The Office of Health Promotion and University partners recognize the significant impact that substance use can have on our well-being. We offer students a wide range of opportunities and options to explore the decisions they make around alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
- Find Recovery Support
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- The Collegiate Recovery Program is a supportive, confidential community of UVA students, faculty, staff and alumni in recovery or considering recovery from alcohol or other drug use disorders. Weekly meetings and frequent social events provide a community of people who “get it.”
- The Student Disability Access Center (SDAC) staff coordinates academic accommodations to foster equal access to the University’s programs and courses. Academic accommodations may include flexibility with assignment deadlines, extended time on exams, note taking assistance, priority registration, etc. The staff can also offer consultation to guide you through the process, and also can assist in screening evaluations for learning and attentional disorders.
- Through recovery housing, engage in a supportive collegiate living and learning community while building and strengthening lifelong recovery skills. Located near the Student Health and Wellness building and Collegiate Recovery Program space, the house features a full kitchen, living area, and meeting space. To learn more or if you have any questions, please reach out to Jen Hall, Recovery Support Specialist.
- Talk with a Counselor
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- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is UVA’s primary student counseling clinic and can meet to discuss your concerns or help connect you to online or on- or off-Grounds resources. In some cases, CAPS can provide short-term one-on-one counseling and medical/psychiatric evaluation services.
- Check out TimelyCare, a virtual mental health service that provides UVA students with 12 free counseling visits every year and 24/7 access to TalkNow, a service that allows you to connect to a mental health professional by phone or video within minutes.
- This Charlottesville community provider database can search mental health providers by a variety of filters including substance use specialty, insurance, and services offered.
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is UVA’s primary student counseling clinic and can meet to discuss your concerns or help connect you to online or on- or off-Grounds resources. In some cases, CAPS can provide short-term one-on-one counseling and medical/psychiatric evaluation services.
- Receive a Formal Assessment
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- Students can receive a free and confidential substance use assessment at SHW. Follow-up care and options can be coordinated based on in-person assessment results and recommendations.
- Students can email Sean Sembrowich, NP, to find out more information and/or to schedule an appointment.
- Addiction Recovery Systems: Pantops Clinic offers substance use assessments.
- This Charlottesville community provider database can search mental health providers by a variety of filters including substance use specialty, insurance, and services offered.
- Students can receive a free and confidential substance use assessment at SHW. Follow-up care and options can be coordinated based on in-person assessment results and recommendations.
- Consider Stopping Tobacco Use
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Meet with a Tobacco Cessation Specialist to explore tobacco goals, personalized quit strategies, and access over-the-counter or prescription medications that can help.
- Connect with a Peer
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- The Peer Health Educators (PHEs) promote awareness, provide educational outreach, and serve as accessible resources for fellow UVA students.
- UVA’s HELP LINE is a 24-hour free, confidential, and anonymous hotline intended for UVA students and Charlottesville community members, supervised by Madison House.
- When you call HELP LINE (434-295-TALK), you will be connected to a trained UVA student who will listen to you without judgement. You can call about any issue: from stress about classes, to your substance use, to grief over the loss of a friend.
- Start WahooWell
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WahooWell is available to any UVA student who wants to explore their goals and motivations related to well-being, sleep, stress, connection, and/or substance use.
- WahooWell consists of an online survey and two follow-up, one-on-one meetings. In your meetings you will be provided an opportunity to be heard, encouraged, and validated in a way that motivates you to accomplish personally meaningful goals.
- WahooWell is a positive, free, confidential, and non-judgmental resource.
- Join a Support Group
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- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a number of support groups.
- This Charlottesville community provider database can search group offerings in the community.
- Discuss Questions or Concerns
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Still have questions or need some consultation for yourself or about someone else?? That’s okay! We’re here to help. You can contact any of the following:
- Sean Sembrowich, NP
Students, friends, family, faculty, staff, and other providers can confidentially consult with any of the above resources.
The Substance Use Disorders Treatment and Consultation Team offers coordinated assessment, consultation, and outpatient medical and psychological treatment, as well as assistance in accessing alternative resources, such as longer term treatment in the community or residential care.
- Online Resources
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- The Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator is a confidential, online source of information for people seeking treatment for substance use and mental health. The site includes a 24/7 Treatment Referral Hotline: 1-800-662- HELP (4357).
- Smart Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) helps people recover from all types of addictive behaviors. SMART Recovery sponsors face-to-face meetings and daily online meetings. In addition, they provide an online message board and 24/7 chat room.
- Rethinking Drinking offers education and tools for examining your drinking patterns, identifying high-risk drinking, and developing a change plan.
- Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction: The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides research-based information on addiction, treatment, and recovery.
- Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders: Finding and Getting Help: The National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism helps individuals and their families and friends understand available treatment options, and what to consider when selecting among them.
- Seeking Drug Use Disorder Treatment: Knowing What To Ask: The National Institutes on Drug Abuse offers guidance in seeking drug abuse treatment and lists five questions to ask when searching for a treatment program.
- Smokefree.gov provides practical online tools to help build a quit plan, quit, and stay quit. Experts are available via phone or live chat.
- Quit Now Virginia offers a free hotline with a phone support program for making a quit plan and choosing medication.
Helping a Friend:
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Family Resource Center, and Drugfree.org provide evidence-based information and guidance on how to help a loved one.
- The American Cancer Society gives information about quitting tobacco and how to support a friend.