The CAPS alcohol and other drug (AOD) program offers services to students whose substance use affects their life goals or influences their mental health. Services include assessment, therapy, consultation, provision of resources, as well as referral to other services both at Purdue University and in the community. Many of these services are integrated with other CAPS services.
CAPS staff are committed to creating a non-judgmental and safe environment for Purdue students who would like to reflect on their relationship with substances. Our emphasis is on a harm-reduction approach that matches students’ developmental stage and on supporting students in attaining their self-identified substance use goals.
CAPS AOD assessment is integrated with other therapy services and ranges from brief screening questions to a full-fledged evaluation of a student's lifetime AOD use.
CAPS AOD team are available to consult with Purdue students and staff, specifically around issues related to substance use.
The overall focus of CAPS is on the provision of services through a time-limited outpatient therapy model. Paramount in this is connecting students to services that offer them the best chance of success. Therefore, we will facilitate referrals to an appropriate program in the community (Lafayette, Indianapolis or at other locations) when students need detoxification services, addiction treatment or medication-assisted opioid recovery. Similarly, we will facilitate referrals to therapists in the community for students who need more frequent or longer-term individual therapy services than CAPS can offer.
Students who would like support in connecting to campus and community AOD resources can make use of our CAPS Care Management services.
CAPS offers AOD evaluations for students mandated to attend such an evaluation at CAPS as part of Purdue University disciplinary sanctions. To schedule a mandated AOD evaluation students should bring their referral letter to the CAPS front desk in the PUSH building (second floor). Fees for the mandated AOD evaluation are $130. CAPS no longer offers AOD evaluations for students mandated as part of court sanctions and therapist will not write letters for court-related disciplinary AOD issues.
CAPS therapists will not write letters for court-related or Purdue University disciplinary AOD issues. The only exceptions are letters for students who previously completed a mandated AOD evaluation at CAPS. To protect your privacy and confidentiality, in most situations CAPS is required by law to obtain your written permission to use, disclose or release your protected health information and/or treatment records.
For more information, call 765-494-6995. For further questions about the services offered by the CAPS Alcohol and Other Drug Program, please contact Margot Schuerman, Psy.D., HSPP AOD Coordinator and Staff Therapist. To protect your confidentiality, please use an encrypted Purdue email to send any private information via email.
Last modified: March 1, 2024