Health and wellness

Substance abuse prevention program

The Counseling Center houses the substance abuse prevention program. It offers assessment, screening, information, treatment recommendations, referrals, as well as classes.

Dr. Jason Kilmer, Ph.D.
Substance abuse prevention program coordinator
Counseling Center
Room 203, Old Main
(360) 438-4371 (c/o Jan Berney)
jkilmer@stmartin.edu

Call, stop by, email, or leave a confidential message and make an appointment. In your message, make sure you provide your complete name, and the best way to contact you. You can also indicate if this is a self-referral or if this is a referred visit. If it is a referred appointment, indicate who made the referral for you and for what purpose. 

Electronic Check-Up To Go - Receive online personal feedback about alcohol use by completing this brief survey.

College and alcohol

Are you making friends or drinking buddies?

College life is exciting and absorbing. Sometimes we get so busy with classes, work, activities and friendships that we don't realize we have a problem until it's too tough to fix alone.

For some students, the draw of a Saturday night party becomes too absorbing. Drinking problems start small, then escalate. This process usually isn't a dramatic one, but instead, takes place slowly over a period of time.

If your friends can't have a good time without drinking, maybe you need some friends who can.

Do you or a friend have an alcohol problem? Wondering whether you -- or someone you know has a drinking problem? Answer these questions.

• Has the amount or frequency of your drinking changed?
• Why do you drink?
• Is it you or the alcohol in control when you're drinking?
• Do you lose control?
• Is drinking affecting your relationships, academic work and/or goals?
• Are you binge drinking -- drinking a lot in a short time -- or drinking to get drunk?

Alcohol and grades

• "A" students average 3.1 drinks per week
• "B" students average 4.4 drinks per week
• "C" students average 5.6 drinks per week
• "U' and "F" students average 9.5 drinks

Drinking responsibly

Many college students choose not to drink alcohol. Of those who do, most drink moderately. Should you drink? Some people shouldn't drink at all. With alcohol, their body chemistry changes and they become alcohol-dependent. Other people can drink without suffering if they learn to drink moderately and responsibly if they choose to drink at all.

Chugging drinks puts more alcohol in your system than your body can deal with (see the section on alcohol poisoning symptoms).

Decisions you make while under the influence are decisions that can affect the rest of your life so think twice before reaching for the first drink -- or another drink. Having sex or drinking and driving while you're under the influence are but two combinations with serious consequences. Be responsible. Drinking to forget a problem or drive away pain isn't the answer. It merely postpones having to face whatever is troubling you.

To be true to yourself, be aware of your limits. If you need help with a drinking problem, someone is always available to listen, but you must take the first step -- seeking help.

Alcohol poisoning -- a killer

Alcohol poisoning can be a serious threat to life. Learn these symptoms of alcohol poisoning and call 911 for help if:

• The drinker is unconscious or semiconscious and can't be awakened.
• The drinker's skin is cold, clammy, pale or bluish.
• The drinker's breathing is slow -- less then eight breaths per minute -- and/or irregular.
• The drinker vomits while sleeping or passed out and doesn't wake up after vomiting.

We can help with a drinking problem

If you or someone you care about has a problem with alcohol, get the information and emotional support you need to act on your decision to do something about it. The wellness resource center staff is here to help. Call us today, 360-438-4371 or email Dr. Kilmer directly at jkilmer@stmartin.edu.