Alcohol use disorder, often shortened to AUD, is a medical condition in which a person has difficulty controlling alcohol use even when drinking is causing harm. It may affect physical health, mood, sleep, judgment, relationships, finances, work and safety. AUD is not defined by whether someone drinks every day, what kind of alcohol they prefer or whether other people think they “look like an alcoholic.” It is defined by a pattern of signs and symptoms and consequences. For college students, alcohol use disorder can intersect with classes, work, housing, money, relationships, transportation, privacy, and the sudden expectation that you coordinate your own care. The condition itself is only one part of the problem; the system around it can either reduce or multiply the load.