Health Promotion and Wellness provide a wide array of evidence-based programs to address alcohol and substance use issues. Through our programs, students are able to explore how their substance use may be impacting other areas of their life in a non-judgmental and safe environment. In all of our services and programs, we utilize a harm reduction approach.

Events 

  • October 31, 2024 - The Buzz: Alcohol Awareness Fair; 12-2 p.m. Converse Square
  • November 7, 2024 - Donut Do Drugs/Prescription Takeback; 1-3 p.m. Pedestrian Mall Union

Training 

TIPS for University acknowledges that whether or not students choose to drink, they are likely to find themselves in situations where alcohol is being consumed. More than 1,000 campuses have used this program to prepare students to reduce alcohol-related incidents on campus through appropriate education and intervention skills. TIPS for the University is a dynamic peer intervention, skills training program designed specifically for students. To schedule this training for your department, residence hall, class, organization, or another campus event, email vsuwellness@valdosta.edu.


Policies and Procedures 

Data and Reports

Alcohol & Other Drug Information

ALCOHOL FACTS

Number of drinks per hour Blood Alcohol Concentration* Psychological/Physical
1 .02% - .04% No overt effect, slight mood elevation.
2 .05% - .07% Warm relaxed feelings, slight decrease in reaction time and muscle coordination.
3 .08% - .11% Euphoria, balance, speech, & hearing slightly impaired. Increased confidence; decreased coordination.
4 .11% - .15% Loss of motor coordination and balance, mental faculties & judgement impaired.
5-6 .14% - .18% Major impairment of mental & physical control, slurred speech, blurred vision and lack of motor skills.
7-9 .20% - .29% Needs assistance with movement, mental confusion.
10-13 .30% - .39% Severe intoxication, minimal control of mind & body.
14-17 .40% - .59% Unconsciousness; comatose.
18+ .60%+ Death from respiratory failure.

ONE DRINK = 12oz beer = 4oz wine = 1oz hard alcohol

NOTE: The above chart should not be considered as a legal reference. Several factors should be considered when computing Blood Alcohol Content and its effects. These include drinking experience, gender, metabolism rates, health issues, when and what has been eaten, and attitude. The safest decision is: if you have been drinking, don't drive!

Do You Have A Problem With Alcohol?

1. Do you lose time from school due to drinking or hangovers?
2. Has drinking ever affected your GPA?
3. Is drinking affecting your reputation?
4. Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?
5. Have you ever done something drunk that you would not have done if you were sober?
6. Do you find that you wish to continue drinking after your friends say they have had enough?
7. Has anyone suggested you may have a problem with alcohol?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your friends' welfare?
9. Do you drink alone?
10. Do you drink before a party to get a head start?
11. Have you ever had a blackout (can't remember parts of the evening)?
12. Do you drink to build self-confidence?
13. Have you ever been to a doctor or counselor because of drinking?
14. Do you drink to escape worries or troubles?
15. Have you had periods where you told yourself or others that you would cut down, but didn't?
16. Have you ever felt out of control with how much or how often you drink?
17. Do you have alcoholism in your family?
18. Have you experimented or used other drugs?
19. Do you drink consistently at a certain time of the day or week?
20. Do you hide or lie about how much or how often you drink?

If you answered yes to 3 or more of these questions, you may have a problem with alcohol. If you answered yes to more than 6, most likely you do have a problem. Please consult a physician or counselor for an assessment before the problem becomes worse.

Depending on which side of the fence you stand on, marijuana is either safer than alcohol or it is the devil weed destroying the minds of today's youth. When making decisions on what we put in our bodies, it is important to know the facts. All of the statements and facts presented below are research based. ..

"My parents smoked pot and nothing happened to them."
This may be true, but the drug used in the 60s is much different that the drug used on the street today. In the 60s, marijuana had a THC (the active ingredient that gets people high) level of 7 percent to 14 percent. The pot on the streets today has a THC level of 14 percent to 27 percent. That's the difference between drinking a six pack of beer and a six pack of whiskey. It is not the same thing.

"Pot is organic. It can't hurt you."
Wrong. Poison ivy is organic too, but not many people are sticking it in a pipe and smoking it. With each hit off a bong or pipe, marijuana smokers inhale more than 150 cancer-causing substances and almost twice as much tar as they would from a tobacco cigarette. Other short term side effects include short term memory loss, impaired abstract thinking (what you use when you study), and slower reaction time.

"You can't become addicted to it."
More and more studies are showing that marijuana can be addictive. Again, the pot smoked today is much different from the pot that was studied 20 years ago. New data shows that babies born to mothers who are chronic marijuana smokers go through withdrawal after birth. Many treatment centers around the country are treating patients who have a primary addiction to marijuana. Withdrawal signs show up between 10-15 days after the last use and can include any of the following: sleeplessness, anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, loss of appetite, and cravings to use the drug or other drugs.

