Introduction

Over 1,400 students ages 18 to 24 die from alcohol related unintentional injuries including motor vehicle Crashes.
500,000 students ages 18 to 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol.

More than 600,000 students ages 18 to 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.

What are addictions?

Addiction is a compulsion which perpetuates itself. It can pertain to a substance or an activity. Some of the substances and/or activities that are considered addictions are; alcohol, drugs, shopping, gambling, sex, overeating, and smoking.

Some in the medical field disagree on what constitutes an addiction. With some, the term “addiction” means to have an escalating and ongoing problem with drugs and/or alcohol. However, addiction can also be applied to compulsive behaviors other than drug use, such as overeating or gambling. In any of these examples, addiction means having a chronic pattern of behavior that continues despite the direct or indirect adverse consequences that result from engaging in the behavior. It is quite common for an addict to express the desire to stop the behavior, but find himself or herself unable to cease.