How much alcohol is too much?
It depends ... it could mean drinking too much at one time, drinking too often, or both. Alcohol abuse increases the risks of injuries, health problems, alcohol disorders, as well as academic, social and emotional problems. If you choose to drink, it's important to be aware of how much you are drinking, whether your drinking pattern is risky, the harm that drinking too much can cause, and how you can lower your risk.
What counts as one drink?
What is low-risk drinking?
If choosing to drink, staying within these limits will reduce your risk of problems related to alcohol use:
Women: No more than 3 drinks/day AND no more than 7 drinks/week
Men: No more than 4 drinks/day AND no more than 14 drinks/week
Remember, low-risk does not mean no-risk. Even within these limits, people can have problems if they drink too quickly or have health problems. It’s safest to avoid alcohol if you:
• Are under age 21
• Plan to drive a car or operate machinery
• Take medications that interact with alcohol
• Have a physical or mental condition caused or made worse by drinking
• Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
Most Commonly Used Other Drugs
Marijuana is a mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the cannabis plant. The most active ingredient is 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana can be smoked, vaporized, or eaten.
Certain forms of medical marijuana are legal in Pennsylvania. However, Carnegie Mellon remains bound by federal laws that prohibit the distribution, use and possession of marijuana on our campus. University Health Services does not prescribe medical marijuana.
Prescription drug abuse (taking the prescription in any way other than prescribed) has been on the rise over the past several years, and is now the most commonly abused substance after alcohol and marijuana. The most common prescriptions include painkillers, sedatives, depressants, and stimulants. Prescription drugs are considered to be highly addictive and have resulted in an increase in treatment admissions, emergency room visits, and overdose deaths throughout the country.
Marijuana and prescription drugs are the mostly used drugs by college students according to the American College Health Association - National College Health Assessment. Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn about other drug use, strategies for prevention, and treatment options.