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. We offer 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.

A counselor talks to a group of students in a makeshift classroom

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)
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 that of other college students is invited to talk with the drug and alcohol counselor, Dr. Catherine Sang.

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

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define binge drinking as:

Males: Five or more drinks consumed in a two-to-three-hour setting
Females: Four or more drinks consumed in a two-to-three-hour setting

Excessive drinking can also be defined as:

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

The Social Work Department at Dallas College offers a Students in Recovery support group for students seeking support with substance use and addiction. The group provides a safe, welcoming space where students can connect with others and strengthen their recovery. The group meets weekly and is open to all Dallas College students interested in recovery support. Referrals are made to community-based programs such as Al-Anon for students who have family members or loved ones dealing with addiction. For more information, contact Dr. Stacy Page at SPage@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. Dallas College Health Services and Promotion offers Narcan (naloxone) training workshops to help students learn how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose.

You’ll gain practical, life-saving skills and may receive free Narcan. Together, we can create a safer campus community.

The Narcan training workshops will be available for students, staff and faculty. For more information in the meantime, email us at StudentWellBeing@DallasCollege.edu.

A female student sites with a laptop open in her lap while she looks away

Online Alcohol and Other Drug Programs

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

Alcohol and You: An Interactive Body | College Drinking Prevention
Learn how alcohol can affect nearly every organ system in the body with this interactive game.

Alcohol Myths | College Drinking Prevention
Don’t fall for the myths. Explore the facts about alcohol and make informed choices.

A male student smiles as he walks outdoors, wearing a baseball cap and headphones around his neck

In-Person Alcohol and Other Drug Programs

Dallas College wants to help students make informed, healthy choices through alcohol and other drug (AOD) education, prevention and awareness events offered on campus. These in-person opportunities focus on building knowledge, reducing risk and promoting overall well-being of students in a supportive environment. Stay connected by following @healthydallascollege on Instagram and explore upcoming AOD and wellness events.

Counseling

Dallas College offers in-person and virtual counseling to enrolled students who have alcohol or other drug concerns. Students can meet with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) licensed counselor, Dr. Catherine Sang, to discuss their concerns associated with individual use, family substance use and alcohol concerns, as well as 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.

BASICS and 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 takes a harm reduction approach to help students who may be in the experimentation stage as well as students who are 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.

For more information or to discuss BASICS or CASICS, you can contact CAPS counselor Dr. Catherine Sang at CSang@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: 214-887-6699
Fort Worth AA: 817-332-3533

Al-Anon

Al-Anon offers help to families or friends of people who struggle with alcohol use or abuse. 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: 214-363-0461

Explore Health Topics

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