The green posters around campus draw attention to the growing problem of binge drinking. “Is it good night or goodbye?” they ask.
The Mirror has set out to discover what students can do when they are drinking to keep themselves safe and what should be done if overly intoxicated.
The following questions were answered by the Grand Group under the leadership of Lisa Arnold, licensed alcohol and drug counselor. Ann Grand, coordinator of SCOPE, Smithers College Outreach Program and Evaluation, founded the group.
It is a harm reduction association that gets kids to meet their goals in terms of substance abuse. Some come voluntarily, while others are referred through judicial. As a reward for completing the program, fines, points, and community service hours are reduced.
How much alcohol is too much for one night?
It really depends on the person, what they are drinking, their tolerance level, their gender and weight, whether or not they had a full stomach, the length of time in one drinking episode, and how badly it affects their decision making. The more you weigh, the more you can drink, but it’s important to pace yourself at one per hour and stop at about 4.
Which is more dangerous, beer or hard liquor?
A mixed drink with one shot of alcohol has the same total alcohol content as a 12 oz. bottle of beer or a 4-5 oz. glass of wine. That being said, hard liquor is more dangerous; people tend to drink it quicker and in higher quantities, they don’t taste the alcohol.
What happens when you mix beer and liquor?
It creates a synergist effect which works together to get you drunk quicker and makes you sicker. If you must mix, it’s always better to follow the rule, “Beer before liquor, never been sicker, liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.”
How can you tell the difference between someone with alcohol poisoning and someone who is just drunk?
Someone with alcohol poisoning is incoherent, either unconscious or semi-consciousness. They have slow respiration, either taking eight or less breaths per minute or having lapses between breaths of more than eight seconds. They usually have cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin. Someone who is drunk has impaired decision making, could be vomiting and have difficulty walking straight.
What should you do with a friend who is sick, but not sick enough to go to the Health Center?
Stay with them and bring them out of any dangerous situation they might come across. If it is really questionable on whether or not they have alcohol poisoning, it would be wise to bring them to the health center anyway. Time is the only thing that will sober them up.
What happens if you are so intoxicated that you must go to the Health Center?
For this question, The Mirror consulted Kim Nickolenko, director of judicial affairs. She said that if a student gets to the Health Center without the aid of security, no official sanctions will be taken against them, although if necessary, they may be referred to a counselor. If the visit to the Health Center results in the student being taken to the hospital, the judicial process kicks in and sanctions will be taken, but decided on an individual basis. Those sanctions could include fines, points, community services hours, and letters home to parents.
How can you tell if you are an alcoholic and not a social drinker?
Alcoholics drink alone, in response to stressful events, lose control and have more negative consequences from drinking. Social drinkers drink to have a good time, they could have fun with or without alcohol involved, and don’t drink to get drunk.
If you think you have a problem, what should you do?
Tell someone who is close to you or supportive, who can help or send you to someone else for help. A good place to start is Fairfield’s Counseling Services at extension 2146, AA at 800/203-1234 or your primary doctor.
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