If you have a friend or roommate who has consumed too much alcohol and is passed out and is not able to be aroused or is vomiting, call CER (Colby Emergency Response), ext. 5911. Students are not disciplined if they are brought to the Garrison-Foster Health Center because of acute alcohol intoxication. Security may notify the Dean's office and or the police if a student has injured someone, caused property damage or committed a crime.
What if I think my friend is abusing alcohol or drugs?
One of the most difficult social problems to deal with at college is how to handle a friend or roommate who has a problem drinking alcohol or using other drugs.
*A problem drinker typically:
- drinks to get drunk
- tries to solve problems by drinking
- develops personality changes (becomes loud, violent, or angry or reclusive, silent, or remote)
- drinks before going to class or instead of studying for a test
- causes problems in the residence hall (becomes noisy or abusive or vomits all over the bathroom)
- continues to drink alcohol in spite of getting into trouble for previous alcohol use
Before talking with the person who drinks too much, clarify your own myths about alcohol use. For example, have you ever thought:
- If my friend would switch from liquor to beer there would not be a problem.
- It is not cool to talk to hall staff, Health Center staff, or a dean about my friend's problem with alcohol.
- If I could just get through to my friend somehow I can change his/her drinking.
- Maybe if I don't say anything about my friends drinking, he/she will just stop.
- Probably it is just a phase my friend is going through. Eventually he/she will get bored playing drinking games.
In order to help a friend with a drinking problem, you must first take care of yourself. One way to do this is to set limits on how involved you will be with the problem drinker. Decide which behaviors are acceptable and which are not acceptable. Let your friend know what your limits are and that you are concerned for him/her but that you will not put up with those behaviors you find unacceptable. If the problem persists or if you are uncomfortable talking with your friend or if you are having trouble setting limits for yourself please call Health Services, ext. 4460, for an appointment with a counselor to help sort your way through this most difficult problem.
*(How to Help a Friend with a Drinking Problem, American College Health Association)
