So on Friday night, my roommates and I had a party. A quick word about one of my roommates- she drinks a lot (we're all in the 20-21 age, in college, so thats not abnormal). I do worry about her, because her dad is an alcoholic. Like he never leaves his chair and will literally sit in his chair for the entire day and drink non stop. He's completely nonfunctional and it has pretty much destroyed his life. I'm worried about her mainly because she drinks such a large amount. I probably drink about as often as her, but about 7 out of 10 times she drinks, she blacks out and throws up. She's brought it up to me before, that she knows she drinks a lot and she knows she needs to be careful. But it's always been hard for me to talk about because it's such a sensitive topic. I've never brought anything up to her, but I'm always willing to listen if she brings it up to me. On Friday, I was completely plastered, and she was pretty drunk as well. I blacked out a lot of the night, but I do remember standing in the kitchen with her as she voiced her major concerns with the fact that she was drunk and didn't want to turn into her dad. It was the most in depth she's ever gotten with it, and since then I don't know whether or not I should bring it up. I remember the conversation ended when she suddenly was like "can we talk about this some other time?" because I guess it was getting too intense for a party setting. She hasn't mentioned it at all and I don't know if she just doesn't want to bring it up, or if she doesn't remember talking to me at all about it. Should I bring it up to her and finish our conversation? or should I just let it go and see if she mentions it again? I feel weird interfering because honestly, I worry about her for a reason. I know we are in college and getting drunk is pretty common, but the extent to which she drinks scares me, and how interested she is in getting drunk. If anyone in the whole house is drinking, she will immediately get drunk with them. If there is any chance of drinking she jumps right on it. She still is able to do well in school and her academic performance isn't really affected by it, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's okay...
Yes, I think so. Drinking to this extent can cause serious serious changes such as brain shrinkage which is an indicator of brain damage. Here is a link to read more about it. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm
You should bring it up, some time when you guys aren't drinking. But ask her nicely "Is this a good time to finish that conversation...." Don't force it on her or corner her, but be concerned.
