Sajila Nudrat | Health Editor
Featured Image: Alcohol consumption is linked to over 200 different diseases, conditions and types of injuries. | Courtesy of Pexels
The new school year brings with it excitement, pride and a sense of discovery. Frosh week is a time for new students to get to know one another, the campus, and familiarize themselves with what university life entails.
It’s a time of celebration, but there are dangers associated overindulgence. The use of drugs, alcohol and other substances is profound, not just during Frosh week but in every day university life. It is important that incoming students educate themselves on their limits, and what this newfound freedom means.
The question is, how much booze is too much? There’s no need to go into the health risks associated with alcohol consumption and drug usage because students are old enough to know themselves, but it is always good to be reminded of safe practices.
New legislation regarding the possession and usage of marijuana comes into effect on October 17. Adults who are 18 years of age or older will be able to legally purchase and obtain up to 30 grams of marijuana. Due to this law, the usage of the substance, its presence and availability will rise.
When talking about her Frosh experience, an anonymous first-year student felt that there was a great amount of substance use. “Frosh was my first time even taking part in such activities—I do believe it is okay to take part in good fun as long as its responsible so the health benefits aren’t something I’m too particular about”. She also cited the health risks outweighing the benefits as a huge factor in her decision to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and other substances.
Indulging once in a while is alright, as long as people are aware of its effects. However, preparation is key to avoiding accidents. It’s also important to understand any drug can be tampered with, and can lead to overdoses and potentially death.
“The Frosh culture in one word was: wild. However, I wasn’t surprised. York has been known to have one of the most lit Frosh week in Ontario and it was a lot of fun—I feel that the energy is what brought together people and I got to meet some amazing students through it. Honestly, at the end of the day I think Frosh symbolizes the start to a new chapter in our life. It’s almost like a rite of passage—we get to party, meet new people and kick off the next four years in a fun way. I feel that as long as there are responsible drinkers and things don’t go too out of control, its okay to have fun once in a while. If I was doing this everyday then yes the risks would definitely outweigh the health benefits and it would be a major deterrent. Nevertheless, this isn’t something I do all the time and I think it’s good to live a little,” they add.
University life is unpredictable, there are greater amounts of stress, freedom and responsibility. It’s easy to turn to external substances as a coping mechanism, but it’s important to remember that doing so can have negative, even life-changing, repercussions.
