Marijuana Intervention Program (MIP) | Penn State Student Affairs

About the Marijuana Intervention Program

The Marijuana Intervention Program (MIP) uses a harm-reduction approach that is designed to:

Promote a non-judgmental environment to help you explore your marijuana use
Reduce risky behavior and harmful consequences of marijuana use
Identify changes that could help you reduce your risk
Provide important information about how marijuana affects memory and learning
Encourage students to reduce and/or stop marijuana use

Students who are found in possession of small amounts of marijuana or under the influence of marijuana on campus are mandated to complete MIP by the Penn State Office of Student Conduct or Residence Life.

Students who are concerned about their marijuana use but have not had a marijuana incident can take MIP as a self-referral free of charge.

Students who want to take MIP on a self-referral basis should contact Health Promotion and Wellness at 814-863-0461 for program information.

How to Schedule

You may schedule your appointment via myUHS. To schedule an in-person appointment, please email promotinghealth@psu.edu or call 814-863-0461.

When leaving a phone message to schedule appointments, please leave your full name, Penn State Access ID (abc123), and a phone number with area code. A staff member will contact you by phone or email during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday).

Time Commitment

MIP consists of two one-hour sessions with a Health Promotion and Wellness staff member. During the first session, you will meet individually with a staff member and complete several questionnaires. You will also complete screenings for depression and anxiety. During the second session, you will discuss the results of your questionnaires with the staff member. You will explore ways to reduce academic, health, social, and legal consequences. Additional sessions beyond the first two may be required for some students.

Fees

Students who are sanctioned to complete MIP by Penn State’s Office of Student Conduct or Residence Life are required to pay a $250 fee. You may pay with cash, a check, debit or credit card, or LionCash. Students need to pay for MIP at the first session. If a student does not pay the program fee, Health Promotion and Wellness will place a hold on their student registration. The hold will be placed as a result of not fulfilling the requirements for completing the Student Conduct sanction. The hold will be released when the program fee is paid in full.

No-Show Fee

Students who are mandated must cancel or reschedule an appointment at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment time to avoid a $100 no-show fee. If you miss an appointment and/or do not cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours prior to your appointment you will be charged a $100 no-show fee. You are responsible for paying this fee (with cash, a check, debit or credit card, or LionCash) at the time of your appointment. If you are unable to pay the no-show fee at the time of your appointment, your appointment will be rescheduled.

Confidentiality

The information you share during the MIP sessions is confidential; however, we will disclose health information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law. We may use and disclose health information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Any disclosure, however, would only be to someone able to help prevent that threat. Mandated students will be asked to acknowledge a release of information statement that will allow staff to verify completion with the appropriate Penn State offices.