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Determining if you or someone you know misuses alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, or prescription medications can be difficult. Understanding the warning signs and dispelling myths about substance use improves access to care for students seeking help. Additionally, it also puts students, faculty, and staff in a better position to support someone who wants to abstain from alcohol and other drugs, encourage moderate alcohol use if they decide to use, and assist those who show signs of problem drinking and other substance use.
No two words appear to create more confusion regarding alcohol and other drug use than the terms "use" and "abuse". Alcohol and other drug use refers to the amount (quantity) that one consumes. Alcohol and other drug use can lead to abuse when one engages in high-risk usage despite repeated negative consequences (e.g. legal, physical, psychological, medical, academic problems, etc.).
Despite common perceptions that all college students drink heavily, data from national statistics suggests that most college students drink moderately. Dartmouth's own evaluation and research team has discovered the same results. A majority of Dartmouth students drink 0-4 drinks when they party.
Concerns Seen by Friends or Peers
Concerns for a Student Seen by Faculty
One sign doesn't mean that a problem exists. However, the accumulation of two or more signs increases the likelihood that a problem exists.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
How to Help
If you know a student who exhibits any of the signs listed above, you can help by doing the following:
To schedule an appointment for yourself or to talk to a counselor about a concern for a student, please call the Counseling Center at 603-646-9442.
If a person who has been using shows any one of these signs....