Substance Use and Harm Reduction Education

Substance Use and Harm Reduction Education

  • Consultations
  • Consultations are available by appointment. For emergencies, call 911.


Consultation Appointments

The Substance Use and Harm Reduction program believes that, when students are provided with relevant, culturally conscious, and evidence-based information about different forms of substance use and various harm reduction strategies, they are capable of navigating situations where substance use is prevalent and making decisions that reduce harmful consequences for themselves and their peers. Through student-centered programming, education, and resource distribution, the program empowers students to make informed decisions that feel appropriate for supporting their personal wellness, as well as the wellness of their community.

Resources

T-Break Guide

The T-Break Guide is a 21-day workbook to support you through a cannabis tolerance break. With a different topic covered each day, the T-Break Guide highlights tips and tricks to navigate life without cannabis during your T-Break, including sleep, eating, stress, creativity, and more.  To learn more about this resource or download it for yourself, please click here.

 

Naloxone Training

One of the most popular resources we offer is Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication. To access free Naloxone through the Health Center, all you have to do is attend a brief training, which goes over how to recognize signs of an opioid overdose, instructions for using Naloxone, and what to do as emergency medical assistance makes its way to you and the person in crisis.

Trainings are all offered in the Sahet Room of the Health Center, just past the main entrance to the building, and are free to any UMD community member interested in attending!  Registration is required for attendance.  To register for a training, please click here.

Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution

The University of Maryland Health Center is designated as an Overdose Response Program (ORP) through the Maryland Department of Health.  As part of this designation, we offer overdose response resources to the UMD community, free of charge, including Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS).  If you are interested in picking up a FTS pack, which contains 3 fentanyl test strips, along with two informational and instructional pamphlets, visit the UHC Pharmacy and bring your University ID to request your free FTS pack.

Education

The Substance Use and Harm Reduction (SUHR) Unit offers asynchronous topic-specific introductory presentations about alcohol and cannabis through our Wellness Toolkit, which is available for use by any student group at any time, including fraternities and sororities looking to meet chapter requirements.

We are also available for a limited number of synchronous professional staff presentations for classrooms by request, based on availability.  To request a professional staff presentation, program, interview, or consultation regarding substance use education and programming, please email Madeleine Moore, the SUHR Coordinator, at mmoore56@umd.edu - please note that at least 2 weeks’ notice is required for each request.

Consultations

Harm Reduction Consultations are available to students who are looking for strategies to reduce the harms associated with their substance use behaviors.  Before visiting with our Substance Use and Harm Reduction (SUHR) Coordinator for a Harm Reduction Consultation, you may find it helpful to check out eCheckup to Go, a brief, anonymous, an interactive tool that allows you to examine your own personal use of alcohol or cannabis, in comparison with other students, both at University of Maryland and nationwide.  This is not a requirement to meet with the SUHR Coordinator, but rather a resource for you to access whenever you want to.  

All consultations will be virtual, and students will be given additional information once an appointment is scheduled.  A $25 no show fee is applied when appointments are not canceled in a timely manner; at least 24 hours before the appointment time. This fee may also apply for late arrivals and missed appointments. To cancel an appointment please call the appointment line (301) 314-8184.

If you are experiencing significant distress please schedule an appointment with a trained substance use counselor in our Substance Use Intervention & Treatment Unit. Please note that if our SUHR Coordinator determines your substance use to be causing significant harm to your wellness during your Harm Reduction Consultation, you will be referred to the SUIT unit for additional substance use counseling support.

Of note, eCheckup to Go is sometimes required for other types of appointments in the Health Center, like appointments required as a result of Office of Student Conduct sanctions, but any eCheckup to Go requirements will be communicated to you clearly prior to those types of appointments.

If you are experiencing a crisis or a mental health emergency during regular business hours, please visit the University Health Center or Counseling Center.

The Gold Code

The Gold Code is an harm reduction campaign to educate the campus community on reducing the risks associated with drinking alcohol. While we want to make sure that if you do choose to drink, you are able to do so in ways that reduce the risk of harmful consequences for you and for your peers. We also recognize that 1 in 4 Terps choose not to drink alcohol at all during their time at UMD, and the Gold Code celebrates that choice too!

 

Know the Gold Code

Pregame with Protein

Before you start drinking, make sure to enjoy a meal high in protein (i.e. cheeses, meats, black beans, peanuts, etc.). Having protein-rich food in your system before you start drinking will help to slow the absorption of alcohol, which helps control your blood alcohol levels.

Pace, Don't Race

If you decide to drink, there are many ways to pace yourself and make sure you have fun all night long! make sure to measure the amount of alcohol you put in the drink. Avoid taking drinks from someone you don’t know or from communal bowls as you may not be able to accurately measure the amount of alcohol in the drink. Have a system for keeping track of the number of drinks you consume.

Leave No Terp Behind

We are living through challenging times that impact the ways in which we socialize with our friends.  While many students may not be going to large parties this semester, it is still important to Leave No Terp Behind.  At the University of Maryland, we believe in supporting one another, whether that is making sure a friend returns home safety after visiting a bar on Route 1, calling for emergency assistance if you see someone in showing signs of alcohol poisoning, or sharing concerns you have about a friend’s substance use, it is critical that every Terp knows that their community has their back.

Sober is Safest

At the end of the day, the only way to eliminate risks associated with drinking alcohol is to simply choose not to drink alcohol in the first place!  Whether you make that choice for yourself for one night, one semester, or your entire college career, know that you are in good company - 1 in 4 Terps choose not to drink at all during their time at UMD.  That said, if you do choose to drink, make sure you have a night to remember, not a night to forget! Alcohol poisoning occurs when a large amount of alcohol is consumed; typically over a short period of time. Drink responsibly by avoiding activities that encourage consuming large amounts of alcohol (i.e. chugging, drinking games, etc.) and alternating alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages.