Alcohol and other drug use can have other consequential effects. Research shows that misuse of alcohol and other drugs can increase the risk of relationship conflicts, poor school\/work performance, heightened anxiety or depression, sexual assault, and increased accidents resulting in physical harm to self or another to name just a few. Too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, a state that can lead to death if gone untreated. Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person drinks faster than the liver can process it out.<\/p>\n
Signs include: vomiting, irregular breathing, mental confusion, stupor\/passing out, cannot be roused, hypothermia (low body temperature, person feels cold and clammy), bluish skin color, paleness, seizures, and death. It is important to get help because from the outside you have no idea what is happening on the inside; remember the brain is disrupted, and it is the brain that tells the lungs to breathe and the heart to pump. You can help someone by calling for help, staying by their side, and rolling them onto their side to avoid choking in the event they vomit.<\/p>\n
Wondering about your own use? Take an anonymous alcohol and other drug use check-in.<\/a><\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help: NJ passed the 911 Lifeline Legislature<\/a><\/strong> to protect those seeking help.\u00a0 Addictions.com<\/strong><\/a> also provides free addiction resources to those in need.<\/p>\n There are protective measures that can reduce risk if taken. Pace and measure your drinks, don\u2019t leave a drink unattended, don\u2019t drink and drive, have an exit plan, assign a designated driver, avoid mixing alcohol and medications, use a buddy system (go together\/leave together), drink water, avoid drinking games and pre-gaming which speeds up the intake of alcohol.<\/p>\n Drugs<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot of \u201cinformation\u201d floating around the Internet about drugs and even some misinformation that spreads by word-of-mouth. The movies, music and other media don\u2019t always accurately portray the risks associated with drug use either. Therefore, it is important to get your information from reliable sources such as https:\/\/www.drugabuse.gov\/<\/a>. Just like alcohol, drug use can lead to addiction, a disorder characterized by a strong physical and\/or psychological need. Even though drugs have similar classifications (depressant, stimulant, hallucinogen etc.), they can affect people differently.<\/p>\n There can be different highs, different crashes, and different amounts needed for the high; just as they are different from each other, they too are different for different people, and different for the same person at different times of use. The important takeaway is that drugs are unpredictable, and therein lies the risks. The goal of a college student is to get an education, and part of that education is to learn how to critically think and to think independently. Get the facts, not opinions; decide what is best and safe for you now and in the long run.<\/p>\n There are many reasons people use drugs: experimentation, boredom, peer pressure, exposure and access, self-medicating anxiety or depression, to de-stress, or escape from problems. The reason is not a predictor of risk or addiction. Just because someone intends to experiment does not mean there won\u2019t be risks or a progression to addiction, and just because someone has the exposure and access does not mean they have to or will use drugs. You have the freedom of choice BEFORE you use; it might not be there after you start to use. If you see yourself in any of these reasons, keep in mind that those reasons will always be in your life, and by succumbing to using drugs to address them now, you are losing the opportunity to develop the life skills needed to address them later on in life.<\/p>\n \u201cThough no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.\u201d \u2013 Carl Bard<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Opioid Medications<\/strong><\/p>\n Common examples <\/strong>are oxycodone (OxyContin<\/em>, Percocet<\/em>), hydrocodone (Vicodin<\/em>), morphine, codeine, and fentanyl, as well as illegal drugs like heroin.<\/p>\n There are 3 main types: natural opiates (from the poppy plant like morphine), semi-synthetic opioids (like oxycodone), and synthetic opioids (like lab-made fentanyl).<\/p>\n Common Side Effects Include<\/strong><\/p>\n Know the Major Risks and Dangers<\/strong><\/p>\n Learn more about prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n How can I safely use, store, and dispose of opioid medications?<\/strong><\/p>\n USE: Take only as directed by your health care provider. Do not share your medication with anyone, even if their symptoms are the same. Sharing your opioid prescription with another person is illegal and could seriously harm them.<\/p>\n STORE: Store opioids safely, such as in a locked medicine cabinet or a lock box where others, especially children, cannot get to it.<\/p>\n GET RID OF (dispose): Having unused opioid medication at home makes it more likely for children to accidentally poison themselves and\/or overdose.<\/p>\n What is naloxone (Narcan\u00ae) and how is it used? <\/strong><\/p>\n When you take more opioid medication than your body can handle, it can slow your breathing and in some cases cause overdose and\/or death. Naloxone can correct the slow breathing and sleepiness caused by opioids and bring back breathing within minutes. It can be given as a nasal spray (sprayed into the nose) or a muscular injection (shot). Naloxone is available at many stores and pharmacies without a prescription. It is safest to call 911 and seek emergency care, even if the person responds to naloxone, to be sure there is not another health problem. It is best to stay with the person until help arrives. Make a plan for how you will keep yourself safe from overdose.<\/p>\n Overdose Good Samaritan laws do work to protect people who call 911 during an opioid overdose<\/em>. Check your local laws for details and limits. <\/em><\/p>\n Medication Education and Opioids<\/strong><\/p>\n Services are supported by <\/em>The<\/em> Healthier Jersey City<\/em><\/a><\/span> 2026 Opioid Settlement Grant.<\/em><\/p>\n Have you noticed that when you feel physically unwell, you also begin to feel mentally and emotionally unwell, and vice versa?<\/p>\n At CAPS, we use a whole-person approach to psychotherapy that honors the integration of mind, body, soul, and spirit.\u00a0 We offer educational materials and psychoeducation on the etiquette of using over-the-counter and prescription medications, including opioids (pain killers).\u00a0 Part of the adulting process is learning to properly care for our physical health to support our mental, emotional, spiritual, academic, and social wellness.\u00a0 Mental health counselors can help you get connected to the proper resources and health care providers to care for your body, avoid addiction to medication, and treat conditions that might be contributing to your emotional or mental health.<\/p>\n Alcohol and Substance Use Contacts and Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n The organizations listed below are a courtesy and does not represent endorsement of any provider that might be identified through these resources.<\/p>\n Alcohol and other drugs’ effects on the central nervous system is what causes impairment. Whether it is a CNS depressant, like alcohol, or a CNS stimulant, like cocaine or Adderall, the brain\u2019s job is disrupted, causing a variety of side effects, until the alcohol, or drug is processed out of the body, via the blood, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-453","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/caps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/caps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/caps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/caps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/caps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=453"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/caps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":793,"href":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/caps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/453\/revisions\/793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/caps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Alcohol](\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/blogs.dir\/154\/files\/2021\/07\/alcohol.png\")
<\/p>\nFor more information on pacing and measurements, visit:<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>These are medications often prescribed to reduce pain (pain killers).\u00a0 Because they have a strong addictive potential, they are strictly regulated by federal and state laws to lower the risks of addiction, misuse, and overdose.<\/p>\n\n
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<\/a>CAPS provides psychoeducation on medication to empower students in their use of OTC and prescribed medications.\u00a0 We want students to be informed consumers, understanding types of medication, dosing instructions, side effects, addiction potential, and how to communicate with your doctor.\u00a0 As appropriate, we address common misconceptions about medications so students can be thoughtful about their use. Misuse or inconsistent use of any medication can impact their overall effectiveness on treating the condition, and some can lead to potential addiction.\u00a0 Know Your Meds!<\/p>\n\n
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