Drug Abuse and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Information

Alcohol, Drugs, & College
The college years tend to be a time when we're faced with numerous choices about drinking and drug use. In movies such as "Animal House," or "Old School," the popular media presents an impression that college is a four-year party filled with excessive drinking and frequent drug use. However, the reality is that most college students do not drink to excess or use illicit drugs. What the popular media also distorts are the realistic consequences of making poor decisions about drinking and drug use in college, which include:

Flunking courses
Being kicked out of Residence Halls
Relationship problems and losing friends
Developing a long-term addiction
Wasting money
Putting yourself in dangerous situations
Sexual assault
Feeling bad about yourself
Deteriorating health
Psychological problems

Knowing the facts about alcohol and drugs can help you make better decisions about drinking and illicit drug use during your college years and beyond.

How Drugs & Alcohol Affect Your Body
In general, drugs belong to one of two categories depending on their effects on our Central Nervous System, which is comprised of the spinal cord and brain.

DEPRESSANTS
Drugs that slow down neural activity are classified as Depressants. Examples of Depressants include Alcohol, Heroin, or other "Downers." When someone is under the influence of a Depressant such as Alcohol, their brain slows down which can result in:

Slurred speech
Staggering and loss of balance
Behaving impulsively & losing self-control
Impaired vision and hearing
Slowed heart and lung functioning

Depressants can become lethal as the amount of a drug taken is increased. Because Depressants slow down our life-support functions such as heartbeat and breathing, passing out, paralysis, and death can occur as a result of abusing these drugs.

STIMULANTS
Drugs that speed up neural activity are classified as Stimulants. Examples of Stimulants include Cocaine, Methamphetamines, Caffeine, and other "Uppers." When someone is under the influence of a Stimulant such as Cocaine, their brain speeds up which can result in:

Euphoria
Nervousness and paranoia
Reduced need for sleep
Restlessness and irritability
Increased heart and lung functioning

Because Stimulants primary effect is to speed up heartbeat and breathing, overuse of these drugs can produce a heart attack, respiratory failure, stroke, and seizure.

How Do I Know If I Have A Problem?
Some signs that you may have a problem with drugs and/or alcohol include:

Making excuses for using drugs or alcohol
Using to cope with emotional pain or stress
Denying use or trying to hide use
Needing more amounts to get the same effect
Experiencing blackouts or gaps in memory
Not being able to relax without using
Having problems at work or school due to use
Feeling guilty about your use
Avoiding friends and family because of use
Feeling physically bad after stopping use (irritability, shakiness, nausea)
Legal problems because of use

See our Alcohol Use Questionnarie to see if you may have an alcohol problem.

How Do I Get Help?
Because society tends to view a drug or alcohol problem as a sign of weakness, people often feel compelled to hide the problem or even deny that they have one. Recognizing and accepting a drug or alcohol problem is a giant step toward recovery. The next step is getting help because becoming and staying sober is too hard to do on your own. In addition to the services available in CAPS here at Marymount Manhattan College, a number of other treatment resources are available. The important thing to know is that with professional help, your chances of recovering from a drug and/or alcohol problem are very good.
Click here for our Get Help information page

Making Decisions About Alcohol & Drinking In College
For many students, drinking alcohol is nothing more than a part of socializing with friends and a means of relaxation. However, some students drink to excess and place themselves and others around them in danger. Although the perception is that most college students get drunk regularly, the reality is that drinking to intoxication is not at all the norm. Surveys actually show that 60% of college students consume an average of only 3 or fewer drinks per week.

Although it is not the norm for college students to get drunk, during your college years you will be faced with many situations at parties, bars, on dates, and in your dorm room, where you will need to make smart choices about alcohol use. Remember, the decision of when, where, and why you drink is yours alone. Making careful and informed decisions about your personal preferences for alcohol use now will help you to avoid making poor decisions later when there is an opportunity to drink or when your friends are drinking around you.

Alcohol Related Problems

Binge Drinking is the most common alcohol problem seen in college students. Binge drinking is the consumption of 5 or more drinks at one sitting for males and 3 or more drinks at one sitting for females. Problems associated with binge drinking on college campuses include: damage to property, problems with authorities, missed classes, hangovers, sustain physical injuries, and higher incidence of assault and unwanted sexual advances.

Alcohol Abuse is recurrent alcohol use that results in (1) a failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, and/or home; (2) recurrent alcohol use in physically hazardous situations (e.g. driving); (3) alcohol-related legal problems; (4) continued alcohol use despite having severe social problems due to drinking (e.g. physical fights, arguments with parents/friends).

Alcohol Dependence is often referred to as alcoholism and is a chronic disease. Symptoms of alcohol dependence include: (1) tolerance (drinking more to get intoxicated OR diminished effects from drinking the same amount); (2) withdrawal (experiencing physical symptoms when alcohol is not used, such as shaking, OR use of an alcohol-like substitute to relieve/avoid physical symptoms; (3) drinking excessively for prolonged periods; (4) unsuccessful efforts to control drinking; (5) increased amount of time spent drinking or recovering from drinking; (6) neglecting important activities (e.g. school, home, friends) because of drinking; (7) continued use of alcohol despite serious physical and psychological difficulties.

5 Myths About Drinking
There is a great deal of misinformation about alcohol on college campuses. Knowing the facts will help you make better decisions about drinking.

Caffeine can help you sober up
Caffeine may make you feel more awake, but you're still intoxicated. There is no way to speed up the process of becoming sober because the liver, which is responsible for eliminating alcohol from your body, works at a fixed rate over time.
I'm not responsible for what happens when I'm drunk
You are always responsible for your behavior. Being drunk doesn't make you any less responsible if you have behaved in destructive or hurtful ways towards yourself, others, or property.
There's no danger in mixing alcohol with other drugs
There is a great deal of danger when someone mixes alcohol and other drugs (either prescription or illicit drugs). In fact, mixing alcohol and other drugs is the number one cause of drug-related deaths.
I only drink beer and/or wine, so I can't have a drinking problem
The amount of alcohol in a bottle of beer or glass of wine is equal to the amount in a shot of liquor. Drinking only wine or beer can lead to a drinking problem just as much as drinking hard liquor.
Partying and getting drunk is just a part of the college experience
Although the perception is that most college students get drunk regularly, the reality is that a large majority of students consume an average of only 3 or fewer drinks per week.

Drinking Responsibly
The best choice in college to prevent problems associated with drinking is not to drink at all. However, if you choose to drink, be responsible.

Limit consumption
Drink slowly
Never drink on an empty stomach
Do not mix different types of drinks
Do not leave your drink out of sight or take drinks from strangers
Designate a sober driver before you start drinking
Know your limits
Assess the impact of drinking on your relationships, school obligations, work, & finances
Decide in advance how much you plan to drink and stick to this amount
Avoid salty foods that make you more thirsty
Avoid shots and drink only "diluted" beverages (e.g., beer, wine, use mixers with liquor)