Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews

Have you ever had a drink in the morning to steady your nerves or just get rid of a hangover? Do you have trouble at work or school due to alcohol? Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?

If yes is the answer to the above questions, you may have an alcohol problem.

Alcohol is the most prevalent drug for City College students, according to Susan Broderick, Director of Student Health Services; marijuana is the second most common.

"[Alcohol] is a social lubricant," said Broderick. "It makes it easy to socialize if you're shy."

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) is one of the many programs on the City College campus intended to help educate and counsel students about the dangers of alcohol abuse and assist those afflicted with counseling sessions to move towards a healthier life.

"We go into classrooms and educate," said Alcohol and Drug Counseling intern Denny Rea. "We don't go to scare people."

This semester, about four to five people each week go to the ASAP office for help.

"Some come just to ask questions and some come to discuss if a friend or family member has a problem," said Rea.

Other help programs include peer counseling Project HOPE and the medical assistants and counselors in Health and Wellness Center; both are located in the Student Services Building.

"We really stress that [counseling at the Health and Wellness Center] is free, confidential and accessible," said Broderick.

The first step toward help is identifying that the person in question actually has an alcohol addiction.

"A problem drinker drinks to get drunk, spends a lot of time thinking about drinking, [and] starts drinking without conscious planning, and loses awareness of the amount of alcohol consumed," according to Drug/Alcohol Abuse section of the City College counseling website.

"Among college age students, alcohol is responsible for 75 percent of all violent behavior, 90 percent of all rapes, 50 percent of all physical injuries, one-thirds of all emotional difficulties, 66 percent of suicides and 30 percent of all academic problems," reads the City College website.

But that's not all that alcohol can take over, it can take over your health money.

Getting caught driving under the influence or having an open container, cost up to $1,300, 48 hours in jail, a towed car and a one-year license suspension.

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