Alcohol Education

BASICS: Brief Alcohol Screening & Intervention for College Students

What is BASICS?

BASICS stands for Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students. This program is offered free for all OSU students who may want to explore their alcohol and drug use, but the goal of the program is to reduce risky behaviors and harmful consequences of alcohol abuse. The program is designed to assist students in examining their own behavior in a judgment-free environment.

BASICS IS NOT a "Just Say No" or abstinence-only program. The BASICS facilitator will provide objective feedback, based on an interview and questionnaires filled out by the student, in order to encourage positive changes in drinking behavior. Essentially, BASICS will provide the information and guidance, but what a student chooses to do with it is entirely up to him/her.

BASICS is appropriate for anyone who uses alcohol in a high-risk manner, especially if you are concerned about your alcohol use and how it compares to other students. BASICS will provide you with an opportunity to assess your own risk and discuss potential changes that could work for you to help reduce the risk for developing future problems. While BASICS does touch on other drugs, its primary focus is alcohol.

Some students attend BASICS to fulfill a court order as a result of an alcohol-related offense, while others come because they have concerns about their alcohol use.

The BASICS sessions are entirely confidential, and we will not disclose any information from the sessions to anyone without the student's permission.

If a student choose to participate in BASICS to complete a university or court ordered requirement, we can provide documentation of program completion if a student signs a release of information form. We will not release any assessment results or personal information shared during the BASICS appointment.

BASICS facilitators are not licensed counselors. They have backgrounds in health education or student development and training in alcohol assessment and feedback. Assessment is done for educational purposes only. If a student requires a definite diagnosis or treatment for clinical issues, we refer them to OSU Counseling & Consultation Services 292-5766.

Read more about BASICS:

What should I expect?

How much does it cost?

The BASICS program is free for OSU students.

How do I schedule an appointment?

Call the Student Wellness Center at 292-4527. For those students who need BASICS to fulfill a judicial or legal sanction, two weeks' notice to schedule a session is usually required.

Questions?
Contact Mel Butler at jbutler@studentaffairs.osu.edu.