Page 295 - Keys To Community College Success

HOW CAN YOU MAKE EFFECTIVE
decisions about alcohol,

tobacco, and drugs?

Abusing alcohol, tobacco, and drugs adds significantly to stress levels and can
cause financial struggles, emotional traumas, family and financial upheaval, health
problems, and even death. As you read the information in this section, think about the
effects of your actions on yourself and others. Measure the risk of substance use against
the social risk of going against what others are doing, and decide which reward is more
valuable to you. Continually look for ways to make positive, life-affirming choices. Wellness and Stress Management
The frontal lobe of your brain is responsible for “if-then” thinking and impulse
control. It’s the part that asks, “Is this really a good idea? What will happen if I take this
action?” However, the frontal lobe does not reach full development until around the age
of 25. This means that people under 25 are likely to perform an action, such as taking
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drugs, without considering potential consequences. Worse, those drugs are more likely
to impair brain development and result in addiction in a younger person than in an
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older one. Keep this in mind, whether you are a younger student or an older student
who interacts with younger students, and consider the information in this section.

Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant and the most frequently abused drug on campus. Even a few
drinks affect thinking and muscle coordination. Heavy drinking can damage the liver, ADDICTION
digestive system, and brain cells, as well as impair the central nervous system. Pro- The compulsive need for a
longed use also leads to physical and emotional addiction, making it seem impossible habit-forming substance.
to quit. In fact, alcohol contributes to the deaths of 75,000 people every year through
both alcohol-related illnesses and accidents involving drunk drivers. 18
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), your tolerance and reaction
to alcohol depends on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, age, gender, race
or ethnicity, physical condition, the amount of food consumed before drinking, how
quickly alcohol was consumed, use of drugs or prescription medications, and family
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history. Key 10.6 shows the varying levels of drinking behaviors defined by the CDC.
Of all alcohol consumption, binge drinking (see Key 10.6) is associated with the
greatest problems, and is consistently an issue on college campuses, with over 42% of
full-time students and over 35% of part-time students reporting a binge drinking epi-
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sode in the month prior to the survey. Students who binge drink are more likely to
miss classes, perform poorly, experience physical problems (memory loss, headache,
stomach issues), become depressed, and engage in unplanned or unsafe sex. 21
If you drink, think carefully about the effects on your health, safety, and academic
performance. The Get Analytical exercise on page 261 is a self-test that will help you
analyze your habits.

Tobacco
In the United States, one in four men and one in five women smoke. Unfortunately, cigarette
smoking still tops the list as the most preventable cause of death in the United States today,
accounting for 438,000 deaths annually. That’s like three jumbo jets filled to capacity crash-
ing in the United States every single day, 365 days a year, killing everyone on board. 22
Many students who use tobacco as a stress reliever become hooked on nicotine, a
highly addictive drug found in all tobacco products. Nicotine’s immediate effects may
include an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Long-term effects may include
high blood pressure, bronchitis and emphysema, heart disease, and cancer. E-cigarettes,
also known as vape pens, turn a nicotine-containing liquid into an inhalable aerosol
and are a popular recent development. They pose particular dangers, including high
doses of nicotine and lung damage from dangerous compounds in the liquid. 23

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