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What should I know about alcohol and drinking?
You will definitely encounter alcohol and drinking while you are at college, although there are many people at college who don't drink. Many people prefer doing activities that don't involve drinking, such as going to a movie or a play, going out to eat, or participating in an athletic event. Before you make any decision about drinking, you should know the risks.
Heavy drinking can cause physical illness (or even death) and may lead to bigger drinking problems in the future. Drinking sometimes brings out aggression and violence in people, including sexual aggressiveness. Many times, it is when people drink that sexual harassment and date rape occurs. It is very hard to think clearly and make good decisions when you drink, so you might do something while you drink that you may regret later (for example, engaging in unsafe sexual behavior). Heavy drinking is also a cause of weight gain. Alcohol is high in calories and very low in nutrients.
You probably know that drinking under the age of 21 is illegal and you will get in legal trouble if you are caught. But you will probably encounter alcohol at some point before you turn 21, which is the legal drinking age in the United States. Obviously, the best way to avoid drinking-related problems is to not drink at all. If you decide to drink, it should be your own decision and not because other people want you to drink, or tell you to drink. Also, remember that if you drink more than one or two drinks, you may lose control and not be able to think clearly. Because drinking makes your judgment cloudy, you shouldn't drive after you have been drinking or ride with someone who has been drinking. If your friends are drinking, you should try to prevent them from driving. If you feel that you have drinking problem or if other friends are commenting on your drinking, you should see a counselor at your college Student Health Service.
Be smart when it comes to drinking and try out different activities that don't include alcohol. You'll see that you don't need to drink to have a good time.
What should I know about drug use?
You may see people doing drugs at college or someone may try to pressure you to try them. Remember that the majority of young adults do not use drugs. Drugs may seem like something just to try at first, but you can easily get in trouble with the law or get hurt. Many drugs are illegal and if you are caught, you may have to face a high fine or time in jail. Car crashes, falls, and suicide are all linked to drug use. Continuous drug use can also ruin your looks, cause you to do worse in school, make you depressed, and destroy some of your friendships. Even trying drugs once can make you do something that you will regret later. If you see a friend with a drug problem, try to get your him/her to go for help. The same goes for you if you develop a drug problem. Drugs won't make you happy or popular. The way to be happy is to do fun activities that don't involve drugs! Join clubs, play sports, go out to dinner. Just remember that you don't need drugs!
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Updated 6/12/2001
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