Fighting Alcoholism in College

“I’m totally addicted to Sour Patch Kids,” said everyone ever. You have probably heard someone say something along those lines recently, or have said something similar yourself. Similar to saying, “I’m so depressed,” or “I’m starving,” most of us do not mean we are “addicted.”

Despite our casual use of the word, addiction can be a big problem for young adults. Addiction is a chronic disease involving compulsive substance use and abuse, often with harmful consequences. According to the American Psychiatric Association, drug and alcohol abuse are the leading causes of preventable illnesses and premature death in society today. In 2012, 17.7 million Americans, or 6.8 percent of the population, abused or were dependent on alcohol, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Though this was a decrease from the 7.7 percent found in 2002, this still constitutes a large number of people.

Perhaps more worrisome is the fact that 19 percent of college students meet the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, according to the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Heavy drinking, especially when occurring outside of a college party culture, can lead to alcoholism, a disease that can wreak havoc on one’s physical and mental health: it is often associated with depression and can cause severe liver damage, impotence, infertility, premature aging, birth defects and increased risk of heart disease — not to mention problems with relationships, careers and finances.

Fortunately, alcoholism and alcohol dependence can be treated, especially if you do not allow it much time to develop. In college, it may be the norm for some to drink more than 5 drinks in one night or at one time. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, five drinks at one time or in one night more than 5 days per month constitutes “heavy drinking.” That may not seem like a whole lot of alcohol in a college setting, but in any other setting, this behavior would be seen as worrisome. It is important to stay vigilant and monitor your own alcohol use and that of your friends. Maybe it is the norm for you to be drinking a lot with your friends here at the College, but when you or a friend start drinking alone, drinking before going to class or blacking out every single weekend, this is cause for concern.

If you’re worried (or just curious!) about your alcohol consumption, it is worth making an appointment at the Parton Center for Health and Wellness counseling to do the BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students) Assessment. This is a confidential assessment for college students that assists them in understanding where their drinking habits fit on the continuum of drinking behaviors, helping students assess the relationship between their alcohol habits and life goals and provide resources to reduce harms. It does not tell students not to drink, nor does it involve judgment or confrontation. This personal report can be reviewed with a nurse or counselor to help identify how to reduce further risks and to provide local resources if desired.

You can call counseling services at 802-443-5141 to make a BASICS appointment. Another great resource is a blood alcohol calculator (BAC), which can now be found the form of an smartphone apps: DrinkTracker, available on the iPhone, is one example. This allows you to input the drinks you’ve had and does the work for you, so you can monitor your own alcohol use.

Some basic information to be aware of: the average person’s liver can digest one drink per hour and for a 185 lb. male, 2 drinks in one hour will yield a BAC of 0.025. For a 130 lb. female, 2 drinks in one hour cause a BAC of 0.053. Women have less dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol, than men, so the same amount of alcohol will produce a higher BAC in a woman as compared to a man. In addition, a higher percentage of body fat and hormone fluctuations can contribute to a higher BAC.

A common misconception is that drinking will cure a bad mood. In reality, drinking alcohol can cause sadness or anxiety to get worse, in addition to changing how alcohol is processed in the body. Feelings of fatigue are also exacerbated by alcohol consumption — fatigue leads to a more inefficient liver, leading to a higher BAC than normal.

Another important thing to be aware of is alcohol’s interaction with other drugs. Some antibiotics, when taken with alcohol, can have unpleasant and even serious side effects. Diabetes and hypoglycemic medications combined with alcohol can cause severe and unpredictable reactions, so alcohol should be avoided in these circumstances. Alcohol combined with antihistamines can cause severe drowsiness, while opiates combined with alcohol can enhance the sedative effects of each, increasing the risk of overdose. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure leading to stroke, and should never be taken with alcohol.

Many over-the-counter medications and vitamins come in a time-release capsule; however, alcohol dissolves the coating, leading to the immediate release of the full dose. It’s vital that you keep track of any medication you’ve taken before drinking alcohol, as some of these interactions can occur with both heavy and light drinking. Most medications have warnings explaining any drug interactions, but information can also be found online on a certain drug’s interactions with alcohol or other drugs. It’s never a bad idea to ask your prescribing physician whether it is okay to drink alcohol in conjunction with  medication, and if so, how much.

It is important to be conscious of your alcohol consumption habits, and if necessary, seek treatment and more information from Parton. Drinking responsibly and looking out for your friends can help prevent injury, assault, sexual abuse and death. The College’s Good Samaritan policy states: “There may be times when safety concerns arise from a student’s excessive drinking or drug use, and in these situations, students should not hesitate to seek help from the Student Life staff, Public Safety, medical or counseling professionals, and/or local or state police out of fear of disciplinary action. Under this Good Samaritan policy, neither the student in distress nor the student or organization seeking assistance will ordinarily be subject to disciplinary action for the possession, provision, or consumption of drugs or alcohol.”

If you see someone who looks like they may need immediate help due to alcohol or drug use, call Public Safety, who will be able to provide rides to Porter Hospital. For more long-term concerns, Parton can be a valuable resource.