Over consumption of alcohol among college students is a serious problem. Students generally do not fully understand the effects of alcohol - they succumb easily to peer-pressure, and are unable to handle the new freedom living away from home brings.
Alcohol is a drug that acts as a depressant on the central nervous and respiratory systems. Approximately 9,000,000 Americans are addicted to alcohol, making it the most serious drug problem in our country.
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
What to do
Support Services
- Use of alcohol during the class day
- Missed course work because of drinking
- Drinking when there is an important reason not to
- Significant changes in mood or behavior
- Becoming violent when drinking
- Drinking more than friends
- Drinking alone
- Drinking to intoxication
- Trouble with police or university officials because of drinking
- Drinking to escape
- Expressed concern about drinking from others (often met with denial of an alcohol problem)
- Blackouts and/or loss of memory while drinking
- Drinking is the primary reason for getting together
If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or a friend, you should try to get help. This can be very difficult, but it is necessary if they are to control their problem.
- Select an appropriate time and place
- Let them know you are genuinely concerned
- Be direct, don't beat around the bush
- Describe specific behaviors, don't evaluate
- Offer to accompany them to an appropriate office so they can discuss their alcohol use and get assistance
- Be prepared to encounter excuses, broken promises, challenges, attempts to redirect the conversation, and passing the behavior off as no big deal
- Always leave them with a telephone number to call for assistance
Office of the Dean for Student Development
Alcohol and Drug Education
O'Connell House 109 at 616-552-8639
University Counseling Services
Gasson Hall 108 at 617-552-3310
Fulton Hall 254 at 617-552-3927
Campion Hall 301 at 617-552-4210
University Health Services
Cushing Hall, 1st Floor at 617-552-3225
Alcoholics Anonymous
Times and locations for meetings in Boston and the vicinity