Intervention and Prevention Program
One component of Counseling Services is the Alcohol and Other Drug Intervention and Prevention Program (IPP). This program works on the prevention of alcohol and other drug-related problems, providing educational workshops and alcohol and other drug-related screenings to the College community throughout the year. The IPP also works with students who have problems with alcohol and other drugs (AOD). Assessments are offered to help students identify problem drinking and other drug use problems. Students may also receive short-term AOD counseling to help increase the awareness of risk factors and lifestyle decisions related to alcohol and other drugs and to foster the development of healthy coping skills. Staff will also make referrals to various 12-step groups that hold meetings in the surrounding area. Students with serious or chronic problems with alcohol and other drugs may be referred to either in-patient or out-patient treatment programs for intensive care.

Intervention and Prevention Philosophy:
Like other services offered at the Albion College Counseling Center, Intervention and Prevention Program services are designed to confidentially help students who are having problems with alcohol and other drugs.  

Albion students are intelligent people or they would not be at Albion College.  Alcohol and other drug consumptions are facts of life that are a part of society and the communities in which we all live. The IPP of Counseling Services does not view its role within the Albion College community to eliminate drinking alcohol or to be a “soldier in the war on drugs.”

The most important way that we can help students is to ensure that Albion students are making informed and responsible decisions about their consumption of alcohol and other drugs.  

Accurate information about alcohol and other drugs is of foremost importance. We want to know that Albion College students have the most accurate and up-to-date information on alcohol, other drugs, their use, and the consequences of their use.  While some of the information may be seem scary, it is not communicated as a scare tactic to keep students away from alcohol and other drugs. Research has been fairly consistent in finding that scare tactics do not accomplish what is intended. However, accurate information is necessary in order to expect responsible students to make informed decisions. For more information on how alcohol and drugs affect you visit the mystudentbody.com website.

What Is An Alcohol Or Other Drug Problem: IPP will not diagnose you with an alcohol or drug problem. Individual problems are defined by your own assessment of the negative or self-defeating consequences of your alcohol or other drug use. You define the nature of a problem for yourself. How much or how often you use alcohol or another drug is not always the key issue in defining whether your consumption of alcohol or other drugs is a problem. However, with high frequency and large amounts of alcohol or other drug use can come the increased likelihood that you will have to confront consequences that you would not typically choose. 

IPP has no control over the consequences stemming from your alcohol or other drug use.  These consequences are regulated by:

·        Michigan laws

·        Albion College policies

·        Your physical health

·        Your mental health

·        Accomplishing your life goals

·        Relationships with fellow students

·        Relationships with family and loved ones

·        Relationships with faculty and coaches

·        Relationships with your spiritual beliefs

·        Relationships with your conscience 

When any of these life spheres suffer because of your alcohol or other drug use, it is time to contact the IPP of CS. Call us at 629-0236. We can assist you with tools that can help you get back on track with your life and what you want to accomplish.

Signs and symptoms of alcohol or other drug abuse

Fact Sheets on Alcohol and Other Drugs