Hello. My name is Stanford, and I am an alcoholic. 

Every academic year, approximately sixty Stanford students will be transported to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. That’s two people per week, all year, every year. This is not unique to Stanford. Fifty percent of US college students drink, regardless of age, and more than half of that group engages in binge drinking.

I drink to escape the daily stress of classes, of work, of expectations. I drink because everyone else is drinking. I drink to forget why I wanted – needed – a drink in the first place. I drink because it feels good.

1500 students die from drinking-related injuries a year. 700,000 get assaulted by another intoxicated student. One in five women get sexually assaulted while in college – most of these incidents involve alcohol use.

On Monday I went to a kickback to destress.

On Tuesday I shared a cider with my roommate.

On Wednesday my student group had a mixer.

On Thursday it was Senior Night at the local bar.

On Friday I went to three different frat houses.

On Saturday my friend hosted a boozy brunch.

On Sunday I had a beer while I did my homework.

“Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.”

Well, it’s Monday again…