"Everybody's doing it."
Not true. Current studies show that 17 percent of VSU students have used pot in the past year. If all of your friends are smoking, that might indicate a potential problem with your choice of friends.

"Pot is safer than alcohol."
Wrong again. For most people, low risk alcohol use will not cause a person to become impaired. There is no way a person can use marijuana and not become impaired.

"Pot has medical uses."
True, but is marijuana the safest drug for cancer patients and people with AIDS? Think about it. Here's a person diagnosed with cancer, and you want to give this person a drug that contains over 100 carcinogenic compounds? And why give someone with no immune system a drug that kills all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the body? Modern science now has a drug called Marinol which mimics marijuana in the system without the side effects of street pot.

Emergencies - Call 259-5555 or 911

A person needs immediate professional assistance if he or she:

  • Is unable to stand or walk, or can do so only with difficulty.
  • Has difficulty breathing.
  • Passes out or is incoherent.
  • Has fever or chills.
  • Has difficulty speaking.
  • Has an injury.
  • Is paranoid, confused, or disoriented.
  • Is violent or threatening.
  • Appears to be at risk to him/herself or others.
  • Appears to be dehydrated, with a bluish tint to the lips and fingernails.
  • Cannot tell you their name or location.

*35 Things to do in and around Valdosta Without Alcohol or Other Drugs

We all make choices as we begin college. Hopefully, you will make the right choices that help you through your time here at VSU. The Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education has put together this list

1. Shop Colonial Mall Valdosta
2. Go to a VSU Natural High Weekly Event, 259-5111
3. Visit Lowndes Co. Historical Society Museum Call 247-4780
4. Go To the Dosta Playhouse 247-8243
5. Go play at the Grand Bay Wildlife Area 245-8160
6. Hike the Azalea Trail, call 245-0513 for a map & info
7. Join the YMCA, 244-4646
8. VOLUNTEER!! Call Student Life at 333-5674
9. Duck and CoverPaintball: 253-0973; South Ga. PaintballPark: 247-6590
10. Play Golf at The Golf Place 244-7610
11. Go Downtown! “First Friday”
12. Take a Historic Driving Tour 240-513
13. Contact VSU Dep. Of Campus Recreation for outdoor activities, like rafting, camping, or horseback riding 333-5898
14. Join the Theatre Guild of Valdosta, 247-8243
15. Go see a Movie with Natural High
16. WILD ADVENTURES, need we say more?
17. Visit the VSU Planetarium, 333-5754
18. Visit "The Cresent" 244-6447
19. Tour the Barber-Pittman House, 247-8100
20. Shop in Historic Remerton Mill Village, Baytree Road
21. Go fishing, Paradise Island Fishing & Hunting, 559-6693
22. Go for a Picnic, try a local park; Valdosta has 7!
23. Go to www.valdosta.edu/stulife/cab for Campus events
24. Get a JOB! Try www.valdostabiz.com
25. Climb the Walls- VSU Rec Center, 333-5898
26. Read a BOOK! Visit Odum Library at VSU
27. Shop the OUTLETS, I-75, exit 5
28. Check out Valdosta Parks and Recreation- 259-3507
29. Write for the Spectator newspaper, 333-5688
30. Go Bowling
31. Join VSU’s Student Government Association
32. Visit Okefenokee Swamp, check web for driving directions
33. Shoot skeet at Southwind Sporting Clays, call John Peek, 460-8833 or 559-4360
34. For a day trip, tour Stephen C. Foster State Park, check web for driving directions. 912-637-5274
35. Go to a VSU Natural High weekly event, 259-5111

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Big Brother/Big Sister (229) 253-8851
  • Habitat for Humanity (229) 245-7853
  • Greater Valdosta United Way, 242-2208
  • Girl Scouts (229) 242-5213

 

*THE ABOVE-NAMED BUSINESSES ARE SUGGESTIONS AND SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS BEING OFFICIALLY ENDORSED BY VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY OR THE OFFICE OF HEALTH PROMOTIONS AND WELLNESS.

Let’s Party Tips

If you plan to drink...

  1. EAT FIRST -- eat bread, pasta, peanut butter, or other foods high in starch or protein that will slow alcohol absorption.

  2. KEEP TRACK of how many drinks you are having and know your limits.

  3. DON'T MIX drugs (prescriptions or over-the-counter medications) with alcohol.

  4. Drink only if you want to. Don't let others decide for you.

  5. DANCE! By staying active, you will drink less and be more aware of how much you've already had.

  6. WATCH OUT for those drinking games! Why pass out and miss all the fun?

  7. DRINK SOMETHING BESIDES ALCOHOL for the last hour or so of the party. This will allow your body to burn off some of the alcohol.

  8. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DRINK, but feel pressured to, carry a decoy drink, i.e., a glass filled with ice and soda.

Remember....it's OK not to drink!