It is no surprise that alcohol is a major problem on many college campuses throughout the country. Teenagers and young adults are away from home for the first time and thrown into an environment where drinking is not only accepted by other students, but encouraged.

Despite college administrators and campus police monitoring the nightlife, students are more likely to binge drink and experience black outs than they were when they were in high school or after they graduate. In order to provide an outlet for students that are struggling with an alcohol problem, a program was created called the Association of Recovery in Higher Education. The association works with over 135 colleges to provide support, education and counseling to students who have a drinking problem.

“We operate from a standpoint of identifying with students’ worries about consequences. We work with them in terms of where they are and what their motivation to make changes is,” explained Dan Perry, senior coordinator of the alcohol and drug program at Duke University.

In order to ensure that college students are receiving the help they need and getting back on track with their studies, many colleges are encouraging those with alcohol problems to seek out the counseling program, or a similar substitute. Meetings and counseling sessions provide an outlet for students to discuss their concerns about their drinking, their education and the impact that their choices have had on their college career. Experts agree that the sooner a person acknowledges a drinking problem the less likely they are to do irreversible damages to their life, body and relationships.

One of the biggest problems that college students who are trying to abstain from alcohol face is that nearly everyone around them is drinking. Unfortunately, part of the fabric of college life is the nightlife and socialization. When a college student has an alcohol problem they are constantly faced with watching other people do the very thing that they themselves cannot. The anxiety and frustration that can come from this type of alienation illustrates the importance of seeking professional help on campus.