Guide
Alcohol dependence, substance misuse, and managing unhealthy habits
Updated on 24 August 2023
Guidance on identifying and getting support with alcohol dependence and substance misuse.
Alcohol dependence
It’s normal to enjoy a night out during your time at university, and it’s common to be surrounded by alcohol when socialising with your peers. It’s good to be mindful of the effects of alcohol, especially on your mental health so that you’re able to identify when enough is enough. It’s also important to recognise if you’re becoming too dependent on alcohol, particularly if you’re using it as a coping mechanism to deal with stress or challenges during the semester.
An alcohol dependency is not always obvious. There are things that can signify if you or someone else may have an issue with alcohol.
For example:
- Having a pattern of drinking too much and behaving recklessly on nights out.
- Drinking alcohol during stressful or difficult periods.
How to recognise when your drinking might be a problem:
- If you’re missing classes or deadlines because of recent drinking.
- Decline in mental health.
- You’re neglecting your health because of drinking too much (forgetting to brush your teeth, not eating enough good food, poor sleep etc).
- You turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
If you feel that alcohol is having a negative impact on your life, here are some ways to tackle this:
- If you struggle to say no to drinking on a night out, talk to your friends so they understand how you’re feeling. There may be others who are feeling the same way.
- If you still want to go out and socialise, you could find some non-alcoholic options that you enjoy so you don’t feel the need to turn to alcohol.
- Make plans to socialise that don’t involve drinking alcohol, like a board games night, going out for food, exploring the city etc. Dundee also has some great activities to enjoy, like go-karting, ice-skating, and laser tag!
- Remove alcohol from your living space so you’re not tempted to drink alone.
- Expand your social network and find other groups to socialise with. There are lots of student societies and clubs that you can get involved in.
Substance abuse
Substance abuse is a pattern of using legal and illegal drugs too much or incorrectly. Someone can use substances and not be addicted, however without the correct intervention and support, it can lead to addiction and can also cause serious harm to the body and mind.
Some people use drugs recreationally or in social settings, especially if those around them are also doing so. Some might also use substances to cope when things aren’t going well in their life, or to distract themselves when life’s challenges are becoming too much.
Misusing substances can have a negative impact on the way we experience things, our moods and our behaviours, and can lead to developing poor physical and mental health conditions.
- See Drugs A to Z | FRANK for information about the effects of specific drugs.
Signs you may have an issue with substances:
- A craving or strong desire to use the substance.
- Drastic changes in your mood or behaviour.
- Poor effects on health (poor sleep hygiene, eating more/less than normal, feeling ill or drowsy all the time).
- Using substances to cope with challenging or stressful times.
- Becoming isolated from friends and family.
- Lack in interest for things you used to love.
Support resources
You can always talk to someone in the Student Support Team if you’re worried about you or someone else’s relationship with alcohol or other substances.
Alternatively, there are organisations who can provide independent support and advice: