Health Center: Substance Abuse Prevention- Getting Help

Getting Help

If you’re concerned about yourself or a friend,contact the UniversityHealthCenter and schedule an appointment to discuss your concerns.

UniversityHealthCenter – (503) 943-7134

Kristina Houck, MSW, LCSW

Counselor

houckk@up.edu

How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem?

Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:

• Problems remembering things they recently said or did
• Getting drunk on a regular basis
• Lying about how much alcohol he or she is using
• Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun
• Drinking to escape from pressure or to solve life’s problems
• Having frequent hangovers
• Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal
• Mood changes such as temper flare-ups, irritability, and defensiveness
• Significantly increased tolerance to alcohol
• Experiencing "blackouts"--forgetting what he or she did while drinking
• Having problems in school such as poor attendance, low grades, and/or recent disciplinary action

Do you think you might have a drinking problem?

Ask yourself the following questions; any positive response suggests the possibility of problem drinking. Consider contacting someone who can assist you in assessing your alcohol use.

1. Have you ever thought it would be good to cut back or cut down on your drinking?
2. Do you find that you become angry when people comment about your drinking or when people say you should stop drinking?
3. Do you ever feel guilty after you have been drinking?
4. Have you ever had to start the day with a drink?