Alcohol and Drug Problems


Some Michigan Tech students like to view MTU as a "hard drinking" university and like to believe it is one of the heaviest drinking campuses in the country. At occasional keg parties one will occasionally hear the chant "We're Number One! " in reference to this local urban legand.

In fact, according to the most recent surveys of alcohol use on campus, Michigan Tech ranks solidly in the middle in terms of frequency and volume of alcohol use on campus nationwide.

But let's face it: chanting "We're Number One! We're Number One! " is a lot more fun than chanting "We're in the middle! We're in the middle! "

Still, problems with abusive alcohol drinking frequently occur, as do problems involving the illegal and illicit use of drugs.

Please refer to your MTU's Student Policies online to become fully aware of the University's policies regarding alcohol and substance use on campus. Also be aware that, while you are subject to all of the policies and rules regarding alcohol and substance use on campus, you are also subject to all of the laws of the State of Michigan regarding the use of alcohol and controlled substances. If for some reason you cannot locate your Student Handbook, copies of Michigan Tech's policies and procedures concerning drugs and alcohol are available in brochere format in the Counseling Services lobby area. Just ask Karen or one of the counselors to get one of the copies for you.

Being a student will not shield you from prosecution by the local authorities should you abuse alcohol or choose to use controlled substances. If you abuse alcohol or a controlled substance, it is extremely possible you will find yourself subject to legal prosecution as well as disciplinary action from the Office of Student Affairs.

Defining use, misuse, abuse & dependancy


Use

  • Drinks mostly on social occasions only
  • Drinks on a controlled basis, typically 1 drink per hour, 3-4 drinks max.
  • The individual's behavior remains largely unchanged after drinking
  • There are no negative social, legal or health consequences to drinking
  • Alcohol is used merely to loosen social inhibitions in an appropriate fashion

Misuse

  • The individual begins to drink mostly on the weekends and begins to plan his or her weekend recreational time around the drinking of alcohol
  • A pattern of excessive drinking is established
  • The person's social behavior becomes undesirable and socially inappropriate after drinking
  • Some negative social, legal, academic or health consequences begin to surface after drinking
  • The individual increasingly sees alcohol as "necessary" in order to "have a good time" Non-drinking activities are increasingly seen as "boring."

Abuse

  • Binge drinking begins to occur
  • Most drinking becomes excessive drinking
  • A pattern of planned misuse develops as well as occasional blackouts
  • Negative social, legal, academic and/or health consequences increase in frequency or severity
  • Alcohol or substances are consumed at all social events and increasingly, during private times alone as well
  • The fear of withdrawl increasingly grows

Dependancy

  • Increasingly drinks simply to feel "normal" rather than attain a "buzz"
  • Begins increasingly to deny any problems with alcohol exist in spite of accumulating evidence to the contrary. Denial in the advanced stages can reach a point of absurdity.
  • Increasingly becomes hostile and sarcastic at others who suggest cutting back or abstaining from alcohol.
  • Feels increasingly desperate when deprived of alcohol for any length of time, especially when under stress
  • Medical, legal, occupational and family problems accumulate at an accelerating rate
  • Blackouts increase in frequency and duration
  • Increasingly experiences "the shakes" when abstinent from alcohol for any length of time; increasingly at risk of experiencing the "D.T.'s" (delerium tremons )


Health risks


It is important for people to know about the health risks linked to substance use, including alcohol use. Whenever you use drugs, alcohol included, you are in danger of experiencing an overdose. However, there are other, more subtle health risks involved as well.

Drug and alcohol use could

  • Make you perform at school or work at an impaired standard.
  • Make you vomit, pass out, or do things that you regret when you are not under the influence.
  • Make you lose control over emotions leading to extreme depression, anger, mood swings and suicidal thoughts.
  • Make you more inclined to engage in unsafe sexual activity. This activity can lead to unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS or sexual assault.It is critically important for men to realize that if they engage in sexual activity with a woman who is inebrieated, that woman while drunk is not legally capable of informed consent, according to the laws of the State of Michigan. Legally, you are committing date rape if you have sexual activity with that woman in these circumstances, and the woman is free to press charges against you afterwords.
  • Make you susceptible to giving your child Fetal Alcohol Syndrome if you are pregnant. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is not curable and includes a number of health problems, such as mental retardation.
  • Make you take unusual risks that can result in death or physical injury: drunk driving, swimming after drinking, physical aggression, or disregard for dangerous situations (such as sleeping in the snow in the wintertime).
  • Kill you if you mix prescription or illicit drugs and alcohol together. Alcohol and presecrption or illicit substances taken together greatly increase the chance of an accidental and possibly fatal overdose. Many people have also died after passing out while lying on their backs, vomiting and then inhaling or aspirating the vomitus.
  • Kill you via alcohol overdose if you engage in practices such as slamming, chug-a-lugging, or if you compete with others to see who can "drink everybody under the table."


Warning signs of an alcohol or drug problem

  • Have you ever suffered a memory loss after a binge of drug use or drinking?
  • Has drug or alcohol use decreased you initiative or ambition?
  • Do you feel drugs or alcohol must be present for a social event to be fun?
  • Have you ever been in trouble at work or school due to your alcohol or substance use?
  • Do you ever get high or drunk by yourself?
  • Do you sometimes get high or drunk when you didn't really intend to?
  • Do you think being high or drunk is an acceptable excuse for misbehavior?
  • Have you ever made a promise to cut down on your drug or alcohol use and then failed to keep that promise?
  • Are your friends heavy drinkers or users?
  • Do you get high or drink and drive?

A yes answer to any of the above questions may be an indication that something could be wrong. More than four yes answers is a clear indication that something definitely is wrong.

Michigan Tech Counseling Services can help you deal with some of the problems you might be facing. The counselors practice complete confidentiality and will schedule a meeting around your classes. Call and make an appointment as soon as possible. We will conduct a comprehensive alcohol assessment and will determine the extent of any problem you might have with alcohol. We can provide you with in-depth counseling to help you make informed personal decisions about alcohol in your life, or if you prefer, we can provide a referral to another appropriate agency in the community.


Alcohol education classes

Most MTU students who go to alcohol education classes through Counseling Services are referred to the classes by the 97th District Court, by the Office of Student Affairs, by their Resident Advisor (RA) or by their Resident Hall Coordinator (RHC).

Michigan Tech Counseling Services' alcohol education classes consist of three sessions and last for an hour per session. During each session, handouts on the effects of alcohol in various health, social and legal settings are presented, discussion is encouraged about the materials presented, and a video is shown.

The purpose of alcohol education is not to automatically advocate strict abstinance from alcohol, but rather to teach the individual student just what alcohol is and how it can be both used appropriately and misused. The various consequences of misuse, abuse and addiction are both described and discussed.

The classes have been described by students as having been helpful to them in identifying their patterns of misuse or abuse, and in helping them change their misuse or abuse of alcohol before it progressed to alcohol dependency or addiction.

If you are interested in the Alcohol Education class, call Counseling Services at 487-2538 and request an alcohol evaluation. After the evaluation, you will be put on the alcohol education list and will be called when the next class is about to start.

Upon completion of the classes and your signing a release of information, if you were referred to Alcohol Education by an outside source, your referral source will be notified that you have completed the class.