Alcoholism among students

Picture this: You get together with a bunch of friends, and start drinking at someones apartment or house. Someone suggests drinking games, and of course you don't want to be the loser sitting out, so you play. A few hours go by, and you've already drank 3 or 4 beers. Feeling pretty good, right? Well, it's 11pm, and everyone wants to go to the bars. So, since you're buzzed, and you're on a roll, why stop. You guys go to a bar, and get some drinks. Then a bunch of your friends want to do shots, and assume you're going to take one. And, you don't want to insult them, so you take the shot, whew, SoCo and lime, pretty rough. You guys stick around until last call. Half of the people you went to the bar with are missing, and your one buddy is making friends with the trash can, and you are super intoxicated, and stumbling around. As you finish your tenth or eleventh beer, you try to collect your thoughts on how to get home. (Since you live on the opposite side of town.) You don't see any of your friends, and start walking by yourself. Well, you know there is a short cut somewhere, but can't remember. You come up to a big intersection, and try not to weave in and out as you walk on the sidewalk. You are seeing double, and everything in sight is blurred. You see your apartment, and not thinking decide to run across the street. You see lights, and open your eyes. Guess where you are? You're in the hospital. Oh, you don't remember what happend? You got hit by a car. You could've been killed.
In many cases, students can get so drunk, and "black out". However, some students get so inebriated to the point that they don't realize what they're doing at that present time. Even though they may be functioning physically, they wake up not knowing half, or sometimes, all of what happend while they were blacked out. There are all different situations that students can experience when they're under the influence of alcohol. But the question is, when does alcohol become a problem? As you click on this link, you will see the policies and procedures regarding alcohol and drug abuse. Some students may not think they have a problem, because partying is "normal" for college students. It's unfortunate that students wait until something serious happens; like a breaking a bone, or passing out on the side of a street, or even worse. Is alcohol part of the college tradition at SIUC? Another issue with alcohol could be connected with the Greek system. Every year, freshman walking around campus see sidewalks and walls chalked up with advertisments to rush a fraternity or sorrority. Of course, these young kids are still a little homesick, or aren't making friends as easily as they anticipated. So, maybe joining a frat or sorrority would help them meet new people, the opposite sex, and allow them to have a good time. At social events the houses may throw, alcohol is usually consumed. Students usually drink to gain "liquid confidence", or because it's the cool thing to do. Other students work really hard during the week at school, and reward themselves with a weekend of partying, a.k.a. binge drinking.
After clicking on that link, I bet that was a reality check. I'm sure tons of people have binge drank before, and I'll admit it, I have too. But, after reading that article, and learning that we can DIE from it, scares the hell out of me. What about you? Here's the thing: Most students don't want to admit that they have a problem, or don't THINK they have a problem. Students think it's the norm to go out on the weekends to get hammered, go out on Wednesday night because it's 80's night, or go out for "one" drink, even though one always turns into 4 or 5. How do you know if YOU have a problem?
People only tell the people around them so much, and some friends may not be able to recognize a friend suffering from a problem such as alcoholism, or drug abuse. If you are someone who has a problem, or knows someone who has a problem with alcohol, please don't ignore it. One more thing, it doesn't hurt just to look and see what it's about. Please check out the following link. Alcoholics Anonymous.