Book an appointment to talk with someone
There are several options. Read more about these below.
Student Health Service
Most people who have tried to change a habit know that it can be difficult to do so all by yourself. The Student Health Service can help in identifying which factors affect your partying or gambling, for example. You can also receive help in identifying strategies that work for you based on your situation. All contacts with the Student Health Service are free of charge and confidential.
Contact the Student Health Service
Alcohol and Drug Clinic
Another good option is the Alcohol and Drug Clinic in Umeå. This is an outpatient clinic that supports individuals experiencing the negative consequences of drugs and alcohol. It can also provide support if someone close to you has a problem with drugs or alcohol, such as a parent or a partner. When it comes to alcohol, you can choose whether to reduce your consumption or stop drinking altogether. Region Västerbotten and Umeå Municipality operate this clinic together, and the services are free of charge.
Read more about the Alcohol and Drug Clinic
Ingången and the Youth Clinic
Services at Ingången are available to anyone up to the year in which they turn 23 years of age. Ingången shares facilities with the Youth Clinic and helps young people who still live at home with their parents or guardians.
Receive help with some common questions
I wonder if I have an addiction or am on track to develop an addiction
Risk-taking can sometimes lead to addiction, but not always. Addiction means that the habit has negative consequences for the individual, while dependency means a loss of control over use, withdrawal, and a change in brain structure.
- Does your behaviour prevent you from doing things that are important to you in life?
- Are your studies, relationships, or well-being negatively affected?
- Has anyone else expressed concerns or dissatisfaction about your drinking, gambling, or use of substances?
- Do you feel that you no longer have the same control over how you party or gamble?
At-risk use or abuse is easier to break than addiction. A good first step is to try talking to someone about your behaviour. Find out what works well and feels positive and what feels less good or is becoming problematic. Feel free to contact us at the Student Health Service about anything from alcohol and cannabis use to doping and gambling. We adhere to strict confidentiality.
Test your drinking behaviour
Take an anonymous test of your drinking behaviour (in Swedish)
I am worried about someone else
At the Student Health Service, we often meet students who come to us because they are worried about someone else. It can be difficult to know what to think and do to help, especially if the person you are worried about does not seem to recognise the problem. Caring is always a good thing, and you may need to talk to a third-party to find out what you can actually do, what your responsibilities are to the other person, and how you can express your concerns constructively. You may be afraid of making things worse by interfering, but it often means a lot to the other person to realise that someone else cares. This is often their first step towards seriously considering their behaviour and how they take care of themselves. You may be concerned about taking on too much responsibility, but the goal is often to help lead the other person to the right support.
It can be difficult to be alone with all your concerns, and accepting help from the Student Health Service or someone else you trust can make it easier.
If you want ideas on how to talk to the person you are worried about, Alkoholsnacket.se (in Swedish) can provide support and inspiration.
I want to know more about how I can change my behaviour
Changing a behaviour and breaking a habit can be difficult even when you want to. This is not surprising, as the human brain focuses more on short-term relief than long-term consequences. If the behaviours also involve consuming substances, it may be more difficult to change them, partly because we have to “up the dose” over time to get the same satisfaction it gave us in the beginning.
Our brains prefer to conserve energy by repeating the patterns we are already comfortable with. Suddenly changing our behaviour is exhausting and can cause discomfort, even if the change is actually good in the long term. This can make it feel too difficult, give a sense of hopelessness, or make it seem like it is not worth the effort to make a change. The brain is also sensitive to social codes and wants to protect us from “standing out” too much from the group we are in.
For the change to succeed and last over time, several things are needed:
- Understanding how the brain works and how both past experiences and our environment influence patterns.
- Having a clear idea of specifically what I am doing that is problematic and what I want to do instead.
- Practicing and persevering with the new strategy long enough to experience the benefits.
- Repeating the new strategy long enough for it to become a new pattern that the brain can follow automatically and without extra effort.
It is always good to try to change a habit on your own, but do not become discouraged if you feel like you are stuck. It is a good idea to talk to someone who can help you think outside the box and formulate a plan that suits you.
For more strategies with in-depth information on alcohol, drugs, computer game addiction, doping, gambling, and tobacco and nicotine use, visit the national portal for student health.
