Like other campuses across the nation, UCSB struggles with the issue of alcohol and other drug use among students. While some students decrease alcohol and/or drug use after their first two to three years in college, others continue to binge drink or use drugs and eventually develop a substance abuse disorder. Some of the features of problematic drinking or substance abuse that might be evidenced at the university level are:
- A failure to fulfill major obligations at school and/or work such as absences, tardiness, incomplete assignments, performing below potential.
- Substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous such as driving under the influence or walking along the cliffs while intoxicated.
- Substance-related legal problems such as fighting while under the influence, damaging property, date or acquaintance rape, sexual harassment.
- Continued substance use despite recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused by the substance such as losing friends, significant others, and family members.
- Continued use despite repeated harmful consequences such as being placed on academic probation, losing a part time job, being arrested, or having an accident.