Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Health Center offers new diversion-approved alcohol education program
In an effort to continually enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of its services, the University Health Center (UHC) as expanded its alcohol and other drug programs by adding the Alcohol Psychoeducation Workshop.
Created by Counseling and Psychological Services’ Licensed Psychologist Brigham Scott in collaboration with Student Affairs, this workshop is a diversion service designed specifically for Nebraska students. The four-hour course educates about the potential negative outcomes of drinking and provides strategies to help students remain safe and avoid trouble if deciding to drink.
The workshop serves students taking diversion for an alcohol-related charge, as well as students who have multiple alcohol use violations or one serious alcohol violation that happens on campus. It also is open to self-referrals for students who are genuinely interested in avoiding negative outcomes associated with their substance use.
Last year, Scott and Linda Major, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, identified the need for this workshop when evaluating the depth and breadth of alcohol-related services available on campus. Although diversion psychoeducation courses are provided in the community, Scott and Major were concerned their approach was not as effective as it could be for the college population. None feature tailored content to address the unique challenges students face, nor did they focus on critical thinking and assertiveness skills. They also professed an abstinent-based approach rather than a harm reduction approach, which has consistently proven to be less effective in reducing substance use for college students, according to Scott.
Scott and Major sought and gained approval from Lancaster County diversion administrators to create their own course for the university. Scott leveraged his experience teaching a course on assertiveness training as a graduate student at a practicum placement at DUI court in 2013, his dissertation research and his three years of experience as the alcohol and other drug services coordinator at the UHC to build the course content. The finished product was a more comprehensive and thorough workshop than offered elsewhere in the community.
The UHC launched the service in September. Scott estimates total attendance will reach upwards of 100 by the end of the academic year.
“We anticipate this being a very popular and utilized program,” Scott said.
The workshop is offered over the course of two weeks in two-hour sessions. At this time, the workshop is only offered once a month, but the frequency may increase according to demand.
The health center asks diversion, community resources centers and other university departments for student referrals to this course. To refer a student, have them call the University Health Center at 402.472.5000 and ask to be placed in the next Alcohol Psychoeducation Workshop. The student must make their own appointment.
For questions about the workshop, contact Scott at brscott@nebraskamed.com.
The University Health Center is managed by Nebraska Medicine.