THE ABCs of College Drinking... 25 tips for navigating the collegiate party scene
Table of Contents PREVIEW
Introduction
Tip 1 Academics
Tip 2 Alcohol
Tip 3 Alcohol Poisoning
Tip 4 Blackouts
Tip 5 Blood Alcohol Level
Tip 6 Drinking Games
Tip 7 Drinks
Tip 8 Driving Under the Influence
Tip 9 Drugs
Tip 10 Greeks
Tip 11 HALT
Tip 12 Hangovers
Tip 13 Know the Code
Tip 14 Low Risk Drinking
Tip 15 Marijuana
Tip 16 Party Strategies
Tip 17 Pre-Partying
Tip 18 Problem Drinking
Tip 19 Refusal Skills
Tip 20 Sex
Tip 21 Sexual Assault
Tip 22 Student Athletes
Tip 23 Tolerance
Tip 24 Vomiting
Tip 25 Women
Identifying Alcohol Problems
Athletics Evaluation
Blood Alcohol Level
About Jim Matthews, M.Ed.
Tip 3: Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol changes brain chemistry and can be lethal in high doses. Death from alcohol poisoning is a result of the depressant action of alcohol on the brain centers that control consciousness, respiration and heart rate. As a central nervous system depressant, alcohol can depress these vital brain centers resulting first in coma and then death. An additional complication is that alcohol also depresses the gag reflex. This reflex is responsible for allowing our bodies to vomit - to rid the body of the extra alcohol it cannot process. (See Tip #24: Vomiting) If the gag reflex is unable to work properly, our systems continue to absorb excessive levels of alcohol thus contributing to a greater risk for alcohol poisoning.
The symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:
• Cold, clammy and pale or bluish skin color.
• The drinker won’t wake up even after yelling the person’s name or pinching him/her.
• The drinker’s breathing rate is less than 10 times per minute and/or there are more than 10 seconds between breaths.
• A strong odor of alcoholic beverage.
How much is too much? Most medical professionals agree that a Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) of .40% or greater can kill someone. However, there are many cases of death occurring at lower BALs and people surviving at higher BALs. If you are having difficulty in determining whether an individual is acutely intoxicated, contact a health professional immediately - you cannot afford to guess.
If you call 911 and are waiting for emergency transport, gently turn the intoxicated person on his/her side. Help him/her maintain that position by placing a pillow in the small of the person's back. This is important because it can help prevent aspiration (choking) should the person vomit. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.
Some students admit they are afraid of getting a heavily intoxicated drinker in trouble. My response: “Which would you rather have, an angry friend or a dead friend?”
Tip…
If you have even the slightest doubt about someone’s condition, get professional help. If you suspect other drugs have also been ingested, be sure to tell the medical professionals.
