Health Topic

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Most students make smart and safe choices about using alcohol and other drugs.

These safe choices mean that students don't experience negative academic, physical, or social consequences. University Health Services staff work closely with Berkeley students, staff, faculty, and community partners on year-round services and initiatives that aim to reduce risk, consequences, and harm from the use of alcohol and other drugs.

Stalking

Stalking is a series of actions that make someone feel afraid or in danger.

Stalking is defined as engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to:

fear for his or her safety or that of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress What are the signs of stalking? Some things stalkers do: Follow you and show up wherever you are Damage your home, car, or other property Send unwanted gifts, letters, cards, emails, or texts Monitor your phone calls or computer use Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets Take...

Cannabis

Recent policy changes in a number of states legalizing cannabis for medical and/or recreational use suggest a shift in societal attitudes and perceptions around cannabis. University Health Services takes a harm reduction approach to all substance use, including cannabis.

Cannabis Harm Reduction

If you are considering using cannabis, here are some tips that you can use to reduce your risk of harm and bad experiences:

Avoid cannabis smoke if possible. Cannabis smoke contains tar and toxins. The safest choice is to use a vaporizer. Take shallow puffs, not deep...

Emergency & Non-Emergency Interventions

See Something Do Something

Bystander intervention is being a good samaritan for the people around you — being a proactive member of the community. It's looking out for others in order to reduce harm.

Fighting the Flu

It’s that time again - the dreaded “flu season”!

But there is a lot you can do to protect yourself and others against it, as well as to look after yourself should you be one of the unlucky ones. The true “flu” - influenza, not to be confused with “stomach flu” - is quite a bit worse than a common cold and will make you miserable and keep you home for a few days, but most people will make it through without complications. However, if you are at risk for more severe disease look out for warning signs...

Do You! Week at UC Berkeley

Do You! Week is a week-long series of events at UC Berkeley to promote a campus alcohol and other drugs (AOD) culture that supports all who study, live, work & play in the campus area.

Campus & Community Leadership

At UHS We:

Strive to ensure health for all through leadership, expertise, and discovery. Practice predictive prevention — working upstream to identify critical trends, harness innovation, and adopt evidence-based prevention practices.

Air Quality & Wildfire Smoke

Smoke from wildfires in Northern California may contribute to poor air quality in the Bay Area.

Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat, and irritated eyes and sinuses. Substances released from fires far away, while very unlikely to cause any significant health hazards, can contribute to headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger shortness of breath and/or wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

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Exercise: Getting Active

collapse all expand all Getting Active: What type of body movement do you enjoy?

The first step in becoming more active is the hardest. It becomes a little easier when you choose to do an exercise that you enjoy and look forward to doing. As you begin to add activity to your day or week, you will see that the key to becoming active is learning to identify opportunities to move your body (like taking a quick walk or...

Body Piercings: Cleaning and Healing

collapse all expand all General Care for Body Piercings Always wash hands thoroughly before contact with the piercing. Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. (Both slow the healing of pierced areas by drying and killing new healthy cells.) Do not use bacitracin or other ointments. (Ointments attempt to heal the skin & may slow oxygen transport to the tissue). Use salt soaks for best care/cleaning of ring or stud and...