Substance Use Risk Reduction
Creating a safer, healthier campus community
McWell recognizes the significant impact alcohol and other substance use can have on the well-being of our campus community. Because of this, substance use risk reduction strategies are an important way McWell is working to keep our campus healthy and safe.
To get more information or begin the process complete the intake survey below or email mtrionfe@nd.edu.
Expectation of Responsibility
The health, safety, and well-being of individuals should be paramount concerns of all members of the Notre Dame community. As such, Notre Dame students are expected to exercise active care and concern and contact appropriate authorities in the event of any health or safety emergency, even if violations of the University’s alcohol policy and/or controlled substances policy may have occurred in connection with such an emergency.
Because students’ concern of possible disciplinary action may unnecessarily deter their desire to seek medical attention for themselves or others, the University has adopted the following Expectation of Responsibility to remove barriers for students seeking medical attention in alcohol and drug-related incidents. This Expectation is intended to create an environment where students receive necessary medical attention and those involved are provided an opportunity to learn from the incident.
In situations where someone requires medical attention due to an alcohol and/or drug-related incident, students are expected to:
- proactively contact an appropriate authority (e.g. Notre Dame Security Police, residence hall staff, 911, etc.) to seek medical attention, and
- remain with the individual requiring medical attention, and
- cooperate with responding emergency officials.
For more detailed information, visit the Expectation of Responsibility page of du Lac: A Guide to Student Life.
Alcohol Education
The McDonald Center for Student Well-Being provides a variety of opportunities to students to guide them as they make choices around alcohol use. We utilize a non-judgmental, harm reduction approach to allow students to evaluate their current drinking behaviors and identify strategies to decrease any potential risks. Students have the opportunity to visit McWell for a one-on-one customized Alcohol Screenings session, participate in group education sessions, or are invited to take advantage of one of our online education programs for personalized feedback regarding drinking behaviors.
Intake Survey
If you are interested in discussing your relationship with alcohol or have been referred for alcohol education please complete the following intake survey to begin the process. A McWell staff member will contact you to scheduling the next step following review of the survey (within 1-2 weeks).
Alcohol Screenings
One-on-one, online and group alcohol education sessions are available for students to to discuss their alcohol use, alcohol culture and/or risk reduction strategies. Following the completion of the intake survey, students may participate in BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students), group education, AlcoholEdu Sanctions or other programs.
BASICS, Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students, is a nationally recognized best practice tool for alcohol interventions with multiple research studies supporting its effectiveness. BASICS is delivered in a 1:1 educational intervention model rooted in harm reduction that emphasizes personal responsibility and self-efficacy.
BASICS uses Motivational Interviewing to help students reconsider their drinking habits and patterns. Motivational Interviewing is a non-judgemental, collaborative approach to the conversation around alcohol.
The process involves the intake survey, online education and feedback discussion generally delivered over two sessions with a trained staff member.
Alcohol eCheckUpToGo
The Alcohol eCheckUpToGo is an interactive web survey accessible for all Notre Dame students to enhance their overall well-being through risk reduction around alcohol. Students enter information about their drinking patterns and receive feedback about their use of alcohol to use to make healthier choices.
After accessing Alcohol eCheckUpToGo, students are prompted to enter information about:
- Demographic information
- Drinking habits
- Family history
Based on the information shared, Alcohol eCheckUpToGo calculates a number of variables and compares responses to national college norms and provides students with personalized feedback.