.  No exceptions.)  We do, however, provide assessments and education mandated by the university judicial systems.

·        Prevention programs for the classroom, for the residence hall or for the student group.

·        Campus-wide alcohol & drug free events such as Fatal Vision Goggle Olympics and Well-a-palooza.

·        Free and confidential consultations with concerned friends, family or faculty/staff.

·         Free literature and other resources for students, faculty and    staff as well as community referrals.

·         Counseling and/or referral sources for students experiencing   a substance abuse problem.

Local Resources

 ETSU Counseling Center   (423)439-4841

Frontier Health                         (423)232-4300 or (888)291-1935

Magnolia Ridge                         (423)232-4130

Woodridge Hospital              (423)928-7111

Indian Path Pavillion           (800)-366-1132 0r (423)859-5500

Johnson City Med Center (423)434-6111

Alcoholics Anonymous     (423)928-0871

ALANON                                        (423)928-0871

Helpful Links

http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/

http://www.samhsa.gov/centers/csap/csap.html

http://www.aca-usa.org/

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/

http://www.factsontap.org/

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

http://www.addictionrecoveryguide.org/

http://www.bacchusgamma.org/

http://www.nacoa.net/

http://www.drugabuse.gov/

http://www.edc.org/hec/

This web site is best viewed with Internet Explorer.  Send questions or comments about this web site to:     Connie Yakley at yakley@etsu.edu   Last modified: September 18, 2007 11:46:50 AM,    East Tennessee State University

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