Many local services available for students with addiction issues
Central Michigan University and the Mount Pleasant community offer a number of resources for students who have issues with substance abuse.
One option for students who live in the residence halls is visiting their local counselor and receiving advice and connections to help centers.
Students who report having a substance abuse issue will have all their information kept confidential, said Counselor-in-Residence Rebecca Wang.
“We work to connect them with local agencies and to give them lots of information," Wang said. "We try to educate and look at the reasons why they are using them. Most people who become hooked on drugs have some type of reason behind using them”.
One of the local agencies students can be referred to is the 1016 Recovery Network, which is a private, non-profit agency that works to help people get clean. The agency runs a detox and outpatient center.
People who are experiencing substance abuse can come stay at its 2885 Health Parkway location for three to five days. During that time they will be taken off their substance, while being given medicine to ease their transition. If more than a five-day stay is required, they can be transferred to the residential facility in Midland, where they can be put in residential care for 21 to 28 days.
“I feel that we don’t see enough college students,” said 1016 Detox Manager Kristy Stall. “Many people feel as if drugs and alcohol are built into the culture of college, so they are less likely to seek help.”
Students who live off-campus, along with those who live in the residence halls, are able to visit the Counseling Center for help.
“The Counseling Center has a variety of methods to help students who are dealing with substance abuse issues," Ross Rapaport, director of the counseling center, said. "First we determine if we are able to help them or if they need help outside of the university.
"But if a student contacts us themselves it is likely that they will be referred to CMU’s Physiology Training Consultation Center or the human training development center where they can receive professional help."
The Counseling Center also works to connect students to resources outside of the university, which can help begin the transition off drugs or alcohol. Some of the places students have been referred to are ASCC Therapy Solutions, 218 S. Washington St., and the Alano Club, 1201 N. Fancher St., which holds Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
There is a full list of resources offered to CMU students and Mount Pleasant residents on the CMU Counseling Center website under "Counseling Resources"
