We've all been at a party where someone is obviously going a little too far. Sometimes it's someone we've never seen before that's downing shots like it's their job. Sometimes it's someone we would consider an acquaintance but not enough of a friend to check in. But I think the worst is when it's not only a friend of ours that's getting a little liberal with the vodka but a friend of ours that we're telling to chug the whole bottle because it makes for a good laugh.

Friends don't enable friends. If you care about someone, you don't pressure them to down a ridiculous amount of poison in seconds just because it's entertaining. If you care about someone, you don't dare them to down half a bottle when they've already been drinking too much too fast for too long. If you care about someone, you don't enable — you don't encourage — them to stay drunk or stay high when they've been making passing remarks about having a problem for as long as you've known them.

You help them put the bottle down. Whether it's at a party or an empty room.

1825 college students die from alcohol-related injuries every single year. About 20% of college students meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. I'm all about having fun and getting the full college experience — but your friend won't be getting that experience if they're dead or addicted. And that is the reality of toxic drinking and substance abuse.

We never think it will be us or the people we love. Until it is.

The culture surrounding alcohol and other drugs on college campuses is something we all need to take a long, hard look at. The gated communities (or frat houses) we get so accustomed to don't protect us from the very real dangers of these substances. Care about the people in your life. Protect the people in your life. Even if it's easier and more fun to look the other way — or worse, to look straight on and cheer as they dig their own grave.