Counseling Center Offers New Substance Abuse Programs

OXFORD, Miss. – Three new group-based services are offered
by the University of Mississippi’s Counseling Center this
fall for students who are dealing with substance abuse
problems or have been affected by the substance abuse
problems of others.



“Providing effective and confidential services has always
been a goal for the center,” said Marc Showalter, director
of the Counseling Center. “We want students and the entire
university community to know that they can be helped in an
environment that is safe, caring and professional. This
program will allow us to serve a need that is important to
our entire community.”

 

The new services are Crossroads, an intensive outpatient
program, and the weekly support groups Oasis and Turning
Point.

Previously, students seeking formal substance abuse
treatment usually had to withdraw from school. The students
were faced with choosing residential or inpatient
treatment, which usually lasts a minimum of 30 days, or
seeking outpatient treatment elsewhere. The closest
outpatient treatment center to Oxford is Grenada, an hour’s
drive.

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive treatment and support
to meet students’ needs while they remain enrolled at the
university,” said Amy K. Fisher, alcohol and drug services
coordinator.

Crossroads is the center’s intensive alcohol and drug
treatment, which offers a nontraditional approach tailored
to individual needs of the student. During the
eight-to-10-week program, students set their own treatment
goals in conjunction with counselors while receiving
individual and group support.

“We are so happy to offer students a chance to receive
treatment while staying in their regular environment at the
university,” Fisher said. “In many cases, if a student
leaves his or her normal social environment to seek
treatment, re-entering that environment after treatment can
be extremely difficult.”

Oasis is a weekly support group for students maintaining an
alcohol-free and drug-free way of life. The group offers a
student-focused approach that addresses the unique issues
of maintaining a substance-free lifestyle in a college
atmosphere.

“A lot of students may have been to rehab or are trying to
stay alcohol and drug free,” Fisher said. “This is a chance
to build a community between these individuals. Support
from people in similar situations is of immeasurable
importance in these situations”

Turning Point is a support program for students who have
been affected by a loved one’s drinking or drug abuse. This
group offers a safe place for students to take steps toward
healing through interaction with others sharing similar
experiences.

For more information, visit


http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/stu?counseling/