Alcohol & Other Drug Services

Schedule an AOD Support Session to explore how substance use may be impacting your mental health or quality of life, develop a personalized action plan, and identify helpful resources for support.

You can schedule an appointment with an AOD Services Coordinator by calling Cornell Health at 607-255-5155, or by logging in to myCornellHealth using your Cornell NetID and password, and clicking on "Appointments." 

BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening & Intervention for College Students) is a two-session assessment and feedback process that helps you evaluate your own alcohol / drug use, and explore in a judgment-free environment how your use may be affecting your life.

Some students choose to participate in BASICS to learn more about their own behavior, and/or develop strategies for decreasing their drinking or drug use. Other students may be required to participate in BASICS when found in violation of Cornell’s Code of Conduct or House Rules.

Visit our BASICS page for more information.

Research shows that group counseling is the most effective method of addressing issues with alcohol or other drugs (AOD).

Each semester, our Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) staff offer counseling groups on topics designed to support habit change, harm reduction strategies, and/or abstinence-based recovery, based on the Transtheoretical Model and Stages of Change

AOD groups are open to undergraduate and graduate/professional students, and are offered free of charge. 

Visit our Group Counseling page to learn more. 

Substance use and mental health are often linked. Frequent use of alcohol or other drugs (AOD) can have a serious impact on one's mental health. Similarly substance use may become habitual as a means of coping with one's mental health struggles. Whichever came first, it's best to work on mental health and substance use at the same time.

• If you're already seeing a mental health counselor (here at CAPS or elsewhere), it's a good idea to talk with them about substance use.
• If you don't have a therapist, but you'd like some help sorting things out, it's a good idea to reach out.

Speaking individually with a counselor can help you work through challenges you might be facing, including those related to alcohol or other drugs (AOD). A counselor can help you develop strategies for reducing or abstaining from AOD use, and address any underlying problems (family issues, depression, anxiety, etc.) that may be contributing to your use. Counseling can also be a great resource for students who are concerned about – or impacted by – a friend or family member who struggles with their AOD use.

Visit our Individual Counseling page to learn more about our counseling services and how to set up an appointment.

Cornell Health counselors facilitate psycho-educational drop-in workshops focused on helping students to thrive. These 60-minute workshops are offered via Zoom during the academic year.

• Cannabis, Considerations for University Students 
• Tobacco and Vaping Cessation
• Drinking Limits, Understanding Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Get workshop details on our CAPS Workshops page.

Cornell Health provides both personal guidance, pharmacy support, and other resources to those who want to quit using tobacco and other nicotine products. Students wishing to get support for these concerns should schedule an Access Appointment to be connected with a counselor. 

Learn more about tobacco / nicotine services. 

All new incoming undergraduate students (first-year and transfer) are required to complete an online alcohol or other drugs (AOD) education program, even if you are among the many Cornellians who choose not to drink alcohol or use other drugs. This interactive training includes Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO: a personalized, evidence-based, online prevention intervention developed by psychologists at San Diego State University. 

Opioid overdoses are often preventable. While opioid use is uncommon at Cornell, it's important for every community member to be familiar with overdose prevention resources. The Cornell Health Pharmacy began an OOPP (Opioid Overdose Prevention Program) in 2023, allowing our staff to support the Cornell community in the following ways:

• Naloxone spray (Narcan®): This product is currently available at no cost in our self-care vending machine located just inside our Ho Plaza entrance. 
• Test strips: Both Fentanyl and Xylazine testing strips are available for free at the Cornell Health Pharmacy. Please ask at the pharmacy counter (due to current legislation, testing strips must be dispensed by health services staff).
• Training: Cornell Health Pharmacy staff partner with Cornell's Division of Public Safety to provide Naloxone / Narcan awareness and trainings on campus. Each individual who attends the training receives an emergency overdose kit with two free naloxone nasal sprays.

Learn more on our Opioid Overdose Prevention page.

 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are now available virtually, via Zoom. These are "open" meetings, meaning that all are welcome, regardless of whether or not you drink, or think you have a problem. People interested in finding out what these meetings are like are welcome to log in, listen and observe.

Visit aa.org for more information about AA and what to expect from meetings.

At CURW, representatives from a wide range of religious faiths and spiritual beliefs can provide free, confidential, and individualized pastoral counseling. Learn more at curw.cornell.edu.

Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (CARS) offers individualized services tailored to meet the needs of college students. CARS accepts most insurance plans, and fees are on a sliding scale. To make an appointment, call 607-237-5500.

Alcoholics Anonymous is appropriate for anyone with questions or concerns about their drinking, and for those looking for a welcoming community to support their sobriety.

While many who attend these meetings abstain from alcohol, you do not necessarily need to be ready to stop drinking to benefit from going to AA meetings, listening to the stories of others, and building friendships. Members of the group lead the discussion sessions and attendance is free.

There are many virtual daily meetings in the Ithaca area to choose from. Please visit the Ithaca Community Recovery website for the up-to-date schedule, with Zoom links and password information.

Please check the AA website to confirm times and places of community meetings.

Marijuana Anonymous is a free peer-support program for people struggling with marijuana or cannabis addiction. 

The Ithaca chapter of Marijuana Anonymous is not currently active. However, MA offers numerous weekly meetings that can be attended online. Find a virtual MA meeting here. 

Ithaca Community Recovery provides a meeting and activity space for a wide variety of 12-step and other recovery-oriented groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous, ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), Al-Anon, Marijuana Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous.

See a current schedule of meetings here. Ithaca Community Recovery is located at 518 West Seneca Street.