There have been several Public Health interventions targeted towards reducing alcohol consumption. These have included media campaigns, educational interventions, and governmental regulations (Crawford-Williams et. al, 2014). Educational interventions are aimed at young adolescents since multiple studies have suggested that intervention programs are more likely to work if done prior to first use. Programs such as The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) incorporate AUD and educate young students about the dangers and risks of abuse (Kelly-Weeder et. al, 2011). In Texas, overall, there are numerous Rehabilitation and Addiction Centers through the state to help addiction victims recover. Furthermore, several Universities in Texas have college programs for sober students. These services span several Universities and include programs such as the UT Center for Students in Recovery, TAMU Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, Baylor Recovery Program and more (Greenhouse Treatment Center, 2021).
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
The first thing to do is screen for AUD. The World Health Organization (WHO) has created an Alochol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to screen for AUD. You can find this here: https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/audit.pdf
Before engaging in drinking (of any sorts; not just binge drinking), ensure that you research the risks and dangers of going off the deep end (AKA binge drinking).
Ensure you know where and how to get help if you were to encounter AUD. This is especially important for college students since most colleges have a program to help combat AUD and other addiction.
Find a trusted adult to talk to about AUD. As a college student, you are technically an adult. However, there are people at your University who have far more experience than you and can help you through this difficult time.
As mentioned previously, Alcholics Anonymous is a great resource and starting point for those who are suffering with AUD.