Alcohol Abuse

DRINKING FACTS

PHYSICAL EFFECTS:

Alcohol is a drug. Mixing alcohol with prescribed or over-the-counter medications is dangerous and unpredictable.
Food consumption slows the rate of alcohol absorption.
Women feel the effect of alcohol more quickly and over a longer time period than men.
Birth control pills slow down the rate at which alcohol is eliminated from the body.
Excessive alcohol consumption can cause reduced testosterone levels in men which leads to impotence.
Alcohol goes directly to the bloodstream affecting every system in the body.
Carbonated beverages in a drink will cause a faster absorption of alcohol in the body.
Vomiting is a response in an attempt to eliminate the poisonous level of alcohol in the body.
All drinks are not equal. Alcohol concentration varies from beer, wine, liquor and mixed drinks.
Coffee or a shower will not sober a person, but may cause physical harm.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS:

Drinking alcohol has an adverse effect on the quality of sleep. reducing the time you spend in deep sleep.
Alcohol does not relieve depression - as a depressant it increases depression.
Poor judgment is a natural outcome when the brain is influenced by alcohol.

ACADEMIC EFFECTS:

Alcohol is identified as a factor in 40% of all academic problems and 28% of all drop outs.
More than 7% of college freshmen dropout of school for alcohol-related reasons.

SOCIAL EFFECTS:

As many as 360,000 undergraduates will die from alcohol-related causes while in school.
Alcohol or other drugs were a factor with 75% of the men and 55% of tile women in reported acquaintance rapes on college campuses.
One third of homicides, suicides, and accidental drownings are associated with alcohol misuse.
Alcohol is related to 70% of violent behavior on college campuses.

ECONOMIC EFFECTS:

College students spend $5.5 billion each year on alcohol- more than they spend on soda, tea, milk, juice, coffee and textbooks combined. That is $466 per student per year.

(Sources include: www.brad21.org/facts )

Binge Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning Risk Reduction

Alcohol poisoning occurs when someone consumes alcohol more quickly than their body can metabolize it.

Binge drinking, the rapid consumption of alcoholic beverages (4 or more for women, 5 or more for men), can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol Poisoning and Binge Drinking are serious medical emergencies. If left untreated by a medical professional death may result. Get help, call campus security (368-3333 -- CWRU only).

Risks of alcohol poisoning and binge drinking include serious physical injury, unconsciousness, coma, brain damage and death. Common examples of physical injury include: head, neck and back injuries due to falls, asphyxiation due to depressed respiration or choking on one's own vomit. These may occur after a person has been put to bed to sleep off the symptoms. (Medical attention will safeguard against these risks.)

Call for assistance if the person is experiencing one or more of these symptoms:

vomiting
incoherent
unconscious or semiconscious and cannot be wakened
cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin
not breathing
breathing irregularly (ten or more seconds between breaths)

mixed alcohol with with other drugs
unresponsive
trouble walking, talking or standing
breathing slowly (less than eight times a minute)
having difficulty breathing

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:

Do not leave an intoxicated person unattended! Turn the person on his/her side to prevent choking.

Contact your local security and Residence Life Staff Member

For CWRU residents:

University Security 368-3333

University Health Service 368-2450

Residence Life Staff Member (There is a Resident Director "on-call" in each evening. The "on-call schedule" is posted in the lobby of each building and on the Resident Director's apartment door.

BE A FRIEND ... MAKE A CALL ... SAVE A LIFE ...
IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

Links

B.R.A.D. (Be Responsible About Drinking, Inc)

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)