Health Risks of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse

Excessive drug and alcohol use can negatively impact your ability to be a successful employee or student. Use of these substances are also prohibited on campus according to Administrative Policy 615.000 Drug Free Workplace and the Code of Student Conduct (WAC 132N-125-035)

Drugs and alcohol use can also lead to both short- and long-term health problems, including, but not limited to neurological effects, liver and kidney failure, and contraction of a disease such as HIV or Hepatitis. Drug and alcohol use is especially dangerous for pregnant people, as it can result in birth defects. A breif summary of the potential effects of alcohol and drugs is provided below. The NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse has more information about the effects of alcohol and drug abuse on their website.

For more information, speak to your primary healthcare provider, or if you are a Clark student, schedule an appointment to see our Nurse Practitioner by calling 360-992-2614 or email chc@clark.edu.

If you are a Clark Employee, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to you through Human Resources. This benefit is available 24/7. Call: 360-407-9490 or Toll Free at 877-313-4455.

If you are a student concerned that your drug or alcohol use is affecting your life in negative ways, the counselors at the CHC can help! Call 360-992-2614 or email chc@clark.edu to schedule an appointment.

Alcohol—beer, wine, liquor

Dependence Potential: yes.
Possible Effects: muscle relaxation, impaired motor control, memory and judgment, depression, intoxication.
Common Complications: severe impairment of all physical and mental functions, risk of choking or injury from falls or accidents, loss of consciousness, respiratory failure, coma, death due to anesthesia of brain centers controlling breathing and heart rate.

Cannabis—marijuana, hashish, hashish oil

Dependence Potential: yes.
Possible Effects: altered sense of time and visual perception, euphoria, memory, depression interference, reduced coordination and reflex response capacity.
Common Complications: fatigue, reactions ranging from mild anxiety to panic and paranoia, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations and distortion of sense perceptions.

Sedatives – barbiturates, tranquilizers, methaqualone, other depressants

Dependence Potential: yes.
Possible Effects: drowsiness, slurred speech, disorientation, impaired motor coordination.
Common Complications: shallow respiration, weak and rapid pulse, coma, possible death from depression of central nervous system functions.

Hallucinogens—LSD—acid, psilocybin, peyote, mescaline, many other natural and synthetic hallucinogens

Dependence Potential: yes.
Possible Effects: altered sense of time, space and visual perception, disorientation, hallucinations, nausea, dilated pupils, cross sensory perceptions, dizziness, increased temperature, blood pressure and heart rate, sweating and chills.
Common Complications: impaired judgment leading to impulsive actions, paranoia, rapid mood swings, “bad trip”—fear, anxiety, paranoia, panic and hallucinations to match, exhaustion after use, depression, fears—often of death, of their mind not working right or of flashbacks.

Narcotics—heroin, codeine, opium, morphine, Percodan, Percocet, Fentanyl, Oxycodone

Dependence Potential: yes.
Possible Effects: euphoria, drowsiness, nausea, respiratory depression.
Common Complications: shallow and slow breathing, dizziness, vomiting, sweating, convulsions, coma, and possible death.

Steroids—anabolic steroids

Dependence Potential: yes.
Possible Effects: acne, aggressive behavior, anger management problems, cholesterol imbalance, impotence, psychosis.
Common Complications: aggressive behavior, psychosis, reduced fertility, stroke, liver damage, increased cancer risk.

Stimulants—cocaine, crack, speed, amphetamines, and methamphetamines

Dependence Potential: yes.
Possible Effects: increased alertness, increased pulse and blood pressure, euphoria, pupil dilation, insomnia, loss of appetite.
Common Complications: agitation, irritability, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, depression, seizure, convulsions, tactile or visual hallucinations, possible death.

Nicotine—cigarette, cigar, pipe smoking, vaping (e-cigarettes) chewing tobacco

Dependence Potential: yes.
Possible Effects: increased heart rate and blood pressure, irritation of the eyes, nose and respiratory tract, shortness of breath, decreased sensitivity of taste buds, depression.
Common Complications: increased risk of: heart attack, cardiovascular disease, mouth, throat and lung cancer, and other pulmonary disease

Information about Moderate Drinking

If you are making a choice to drink alcoholic beverages, there are some strategies to consider adopting that will lessen the chance of a negative consequence occurring. You are encouraged to:

Plan ahead, and set a limit before you start drinking
Consider how you will get home, plans for next day
Be aware of your health and mood
1 drink means 12 oz. of beer, 4 oz. of wine, or 1 oz. of spirits
Pour your own drinks, and measure them
Keep track of how much you drink
Eat some food before you drink (something that isn't salty!)
Sip, instead of gulp, your drink (make it last awhile!)
Substitute or alternate nonalcoholic drinks
Do NOT mix energy drinks with alcohol
Space your drinks (i.e., No more than 1 per hour)
Try to resist pressure to keep up with your friends, or join in drinking games
Be aware of cues that can influence you to drink more: (i.e., people, places, emotions, thirst, and stress)