Alcohol - What parents need to know and talk to their student about before starting college at the University of New Hampshire.

2. You think…
My student is too young to
drink
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3. Average age of first alcohol use is 13
Annually, young people aged 12-20 years old drink 11%
of all alcohol consumed in the U.S.
90% is consumed during “binge drinking”
Underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking
session than adult drinkers
THINK AGAIN
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4. Your student thinks…
UNH is a “party school” –
let’s get this party started
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5.  Not everyone is drinking
 College isn’t about partying
 Drinking doesn’t help make new friends
 Drinking won’t help you “fit in”
 There is more to do than party
 Study hard, play hard doesn’t work
Students who buy into the hype of UNH being
a “Party School” are more prone to drinking
THINK AGAIN! THE PARTY
IS NOT THAT BIG

6. What UNH students say…
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7. UNH Students Are Choosing Not To Drink
“Don’t do anything stupid, you have
too much to loose.” – Ryan‘14
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8. UNH Students Support Other Wildcats
“You don’t need alcohol to have a
good time. Never feel as though
you are pressured into doing
anything whether it be drinking or
doing drugs. If your friends care
about you and respect you, then
they will support your decisions.”
– Alyssa ‘15
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9. UNH Students Take Care Of Each Other
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“Be sure to always watch out for your
buddy…travel with a trustworthy friend
who you can count on when something
goes wrong.”
– Nick ‘14

10. UNH Students Are Making Good Choices
“I am glad I knew that although
Freshman year everyone thinks you
have to ‘go out’ to truly get the
college experience, but I found that
the nights ‘in’ were the best ones.”
– Kathleen ‘16
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11. UNH Students Obey the Law
“Alcohol and underage drinking
cause too many problems and
drama.” – Ciara ‘18
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12. UNH Students Practice Low-Risk Drinking
“Think before you act! Weight your
consequences and make decisions based
on the possible outcomes and whether or
not you want to let those outcomes ruin
your time at UNH.”
– Alec ’16
(Alec was evicted his first year due to underage drinking in the residence hall)
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13. Why are UNH students
choosing to party?
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14. WE’VE HEARD IT ALL
 More free time
 Experiencing transition & change
 Desire to fit in
 Availability of alcohol
 Learning more about who they are
 Experimenting with who they are
 Taking risks
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15. Consequences of high-risk
drinking in college
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16. LET’S NOT SUGAR COAT IT
 Unintentional injuries
 Illness & possible death from alcohol
poisoning
 Unsafe sex
 Sexual assault
 Academic problems
 Physical problems
 Increased risk for suicide & homicide
 Abuse and dependence
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17. UNH is committed to
creating a campus that
supports learning, health
& safety
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18. WHAT WE PROVIDE
 Clear policies that are enforced
 Ongoing education
 Chemical-free living option
 Supporting students in recovery
 Engaging educational programs
 Counseling & support services
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19. Health Services

20. Start the conversation
now and continue it…
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21. Families have a
significant influence
on college students
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22. Be honest about your
own alcohol & other
drugs use
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23. Ask questions and
listen...
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24. ? What are your goals at UNH?
? How will you decide whether or not to drink?
? What if your roommate just wants to party?
? How will you cope with the pressure to drink
and use other drugs?
? How will you know when and how to help a
friend who has had too much to drink?
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25. Help your student
transition into life
at UNH
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26. TOPIC STARTERS
 Expectations
 Balancing academics and social life
 Legal drinking age is STILL 21
 UNH’s commitment to a safe & healthy campus
 UNH resources
 Getting involved
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27. First 6 Weeks at UNH…
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28. …can be a little crazy.
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29. Stay in touch
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30. Keep the conversation
going
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31. Reinforce positive
behaviors
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32. Share your concerns
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33. Keep asking questions
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34. Listen
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35. Reach out for help, call
Health Services.
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36. HEALTH SERVICES
Medical care & wellness
education/counseling services
(603) 862-WELL (9355)
unh.edu/health-services
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