It’s not always obvious when a friend needs you to be there. On our campus. . .

• 12% felt they drank more than they should
• 18% did something they regretted as a result of drinking
• 7% can’t remember what happened when they drank

**Based on the Mental Health & Counseling Student Survey (2010)

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Be Concerned If Your Friend Is. . .

• Repeatedly neglecting their responsibilities because of drinking
• Using alcohol in situations where it’s physically dangerous
• Experiencing repeated negative consequences because of drinking
• Continuing to drink even though alcohol use is causing problems in their relationships
• Demonstrating signs of alcohol poisoning (e.g., vomiting,  slowed or irregular breathing, losing unconscious, incoherent speech, bluish or pale skin)

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Be There For Your Friend By. . .

Listening, supporting, encouraging, and just being there can really make a difference in a friend’s life.
Here are some other ways to help a friend who may be engaging in unhealthy drinking behavior.

• Listening without judging (but never promise to keep things confidential)
• Being direct when you express your concerns about their drinking
• Supporting them in efforts to reduce or stop their drinking
• Directing them to resources to help them make changes (e.g., offering to call or walk them to the Counseling Center [x5005] or Health Center [x5001])
• Getting them immediate medical attention in the case of alcohol poisoning  – including using the Good Samaritan Policy (i.e., calling Public Safety [x4444])

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Additional Resources. . .

How alcohol works
Rethinking Drinking
Advertising and the alcohol industry
How alcohol impacts the body
“Facts on Tap”
The Gordie Foundation

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