College is thought of as the time for new experiences for young adults coming out from under the rule of their parents. It should be, but simple pleasures can morph to bigger problems in the future.
Like every other college campus, drinking occurs on Idaho’s, too. In the past, the university had a reputation as a party school, an image administrators are trying to ditch.

The University of Idaho recently reported on its Web site that liquor law violations were down to 103 from 108 instances since 2006. But these numbers are not an accurate representation of substance abuse involving UI students.
The study bases its numbers on people who are caught doing something wrong on the UI campus. It doesn’t include those under or of age who were not caught doing something illegal.

A problem with alcohol can easily be dismissed at this phase of life because of a student’s surroundings, but this can be the time bad behaviors develop and grab hold.
Alcohol contributes to many kinds of irrational behaviors. It takes down a person’s inhibitions and makes the drinker more likely to make dangerous decisions like driving under the influence, assaulting or raping someone, stealing, having unprotected sex that can result in an unwanted pregnancy and more.

If alcohol is interfering with day-to-day life, then alcohol is a problem.
It takes strength to get help for a problem, but those resources are there for a reason — many students deal with a substance abuse problem.
On campus, the UI Counseling and Testing Center offers substance abuse assessment and counseling. It even has a convenient online alcohol screening which can be found at www.alcoholscreening.org.

Aside from on-campus help, places of worship have people to talk to about issues, as do counseling centers in Moscow, Pullman and Lewiston.
These alcohol-related problems are certainly occurring more than reported, but being aware of habits before they become problems can ensure everyone can have fun while staying safe.

— AR

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