Rhonda Harris-Scott
Health Columnist
How many times have you had to hold your friend’s hair back? Been forced to hear whining after your friend had a wild night partying? Or been embarrassed by a friend’s obnoxious behavior? Many people may suffer from the actions of one person’s alcohol abuse. If your friend is having a problem with drinking, here is some important information for you.
First, realize that all college students do not drink, and getting drunk is not the norm According to The Core Institute’s 2003 statistics on alcohol and other drug use, “76.2 percent of college students have not performed poorly on a test or project because of their alcohol or drug use, 85.2 percent of college students have not had trouble with police or authorities because of their drinking, and 70.4 percent of college students have not driven under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.”
Alcohol is a drug that enters the blood stream and quickly affects all organs, especially the brain and liver. The liver can only handle one alcoholic drink per hour. No matter what your body size, body shape or gender, alcohol will affect your brain quickly. You may experience a decrease in your ability to concentrate, have impaired vision, lose control of your emotions and be unable to exercise good judgment after drinking. Over a period of time you could become more susceptible to liver disease, heart problems and cancer. Worst of all, you could end up being a victim of sexual assault or become involved in a life-or-death situation.
You should be able to spot the signs of a drinking problem. Some signs may include: hanging out with the wrong crowd, behavior that is abnormal (violence, yelling, failing grades, skipping classes, lying, missing work) or experimenting with other drugs. If you notice these signs in a friend, your next steps should be to create a plan, get other people involved and express your concerns to your friend. Step in and make sure that your friend’s behavior starts to change. For example, don’t be afraid to take the keys when your friend attempts to drive. If your friend does not believe he has a problem, figure out how to show him what he looks like when he is inebriated. Take pictures, videos or have a group of friends express concern over his drunken behavior.
You are likely the one taking the brunt of your friend’s behavior, and you may need help as well. The Student Counseling Center (ext. 4210) can help both of you. There are also AA meetings held in Malibu (call 800-923-8722 for more information.) These have helped Pepperdine students in the past. If all else fails, remove yourself from the situation. If your friend does not pay attention to your concerns, you may have to distance yourself from that person. Just let your friend know that you did all you could to help.
National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week is Oct. 17 through 24. During this week there will be many opportunities for you to take your friends to events that don’t involve alcohol and are still fun. Be sure to show your friends that alcohol is not what makes going out enjoyable. It’s the companionship between the two of you that is enjoyable
10-06-2004
