University of Delaware

Program Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), is funding the University of Delaware $403,297 per year for 3 years to expand screening, intervention, and treatment services for at-risk undergraduate students— including students in Greek Life organizations (fraternities and sororities), freshmen, and students in violation of campus substance abuse policies—through MOSAIC (Making Over Substance Abuse Interventions on Campus).

Campus Description

UD is a state-assisted university that owns 42 percent of the land area of Newark, Delaware. It is a primarily residential campus with approximately 15,600 full-time undergraduate students, 970 parttime undergraduates, 3,400 graduate students, and 1,300 continuing education students. During the 2002–2003 academic year, 57 percent of students surveyed reported binge drinking, 54 percent reported "drinking to get drunk," and 1,135 alcohol policy violations with 295 repeat offenders.

Program Model

Screening

Screening is conducted by the Coordinator of Outreach with a group of students using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in freshman seminars, residence hall programs, registered student organization meetings (including Greek Life organizational meetings), and intercollegiate and club sports teams.

Brief Intervention

Outreach coordinators and the graduate interns conduct individual sessions using the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) or Readiness to Change Questionnaire–Treatment Version (RTCQ-TV).

Intervention involves motivational interviewing, evaluates readiness to change, and encourages movement toward making change or obtaining treatment.

Assessment is conducted by substance abuse counselors in individual sessions using AUDIT and the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI).

Assessment is mandatory for students who violate the drug use policy, violate the alcohol use policy for a second time, require medical attention as a result of alcohol use, or are deemed by a hearing officer or the Appellate board as needing an assessment for uncommon behavior.

Treatment is conducted individually or in small groups with the substance abuse counselors.

Treatment identifies alcohol-related risks and negative consequences, and includes continuing care options.

Referral

Students needing intensive outpatient services or residential treatments are referred to nearby off-campus treatment providers (Open Door Counseling Center or Connections Counseling Center). Clients deemed to have coexisting disorders are referred to the appropriate UD supporting office for intake and assessments.

Service Features

Outreach coordinators organize collaborative efforts between UD student service areas, implement new approaches such as group screening meetings, conduct brief intervention sessions with at-risk students, and promote UD participation in events such as National Alcohol Awareness Screening Day.

Collaborators

• UD Residence Life
• UD Student Services for Athletes
• UD Office of Activities and Programs (e.g., Greek Affairs)
• Office of Judicial Affairs
• Open Door Counseling Center
• Connections Counseling Center
• Wellspring Health Education Program

Contact Information

Nancy Nutt Chase, Project Director
University of Delaware
Center for Counseling and Student Development/Wellspring
231 South College Avenue
Newark, DE 19716
(302) 831-1530
notnutts@udel.edu