Substance Use Intervention & Treatment (SUIT)
The SUIT staff are happy to meet with any registered student who has any concerns about their own alcohol or drug use, or the use of a friend, roommate or loved one. We are committed to providing short-term, evidence-based psychoeducational interventions, treatment/counseling, consultation, and advocacy for students at the University of Maryland who are experiencing problems related to their or another person’s substance use. Our goal is to help students to think deeply and clearly about what actions and changes are best for them. SUIT also provides referrals to local intensive outpatient and residential programs and assists with continuing care after intensive treatment.
Dr. Rachel Alinsky, MD, MPH
Background: Dr. Alinsky is a quadruple-boarded adolescent medicine and addiction medicine physician, who specializes in the treatment of a wide range of physical and mental health conditions for adolescents and young adults. She earned her MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine, and went on to complete a dual residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. She then completed a dual fellowship in Adolescent Medicine and Addiction Medicine at Johns Hopkins, where she also earned her Masters in Public Health. She has a strong passion for increasing access to addiction treatment for adolescents and young adults, and has performed health services and systems research on this topic that has been published in JAMA Pediatrics and the Journal of Adolescent Health. She is also dedicated to combating stigma regarding substance use and people who use substances, and led a policy statement for the American Academy of Pediatrics focused on changing the language all pediatric providers use to discuss substance use to be medically-accurate, person-first, and non-stigmatizing.
Clinical Care: Dr. Alinsky joined the University of Maryland University Health Center in 2023 as the inaugural Medical Director of the Substance Use Intervention and Treatment (SUIT) unit, where she oversees substance use disorder treatment services and provides addiction medicine treatment for undergraduate and graduate students who have concerns about their use of alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs. She works with students across a full spectrum of substance use severity, whether that is binge drinking that has started to cause problems, cannabis use that has become more compulsive, to severe addiction. She also provides primary and subspecialty adolescent medicine care at the UHC (such as inclusive sexual and reproductive health care, gender affirming care, complex contraceptive management), with a particular focus on the overlap and interconnection of physical health conditions with mental health and substance use concerns. She collaborates closely with multidisciplinary team members across the health center, including substance use therapists, behavioral health therapists, psychiatrists, sports medicine, other medical providers in the acute and primary care units, as well as medical specialists outside of UMD.
Approach: Whether in primary care or in the SUIT unit, Dr. Alinsky loves getting to know students in order to learn about what is most important to them as individuals, and understand
their own personal goals for their health, academics/career, relationships, and beyond. She then collaborates with students to develop individualized treatment plans to help them reach their goals, whether that goal is abstinence, harm reduction, improved sports performance, or something else. This treatment can include medication for addiction treatment (such as Naltrexone/Vivitrol, buprenorphine/Suboxone, nicotine replacement) as well as treatment for co-occurring anxiety, depression, or physical health conditions. Her background in both adolescent and addiction medicine allows her to fully address the physical health complications that may be related to students’ substance use, including chronic nausea, appetite/eating problems, headaches, breathing or cardiovascular problems, sleep issues, and more. Dr. Alinsky is always happy to speak with students considering engaging in substance use treatment or adolescent medicine care, to talk through what to expect at a visit, available resources, potential treatment strategies, and answer any other questions students may have when trying to decide if seeking services is right for them. She aims to be student-centric, trusting students as the experts in their own life and equal partners in creating a treatment that works for them.
Pamela Almandrez, LCPC
Pamela is a seasoned Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over a decade of dedicated experience, specializing in working with older teens and young adults. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Bowie State University. Pamela also earned a Masters from the Nation’s first Master program in Cannabis Science and Therapeutics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. In her practice Pamela incorporates psychoeducation and evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. As a passionate advocate for collegiate recovery, Pamela actively promotes harm reduction practices, offering both mandated and voluntary services to ensure a comprehensive and individualized approach to wellness.
Emily Kolyabina, LCSW-C
Emily is a licensed clinical social worker and is currently a therapist with the Substance Use Intervention and Treatment program within the Behavioral Health Unit at the Health Center. Emily has been a Terp for over a decade, starting when she earned her B.S. in Psychology from UMD. She earned her Masters in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Emily has experience working with young adults both on- and off- campus and addresses substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. Her approach is rooted in evidence-based treatments, emphasizing a personalized touch. Emily is dedicated to tailoring her methods to each individual client, implementing harm reduction practices and seamlessly integrating an eclectic blend of various treatment styles. Emily is committed to meeting the needs of the UMD community, she has a
passion for fostering positive and transformative change.
Nicole Burke, LMSW
Nicole is a dedicated and experienced Licensed Masters Social Worker, specializing in substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. She holds a B.A. and a Masters in Psychology from the Catholic University of America, in addition to a Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Before moving to Maryland, Nicole worked in New York where she provided behavior and symptom management to adults with co-occurring disorders and intellectual disability. She also has experience working with children and their families through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based approach that helps individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Nicole’s diverse experience and knowledge of evidence-based treatments works seamlessly with both mandated and voluntary clients, ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment for all
individuals seeking assistance.
Students meet individually with a professional counselor to discuss concerns about their use of alcohol or other drugs.
Participants will complete a brief online alcohol screening before attending a 30 minute individual appointment to discuss their personalized feedback and how their alcohol, and/or tobacco use is impacting their life.
Participants will complete a brief online alcohol screening before attending a 30-minute individual appointment to discuss their personalized feedback and how their alcohol, and/or tobacco use is impacting their life.
Participants will complete two brief online marijuana and alcohol screenings before attending a 60 minute individual appointment to discuss their personalized feedback and how their alcohol, marijuana, and/or tobacco use is impacting their life.
The early assessment, intervention and education program is intended for students who have been charged with alcohol or other drug-related violations of campus judicial policy or state law, other than DUI or DWI.
Drug testing services are available for those individuals who request drug testing or are required to be drug tested (by the court system, employers, attorneys, treatment providers, or the Office of Student Conduct).
Confidential consultation services are provided via phone and in-person meetings. We encourage family members, guardians, friends, roommates, faculty and staff to contact SUIT to discuss ways to support students with concerning drug and alcohol use.