Alcohol and Drug Consultation, Assessment, and Skills Program (ADCAS)
ADCAS is a free, confidential, professional service for Western students who want assistance or information regarding their own or someone else's use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Our mission at ADCAS is to assist students in making their own informed choices about alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and related (personal, physical, social, academic, and legal) risks so that they can enjoy their college experience and minimize unwanted and unintended consequences.
ADCAS services cover concerns and information about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (illegal, prescription, or over-the-counter).
- ADCAS Services for Required Referrals
- Make an Appointment with ADCAS
- What Students Say About ADCAS
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Alcohol & Drug Information Publications
To Make An Appointment
with ADCAS |top of page|
If you wish to have a voluntary personal alcohol and drug risk reduction assessment, have questions, or are concerned about the alcohol or other drug use of a friend, roommate, or family member and/or you wish to make an appointment, call 650-3643.
If you have been required by your Resident Director, Office of Residence Life, the University Judicial Officer, or the Bellingham Municipal Court to attend a service provided by the Alcohol and Drug Consultation, Assessment and Skills Program, the following are the steps you need to follow to fulfill your requirement.
Step 1: Call 650-3643 to schedule your appointment.
Step 2: Remember
to attend your appointment!
(Your
referral source is not notified until you have completed the appointment.)
If you have
questions, call Elva Giddings (Coordinator of Alcohol and Drug Consultation,
Assessment and Skills Program) at 650-3643.
Hours and Location:
Mon -
Fri: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Old Main 560C
(360) 650-3643
What students say about ADCAS: |top of page|
"The staff was very
receptive and courteous."
"My questions were answered honestly and objectively."
"I feel more comfortable knowing that there is someone real to talk to."
"The tone of the meeting was very informative and positive."
"A really comfortable conversation-not at all the lecture I expected to
hear."
"I felt respected as a person making my own choices about using drugs."
Frequently Asked Questions: |top of page|
What can I expect from an individual ADCAS session?
What
can I expect from a group ADCAS session?
What practical information will
I take away from an ADCAS session?
Can Western faculty and staff use ADCAS?
Is it possible to hold an ADCAS session in my classroom/office?
What are some of the negative effects of alcohol and
other drug use?
What are the signs of an alcohol emergency?
What do I do if I witness an alcohol emergency?
What can I do to be a moderate drinker?
How does alcohol affect sexual experiences?
What can I expect from an individual ADCAS session? |top of page|
ADCAS provides confidential and comprehensive risk reduction focused assessment of individual patterns of alcohol and drug use, consequences, and potential risks. Our nonjudgmental, personalized feedback is designed to assist individual students reduce risks related to their drinking and drug use patterns. Through ADCAS, Western students gain personal skills and access to free information and resource materials on a wide variety of topics relating to alcohol and other drugs, such as:
- Moderation strategies
- If you drink, critical
safety information to know
- Interaction of
alcohol with other drugs
- Personal risk factors
for alcohol or drug problems
- WWU alcohol and drug policy
- Legal risks associated with alcohol and other drug use
- How to talk to a friend or roommate about your concern regarding their alcohol and/or drug use
What can I expect from a group ADCAS session? |top of page|
The ADCAS Group I Alcohol Risk Reduction Group is a
50-minute peer-facilitated group session focused on reducing risks associated with alcohol consumption.
This interactive session allows students to discuss WWU norms, what is one drink, serving size and alcohol
percentage for a variety of alcohol beverages, cautions about shot glasses, keg cups and other containers,
and alcohol and the body—basic physiology of the process of alcohol through the body.
The ADCAS Group II Alcohol Risk Reduction Group is a 90-minute group session
facilitated by professional staff. Group II includes a review of individualized
personal feedback profiles from the on-line alcohol and drug assessment
provided for each student, and discussion of alcohol effects, the biphasic
effect of alcohol, blood alcohol levels (BAL), gender differences, changing
effects of alcohol over time, tolerance, expectation and other factors
that influence drinking, student perceptions of other students' behaviors,
moderation akills to minimize unwanted and unintended outcomes of drinking,
alcohol and other drug interactions, legal issues, and safety information.
