University alcohol recovery room eases ER pressure

A campus alcohol recovery room at the University of Guelph dedicated to helping students sober up after a bout of heavy drinking is easing hospital pressure, a health administrator says. The recovery room diverts patients who don’t need an ER visit. The six-bed program is confidential and voluntary. Students can leave at any time, with nurses and addiction support workers staffing the room. The staff assess, monitor and support students until they’re well enough to return home. In a federal government survey on alcohol and drug use among post-secondary students between 2021 and 2022, nearly half of all students reported heavy drinking.