Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Resources

• 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content)
• 8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content)
• 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content)
• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% alcohol), such as gin, vodka, rum, tequila, whiskey, or brandy

• Drinking more or for longer than intended
• Trying to cut down or stop but being unable to
• Needing more alcohol to get the same effect
• Continuing to drink despite feeling anxious, depressed, or physically unwell
• Friends or loved ones expressing concern about your drinking
• Spending a lot of time drinking or thinking about alcohol
• Drinking interferes with school, work, relationships, or daily responsibilities

• Set daily and weekly drinking limits
• Write down your limit and keep it with you
• Track how much you drink each day
• Avoid people, places, or situations that trigger you to drink
• Ask a friend to help you stay within your limits
• Talk to a healthcare provider about your alcohol use

• Needing alcohol in the morning or to ease a hangover
• Drinking alone or avoiding non-drinking friends
• Neglecting responsibilities due to drinking or being hungover
• Feeling unable to enjoy life or cope without alcohol
• Unsuccessful efforts to quit or cut back
• Continuing to drink despite consequences (e.g., DUI, fights, academic failure)

Call 911 immediately if someone who has been drinking shows these signs:

• Cannot be awakened
• Slow or irregular breathing
• Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin
• Vomiting while unconscious

Do not leave them alone or assume they will “sleep it off.” Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency.

• May trigger panic attacks, paranoia, or psychotic symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions), especially in vulnerable individuals
• Can impair coordination and judgment, increasing risk of accidents
• Long-term use may affect memory, learning, and motivation
• Users can develop dependence, with withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, irritability, low mood, and cravings
• Impacts academic or work performance and personal relationships

• Needing more to get the same effect
• Neglecting responsibilities due to use
• Using alone or avoiding non-using friends
• Spending excessive time or money on cannabis
• Feeling unable to relax or feel normal without it
• Thinking about cannabis constantly
• Unsuccessful attempts to quit or cut back
• Continuing use despite consequences (e.g., poor grades, legal issues)

• Recovery involves making changes in behaviors, thoughts, habits, and relationships to address substance use problems. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
• “Recovery from alcohol and drug problems is a process of change through which an individual achieves abstinence and improved health, wellness, and quality of life.”

• A lapse is a one-time or brief return to substance use
• A relapse is a return to a pattern of problematic use

Relapses are common and do not mean failure. Recovery is still possible.

Triggers are people, places, emotions, or situations that cause a strong urge to use again. Common triggers include:

• Being around others who use
• Boredom, loneliness, or emotional distress
• Stress, illness, lack of sleep, or poor nutrition

Managing triggers through self-care and support is essential in recovery.

• Reach out for help immediately (a sponsor, counselor, or friend)
• Recommit to your recovery tools and support systems
• Reflect on what triggered the relapse and make a plan to avoid it next time
• Stay hopeful. Many people return to recovery and maintain long-term success