Alcohol and Other Drug Education

We Are Here to Support You!

Dallas College is committed to supporting students in making informed decisions about alcohol and other drugs through various education programs, counseling services, and prevention programs. Students are empowered to make mindful, informed decisions and develop a sense of responsibility for themselves and others when it comes to consuming alcohol and other drugs.

Studies show that a large number of college students consume alcohol. However, many students may be unknowingly overindulging in alcohol consumption.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) states that in the United States, a “standard drink” is defined as any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol. These measurements are equivalent to:

12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol by volume)
5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol by volume)
1.5 ounces or a shot of 80-proof hard liquor (40% alcohol by volume)
* Gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey are examples of hard liquor or distilled spirits.

Any Dallas College student who is concerned about their drinking pattern and how it compares to other college students, is invited to participate in eCHECKUP TO GO.

To view examples of standard drink sizes, visit the NIAAA website.

Alcohol binge drinking heavy drinking or excessive alcohol use.

Males: 5 or more drinks consumed in a two-to-three-hour setting
Females: 4 or more drinks consumed in a two-to-three-hour setting
Alcohol use by people under the minimum legal drinking age (21)
Alcohol use by pregnant women

A national survey indicates that college students who binge drink at least three times per week were roughly six times more likely to perform poorly on a test or project compared to students who drank but never binged.

Dallas College supports students as they navigate these choices through various education, counseling and prevention programs.

Alcohol-Free Options

At each of the Dallas College campuses, students can join events that focus on student health and well-being. Students are welcome to join or participate in various activities, educational programs, and other health and well-being related events.

For more information, follow @healthydallascollege on Instagram, and view the Health and Well-Being Events webpage.

Recovery Support Group

Students are welcomed to attend 12-Steps to Freedom, a weekly recovery support group designed to help students realize, accept, and experience the benefits of abstinence from drugs and alcohol consumption in a group setting. For more information, contact Dr. Kim Toynes at kltoynes@DallasCollege.edu.

NARCAN Training

NARCAN Nasal Spray is a Food and Drug Administration-approved nasal formulation of naloxone to treat known or suspected opioid overdose. Learn how to administer NARCAN through various trainings. At this time, we are not offering Narcan trainings, but we are working on having our campus nurses trained to provide these trainings in the future. For more information email Healthservices@dallascollege.edu.

Online Alcohol and Other Drug Programs

Check out these free online tools that support healthy decisions and promote positive behaviors.

eCHECKUP TO GO Programs

Dallas College has partnered with San Diego State University to provide access to eCHECKUP TO GO (eCHUG) for the community.

The eCHECKUP TO GO (Electronic Check-Up To Go) tool is an interactive web survey that allows college students to enter information about their alcohol, cannabis and nicotine use patterns and receive feedback. The assessment takes about 30 minutes to complete, is self-guided, and requires no face-to-face contact time with a counselor or administrator. This is your opportunity to receive information about yourself and your habits.

When you first access the assessment, you are prompted to enter personal information about yourself. In addition to demographic information, it will ask you to enter information about your habits and other information.

Start eCHECKUP TO GO Programs

Questions about eCHECKUP TO GO

Click on the hyperlink and open the program of your choice (Alcohol, Nicotine, Cannabis)
Click on the box for “Start a new entry” or “Review a previous entry” if you already completed the program.
Enter the personal information requested by the program.
Complete the program and receive your information by email.
Click LAUNCH

After completing eCHUG, you will receive feedback via email, allowing you to see how your alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis use compares to other college students. Students who complete the tool may come to recognize that their use patterns have some negative impacts. Currently enrolled Dallas College students can reach out to Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) for further assistance interpreting their eCHUG. Email CAPS counselor, Dr. Kim Toynes, at kltoynes@DallasCollege.edu to set up an appointment. Psychoeducation and small support groups are offered by CAPS in-person as well as virtually. Please see information below for In-Person Alcohol and Other Drug Programs.

eCHECKUP TO GO is a free program to Dallas College students interested in learning more about alcohol, cannabis and nicotine. The eCHECKUP TO GO PFI affords students the opportunity to consider the personal impact of use and strategies to reduce harms as well as consequences.

In-Person Alcohol and Other Drug Programs

Helping students make healthy choices.

Counseling

Dallas College offers in-person and virtual consultations to enrolled students regarding alcohol and other drug concerns. Students can meet with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) licensed chemical dependency counselor, Dr. Kim Toynes, to discuss their concerns associated with individual use, family substance use, alcohol concerns, as well as prevention regarding recovery or relapse prevention.

Students can meet with any counselor for questions and concerns and do not need to have a substance abuse issue to meet with a counselor and talk about concerns.

BASICS & CASICS

At Dallas College, students are offered the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) as well as the Cannabis Screening and Intervention for College Students (CASICS). Each program BASICS and CASICS, takes a harm reduction approach to assist the student who may be in the experimentation stage of their use, or the student who is fully engaged in using alcohol or cannabis.

The goal of BASICS and CASICS is to move a student in a direction away from the risky behaviors, harmful effects, or potential consequences of alcohol consumption or cannabis use; and it is understood that lifestyle change(s) can take time. Therefore, the model of BASICS and CASICS combines capability deficits with development and motivational aspects.

For more information or to discuss BASICS or CASICS, you can contact CAPS counselor, Dr. Kim Toynes at kltoynes@dallascollege.edu.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Alcoholics Anonymous offers both in person and online meetings. Their free app Meeting Guide can be downloaded to your phone or computer for a listing of over 100,000 weekly meetings. You can also visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website to view meeting information.

Open meetings are open to anyone interested in AA
Closed meetings are only for those who have a desire to stop drinking or think they might be an alcoholic

For questions and to learn more, contact your regional Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) office:

Dallas AA phone number: 214-887-6699
Fort Worth AA phone number: 817-332-3533

Al-Anon

Al-Anon offers to help families or friends of people who struggle with alcohol use or abuse, to recover from the effects of alcohol misuse. If you, or someone you know has a parent, sibling, or friend living with this condition, get support today by connecting with Al-Anon.

Al Anon Regional Office phone number: 214-363-0461

Explore Health Topics

Stay healthy and informed! Explore other health topics at Dallas College by using the links below.