Many college students drink alcohol, but excessive drinking may result in a chemical dependency if it turns into a daily habit. If you believe that someone you love is addicted to alcohol, their access to treatment might save their life. At Sunstone Recovery, we encourage you to learn about the signs that your college student needs help. Feel free to contact our college telehealth program at 855.833.9199 if you are concerned that a loved one has developed a drinking problem.
How Much Drinking is Normal for a College Student?
Remember that college students are under a lot of pressure. Many are away from home, around new people, and experiencing many things for the first time. Without parental guidance, some college students may be tempted to binge drink. If you notice your child’s grades slipping, this could be an indication they need some help.
What is the best way to determine if heavy drinking has developed into alcoholism? How can you be confident your child actually needs help? It can be hard to know this even in the best of situations. Yet, there are some warning signs that could indicate alcoholism. You may even see these from a distance:
- Constant drinking
- Irritability, aggression, or anxiety when they cannot drink
- Isolation from others, lack of interest in friends, and drinking alone
- Engaging in reckless behavior more often, including driving intoxicated, sexual encounters, or other high-risk situations
- Talking about alcohol on a routine basis, often discussing when they will drink next or what
Monitoring for Withdrawal in a Young Adult
One of the best ways to know what’s happening with college students is to watch what happens when they come back home. How do they act and interact with you and your loved ones? Now, most of the time, a young adult will change significantly during this timeframe. They are growing up.
Yet, you may find your child having cravings for alcohol, constantly talking about it, or even making excuses to leave home in order to buy it. They may also need more access to money to support their habit. Some college students who cannot access alcohol at home may become very irritable or anxious. These are signs of alcoholism that should not be ignored.
What Can You Do About Alcoholism in a Young Adult?
You don’t want them to leave school. You want them to get help. What can you do, then? Reach out to our team. Let us provide you with a full consultation to discuss the options that could help your son or daughter. As a college student, he or she may need to make the decision to get help themselves.
One of the tools we offer is a complete remote intensive outpatient program and dual diagnosis treatment plan. That means your young adult can get help from a therapist in a very safe manner from any location, even from college. That may mean they can get the support they need at any time.
We offer a range of ways to get help for alcoholism in college students, including:
- Addiction therapy programs
- Intensive outpatient program
- Young adult rehab programs
- Depression treatment programs
- Anxiety treatment programs
Are You Ready to Get Help? Call Sunstone Recovery
College students are always at risk for drug and alcohol addiction simply because of their exposure and zeal for life. Yet, that does not mean your young adult should ignore the onset of alcoholism. If you believe your son or daughter is using and needs help, let our team at Sunstone Recovery help. We provide a wide range of care options to support the young adult in your life. Call us at 855.833.9199 or reach out online to learn more.
