| Dealing with alcohol
and drug problems |
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Introduction
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Consequences of use |
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Taking control |
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Books and other help |
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| Select any section that interests you or
else read on through the page. |
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| Introduction |
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The use and misuse of alcohol and other
drugs is one of the more controversial issues in our society,
and often a source of conflict between generations and
between sections of society. It's not the purpose of this
page - or of the USCS - to tell people how to behave or
to seek to label them as alcohol or drug abusers. Alcohol
and other drugs are powerful substances with a potential
to harm users or to tempt them into over-indulgence, so
we do encourage students to take care of themselves when
considering using them and to avoid taking any risks which
they might regret later.
No universal classification of what constitutes unhealthy
use exists. Many classifications ignore the fact that
alcohol and drug use is an accepted part of many social
sets. What is seen as risky behaviour by one group is
accepted as normal by another.
Use of drink and drugs can be classified as: |
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| Abstinent |
| No
use is made. |
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| Controlled |
| People
have made a conscious decision, have evaluated the
risks and can stop if they want. |
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| Impulsive |
| Use
is unpredictable and can lead to unexpected accidents
and harm. However there is not continual use or
dependency. |
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| Habitual |
| The
use of alcohol or drugs have become a significant
and important part of the person's life-style. Stopping
would not be easy. |
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| Dependent |
| There
is a high degree of physical and psychological addiction.
Alcohol and drug use disrupts or rules the person's
life. Stopping is not possible without considerable
support. |
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| Obviously abstinence and controlled use
is the least worrying category and dependency the most
problematic. However many people making impulsive or habitual
use of drink and drugs are not totally happy with their
situation. |
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| Consequences
of use |
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| If you are wondering about your drink or
drug use, have you considered the following? |
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| Psychological
consequences |
| Are
you using drink or drugs to escape from a problem
which you might be able to solve if you faced it?
If so you may be perpetuating your shyness, anxiety,
depression, unhappiness etc. rather than dealing
with it for once and all. |
| Drink
and drugs don't permanently change our world. They
allow us to feel a temporary confidence or happiness,
but the effect is usually one of borrowed time.
Often the unhappiness or anxiety returns even more
strongly once the effects wear off. |
| Drink
and drugs can cause psychological problems by themselves.
Alcohol can commonly cause depression; drugs can
also cause depression, or can trigger anxiety or
even psychosis (loss of reality). |
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| Social
consequences |
| Drink
and drugs are often seriously expensive, so uncontrolled
use can lead to financial problems. |
| You
can quite easily end up in trouble with the law.
Although drinking alcohol is legal, it can lead
to assault and driving when drunk which are not.
Similarly, although the law may turn a blind eye
to personal use of certain drugs, this attitude
is not consistent. Sentences for any supplying can
be heavy and unpredictable. Any conviction for drink
or drugs offences may severely limit the opportunities
open to you in the future. |
| Pronounced
use of drink or drugs tends to rigidly define social
groups, so it may limit your circle of friends.
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| Continual
or large scale use of alcohol has a bad effect on
most people's sex-life. |
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| Physical
consequences |
| Drink
definitely lowers people's ability to resist harming
themselves when they have problems. |
| Drink
can lower people's inhibitions against hurting others.
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| Drink
greatly lessens people's ability to say no to unwanted
sexual encounters which they would have definitely
avoided had they been sober. |
| Many
serious accidents are drink and drug related. |
| There
are long-term health risks. |
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| All these things will not happen to everybody.
You may be lucky and avoid any serious mishaps. However,
all these consequences are seen routinely enough by anyone
involved in welfare work to suggest they are not exaggerated
or unusual. |
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| Taking control |
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If you want to take more control of your
use of drink or drugs the following suggestions may help.
Make a list of the advantages and drawbacks
of your alcohol and drug use which are personally significant
to you. The above list of possible consequences
may help focus your mind. Then decide whether you would
like to lessen the disadvantages.
Keep
a diary of your consumption over a week. Be honest
about the amounts you are using. Consider whether you
could limit your intake by changing your routine so as
not to put you in tempting situations.
Talk
to someone whom you trust about your use. See
if they feel you have cause for concern.
Consider
what you are using. In particular note when you
use concentrated or particularly dangerous forms of drink
and drugs. Can you substitute a less potent alternative?
Consider the social pressures to consume.
Can you limit your exposure to these - e.g. stop buying
in rounds, meeting in pubs, partying late etc.?
Consider what emotions trigger consumption.
Are you using drink and drugs to help deal with certain
feelings - frustration, anxiety, shyness, boredom etc.
Can you find alternative means of dealing with these feelings?
Try a month of abstinence.
See whether you can do it, and if you can find different
ways of dealing with problems. There may be distinct advantages
to being able to bring your sober and unstoned self to
look at various problems! |
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| Books and other
help |
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The Demon Drink - Jancis Robinson
- Penguin
A balanced and readable consideration of all aspects of
alcohol use which has been praised by both brewers and
doctors.
The USCS is very able to help with drug and alcohol related
problems. We work in a non-judgemental way to help you
achieve the goals you have set yourself. As you will see
from our confidentiality statement we do not normally
inform anyone of any illegal activity we hear about in
counselling. The only exception to this rule is when there
is a clear and immediate risk to someone's life.
You may wish to contact the Leeds Student Medical Practice
(see below) to receive advice and information about referral
points in the community. |
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Alcohol Information Centre
60 Upper Basinghall Street
Leeds LS1 5HR
Tel: 0113 247 0111.
Free of charge. |
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Al-Anon
Oxford Place Centre
Oxford Place
Leeds LS1 3AX
Tel: 0113 245 4567
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Leeds Drugs Project offers
advice, information, counselling and support for people
with drugs related concerns. Located at:
14 St Michaels Lane
Leeds LS6 3AH
Tel: 0113 230 6262 |
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Base 10 offers advice,
information, counselling and support for people with drugs
related concerns. Drop-In service available between 12
- 7pm on Thursdays; other times by appointment. Located
at:
10 Merrion Street
Templar Chambers
Leeds LS1 6PQ
Tel: 0113 243 3552
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Leeds Addiction Unit Advice Line
offers out-patient and community services for all kinds
of substance misuse (drugs and alcohol). Located at:
19 Springfield Mount
Leeds LS2 9NG
Tel: 0113 295 1300
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Leeds Student Medical Practice
4 Blenheim Court
Blenheim Walk
Leeds LS2 9AE
Tel: 0113 295 4488
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Leeds University Union Website on
Drugs and Alcohol
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/union/dbrief/index.htm |
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National Drugs Helpline
will put you in touch with local advice agencies.
Tel: 0800 776 600. |
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| Adapted from material produced
by Royal Holloway College, the University of London |
