Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Drugs
Psychoactive substances are those that affect your psychological functioning; that is, how you act, feel or think. Use and abuse of these substances can interfere with course work, lead to problems with health or behavior and can interfere with important relationships.
Although use of alcohol may be socially acceptable in some circumstances in college, many students today are choosing not to drink due to reasons of health, social responsibility or the desire to stay focused on other life goals.
While some students use alcohol in social settings and are able to handle this responsibly, others may experience difficulties when they drink too much, too often, or in situations where alcohol use violates social expectations or the University Code of Conduct. An example of this is binge drinking, which is defined as four or more drinks in a row. This can lead to problematic, even dangerous consequences, such as auto accidents, impulsive behavior or making poor decisions. Drinking in settings where you have other obligations to meet also occurs in college and can create problems. Examples include drinking during the time when you had planned to study or be in class or drinking before driving your car. Some students use alcohol as a means of coping with stress. While this may help them feel better for a little while, the negative consequences often hurt more in the long run.
Perhaps alcohol or another drug is causing problems for you or someone you know. Staff at Counseling Services can work with you in making constructive and responsible personal decisions about alcohol use. Education and counseling can help you make good choices.