What practical information will I take away from my contact with ADCAS? |top of page|
ADCAS clients receive a wealth of practical information about alcohol and other drugs, including:
- Why knowing this information is important whether or not you choose to drink
- Moderation strategies
- How much alcohol is in one serving
- How to read a BAC (blood alcohol content) chart
- How much alcohol a shot glass and a keg cup really hold
- How alcohol affects the body
- How to recognize an alcohol emergency and what to do
Can Western faculty and staff use ADCAS? |top of page|
Yes. Brief consultation sessions are available for Western faculty and staff to discuss concerns about situations in the office or classroom involving alcohol or other drugs. Professional staff can provide resources, suggestions for intervention approaches, and options for the next step. Western faculty and staff can utilize the confidentiality of ADCAS to process their own feelings and reactions to these situations.
Is it possible to bring ADCAS services to my classroom/office? |top of page|
Yes. Workshops can be arranged for classes or faculty/staff groups covering various aspects of alcohol and other drug use, and related issues. Contact Elva Giddings at 650-3643 to discuss topics for presentation and informational materials. Faculty and staff can also arrange for ADCAS staff to meet with a student at their office.
What are some of the negative effects of alcohol and other drug use? |top of page|
Alcohol and other drugs can have many effects on your behavior and your ability to make decisions. As a result, drinking heavily can compromise your personal safety by:
- Putting you at increased risk for unwanted and unintended experiences
- Slowing your reactions to potentially risky situations
- Disabling your sound judgment
- Making you less aware of your surroundings
- Making it hard for you to recognize someone else's level of intoxication
- Inhibiting your ability to communicate what you do and don't want
- Limit your ability to practice safer sex
What are the signs of an alcohol or drug emergency? |top of page|
If you witness the
following signs of an alcohol or drug emergency, act quickly and call
911 for help if you see any of these signs:
Check for:
- Unconscious and/or unresponsive
- Any trouble breathing
- Disorientation or stupor
- Panic
- Unable to stand /walk without help
- Bluish and/or cold to the touch
- Vomiting blood
- Vomiting related to drug ingestion
- Any injury + intoxication
- Convulsions
What do I do if I witness an alcohol emergency? |top of page|
Call 911. Act quickly.
Care for the person until help arrives. This may be the greatest thing you ever do in the name of friendship. For safety, check the following:
- Airway: Is it clear?
- Breathing: Is it shallow or labored?
- Consciousness: Is the person conscious?
- Initiate CPR as
needed
- Try to wake the person and turn them on their side with one arm under their head, face tilted toward the floor (if they vomit, turning them on their side decreases the risk of their airway being blocked)
- Try to find out what they have taken, how much, and when
- Reduce stimuli; create a quiet, safe place
- Try to keep them calm and conscious
- Stay with them
What can I do to be a moderate drinker? |top of page|
If you choose to drink alcohol, here are some tips to maintain moderation:
- Plan ahead
- Set a reasonable limit and stick to it
- Think quality, not quantity, and keep track
- Slow down-it isn't a race
- Remember that it takes about 20 minutes to feel the effects of a single drink
- Sip your drinks and make them last
- Drink water between alcohol drinks to keep yourself hydrated
- Eat before you drink alcohol
- Check your mood-alcohol intensifies it! (Best to pass on the alcohol if you are upset, angry, sad, depressed, or anxious)
- Measuring is smart! Know how much alcohol is in your drink
- If you choose to drink away from home, have a designated driver
- Everyone chooses not to drink alcohol sometimes; abstaining for the evening is always an option
How does alcohol affect sexual experiences? |top of page|
- Alcohol can inhibit your ability to communicate what you do and don't want and it can limit your ability to practice safer sex.
- When asked about their experiences involving sex and alcohol, Western students said that their best experiences occurred when they and their partners drank little or no alcohol. Their worst experiences involved more than moderate drinking.
- Drunk sex is NEVER consensual sex. Respect yourself and your partner.