Alcohol abuse and drug use problems have become a national health concern. Alcohol is a chemical. So are drugs. Any chemical is potentially harmful to someone. Some of the health risks associated with alcohol and drugs are listed below. For additional information about health risks associated with substance abuse, a listing of currently available resources is provided at the end of this section.
Alcohol - Slowing down of brain function, judgment, alertness, coordination, and reflexes
- Attitude and/or behavioral changes, such as uncharacteristic hostility or increased risk taking, such as driving recklessly
- Taken with other drugs alcohol can intensify the drug’s effects, alter the desired effect of the drug, cause nausea, sweating, severe headache, or convulsions
- Addiction or chemical dependency
- Memory blackouts
- Uncharacteristic family, school, work, or legal problems
- Physical problems such as cirrhosis of the liver
- Birth defects and mental retardation in user’s children
Cocaine - Destruction of nasal tissues
- Kidney damage
- Stroke
- Diseases of the lung, heart, and blood vessels
- Cardiac arrhythmia, convulsions, seizures, suppression of respiration, and sudden death
- Intense anger, restlessness, paranoia, and fear
- Hearing and seeing imaginary things
- Malnutrition
Heroin - Loss of appetite
- Addiction with severe withdrawal symptoms
- Drowsiness, clouding of mental processes, apathy, slowing of reflexes and physical activity
- Infection, hepatitis, or AIDS
- Death from overdose
LSD - Frightening hallucinations
- Triggers more serious problems for a person who has a history of mental or emotional instability
- Distortions of reality such as feeling that the unusual and sometimes frightening effects of the drug will somehow last forever
- Tolerance with repeated use so that increased amounts are needed to bring about the same effects
- Effects may recur (flashbacks) days or weeks later, even without further use of LSD
- Death may result from suicide or accident
Marijuana - Elevated blood pressure, coughing, dryness of the mouth and throat, decrease in body temperature, sudden appetite, and swollen red eyes
- Panic reaction and paranoia
- Distortions of time, reality, and perception, often impairing short-term memory
- Possible addiction
- Dysfunction related to thinking, learning, and recall
- Impaired ability to drive and do other things that require physical and intellectual capabilities
- Irritation of lungs and aggravation of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema
- Listlessness, tiredness, inattention, withdrawal, and apathy
- Chronic lung disease and lung cancer
Steroids - Liver disease
- Cancer
- Growth problems
- Testicular atrophy
- Bone fusion
- Acne
- Psychological problems
- Rage and uncontrolled anger
- AIDS
- Breast reduction
- Failure of secondary sex characteristics
- Sexual dysfunction, sterility (reversible), and impotence
- Fetal damage
Help
Assistance for alcohol and drug abuse is available on campus through Health Services. The College has designated individuals to assist students and employees in dealing with a substance abuse problem. Students may also choose to raise their concerns with supervisors, hall staff, College physicians and counselors, or their personal physician.
Students
Rachel Henderson, coordinator of alcohol and drug programs, Health Center, 207-859-4460, rchender@colby.edu
Faculty
Lori Kletzer, dean of faculty, Eustis Building, 305A, 207-859-4770, lkletzer@colby.edu
Staff
Douglas Terp, vice president for administration, Eustis Building, 305B, 207-859-4770, dcterp@colby.edu
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the following:
- 1-800-499-OO27
Maine Substance Abuse Information and Resource Center to receive information about treatment services - 1-800-452-6457
Maine Bureau of Drug Enforcement, where individuals may confidentially and anonymously report information about the illegal trafficking of drugs - 1-800-COCAINE
Cocaine Hotline]
