When UNM freshman Kevin Johns died two weeks ago as a result of alcohol poisoning, he became another example of college students battling socially accepted yet excessive alcohol-related behavior.
One in every 13 adults abuse alcohol or is an alcoholic, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The same agency reports that alcohol abuse problems are highest among people 18-29.
The American Medical Association reported that nearly half of all college students who abused alcohol during the 1993 academic year experienced five or more problems, including missing class, physical injury, arguing with friends and engaging in unprotected sex, which could lead to HIV infection. The association also stated that on campuses where more than half of the students drink to excess, 87 percent of students who live on campus experience one or more problems resulting from alcohol abuse.
According to police reports, Johns was dared to drink between a dozen and 20 shots Oct. 27. Following Johns' death, University organizations that deal with substance abuse are urging members of the community to take advantage of their services.
"We encourage people to just pick up the phone and call if they need help," said Carrie Bolton, who works with a UNM-affiliated research center that deals with adolescent alcohol abuse. "People of all ages battle these problems, and we do deal exclusively with those between the ages of 13 and 18, but we know of other programs that can help. The key is accepting when there is problem and seeking help."
Each substance abuse program has its own intake evaluations to help students decide whether they have a problem.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
One of the accepted tests to help students gauge whether they have a problem with alcohol includes the following nine questions provided by a psychologist from the University of Notre Dame.
l Do you ever lie about how much alcohol you're consuming?
l Have your grades suffered because of drinking?
l Do you typically hang out with others who are heavy drinkers and avoid socializing with acquaintances who seldom drink?
l Do you frequently regret things you've said or done after drinking?
l Do you routinely use alcohol to reduce stress?
l Is it hard for you to enjoy social activities if alcohol is unavailable?
l Have your friends ever made comments to you about cutting back on your alcohol use?
l Do you drink to get a buzz once a week or more?
l Do you often drink alone?
The survey states that answering yes to any of the questions constitutes a possible substance abuse problem.
If people in the UNM community need help figuring out if they have a problem or want help dealing with it, the University has a myriad of resources available.
Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention, which can be reached at 277-2795, aims to provide a healthy campus environment free from the negative consequences of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse.
Counseling and Therapy Services can be reached at 277-4537 and is staffed by licensed professionals from various disciplines, including counseling, psychology, clinical social work and psychiatry. The services assessment and referral, crisis intervention, short-term therapy and medication evaluation. Students in need of extended care are referred to professionals in the community. Confidentiality is considered an essential component of treatment.
UNM's Agora Crisis Center, the nation's oldest hotline, allows callers nationwide to discuss their problems confidentially and offers referral services. It can be reached at 277-7859.
