Alcohol
- Low Risk Guidelines
- Tips for Moderating You Drinking
- What is "binge" drinking?
- Blood Alcohol Content
- Handling Hangovers
- Alcohol Emergencies
- How much is too much?
- Recent data: Pitt students and alcohol
- MyStudentBody.com
Low Risk Guidelines
Guideline Zero: Zero Alcohol is the best choice if you are:
- Under twenty-one years of age
- On medication
- Stressed or tired
- Either the son, daughter or sibling of someone with alcoholism
- Recovering from alcoholism or other chemical dependency
- Pregnant or nursing
Guideline One: No more than one drink per hour:
- A standard drink contains one-half ounce of alcohol. That is 12 ounces of beer or, Four ounces of wine or, One ounce of hundred proof distilled spirits.
Guideline Two: No more than two drinks per day for men, one for women:
- Alcohol affects women differently than men. Thus, in order to reduce an alcohol-related problem, it is important that women not exceed more than one drink per day, never more than four times per week. Remember that this is not an equality issue, it's a health issue.
Guideline Three: No more than three drinks per week.
Tips for Moderating your Drinking
- Say, "No thank you", if you do not want to drink. If you would feel more comfortable with something in your hand, you can drink a nonalcoholic beverage such as ginger ale or carry an alcoholic drink but not consume it. Be proud to be yourself.
- Be sure you know the alcohol content of mixed drinks and punches before you drink them.
- Count the number of drinks you consume and "pace" your drinking.
- Alternate between drinking alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Food slows down the absorption of alcohol.
- Avoid drinking games and "funneling". These promote abuse of alcohol as well as abuse of one's body.
- Drink mixed drinks, or add ice cubes, and drink slowly.
- Stop drinking well before the end of a social event in order to allow time for your body to metabolize the alcohol you have consumed. The liver can process approximately one drink per hour, no more and no less. Hot coffee and cold showers will do nothing to make an intoxicated person sober. What you will have is a wide awake drunk.
- Alcohol mixed with other drugs, prescription and non-prescription, can be extremely hazardous and in some cases lethal. Consult a qualified professional if you have specific questions about this.
- Never drink and drive or ride with an intoxicated driver.
- Dress warmly in cold weather. Although alcohol may make you feel warm, there is an increased risk of frostbite and hypothermia from exposure to the elements after drinking, particularly if you pass out or fall asleep outside during the winter months.
What is "binge" drinking?
Across college campuses "binge" drinking is typically defined as more than 5 drinks for a man or 4 drinks for a woman in one sitting, however there is no universal definition for the term binge drinking. When referred to in the context of college-level alcohol consumption, “binge drinking” usually refers to high-risk or abusive drinking that can result in a variety of negative consequences. We know that when men drink more than 5 standard drinks in one “sitting” or women drink more than 4 standard drinks in one “sitting” that their chances of experiencing these negative consequences is significantly increased. That’s why the definition of binge drinking is often quantified as “more than 5 drinks for a man or 4 drinks for a woman.” For the record a “standard” drink is usually a 12oz. beer, 5 oz. of wine or a 1oz. shot. There are, however, many factors that also have to be considered including the person’s size, tolerance, how much they’ve eaten, and over how much time the consumption is taking place. The body can process about one drink per hour. Staying at or below that pace will keep most students relatively sober.
Binge drinking can also refer, quite simply, to drinking with the intention of becoming intoxicated. It’s this specific quest for intoxication that tends to lead to negative consequences. Those consequences aren’t limited to the obvious like alcohol overdose, getting sick, or falling down. Students can experience other consequences relative to their drinking: getting cited for underage consumption (which can jeopardize future plans for grad school, a certain job or certification, etc.), placing undue stress and fatigue on the body, academic side effects like missing class or not being sharp for an exam or discussion are all things that our students experience. Students report that they often lose things during an evening, and report varying sexual misadventures from the regrettable sexual encounter all the way up to more troubling experiences like sexual assault or STDs. Also babysitting a friend, vandalism, hangovers, fights, …the list goes on and on. These are all negative consequences of “binge” drinking.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Although many people do not think of it as such, alcohol is a powerful mood-altering substance. Technically, it falls into a class of drugs known as sedative-hypnotic. Like all drugs, its effects depend on the dosage. With alcohol, dosage is measured in terms of standardized drinks, e.g., 12 ounces of beer = 5 ounces of wine = one ounce of hard liquor. The effects are predictable depending on the amount of alcohol consumed. Considering the average person can only metabolize one ounce of alcohol per hour, one's behavior and mental state are effected accordingly:
0.02 - 0.03% Few obvious effects; possible mild light headedness, mild relaxation; automobile accidents are twice as likely to occur.
0.05 - 0.06% Slight sedation; feelings of warmth, relaxation. Driving is risky, accidents are four times as likely to occur, defects in fine motor skills and decreased reaction times begin to appear at this level.
0.08 - 0.09% Feelings of euphoria may occur. Motor skills are clearly impaired, mild speech impairment may become noticeable; balance may be affected; recognition of cognitive and motor deficits is lost, and the drinker believes s/he is functioning better than s/he actually is, depression if present may become more pronounced. feeling "buzzed."
0.10 - 0.12% Euphoria; motor skills are markedly impaired; lack of coordination and balance memory and judgement are markedly impaired; recognition of impairment is lost; people often forget how many drinks that have had; inhibitions are gone; in males, impotence may occur; emotions are exaggerated; increasing belligerence in some; "play" becomes increasingly louder. Legal level of intoxication for DUI in Pennsylvania.
0.14 - 0.17% Major impairment of all mental and physical functions; euphoric (pleasant) feelings are beginning to give way to dysphoric (unpleasant) feelings; difficulties in walking, talking and standing; severe deficits in judgment and perception (hammered).
0.20% Dysphoric and /or numb; all mental, physical, and sensory functions are severely impaired; nausea and vomiting; risk of severe injury from falls and accidents; increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit.
0.30% Stuporous ; little comprehension of the environment; loss of consciousness can occur, difficult to arouse.
0.40% Comatose; absence of perception; death due to respiratory arrest is more likely.
>0.40% Deep coma and death due to anesthesia of the nerve centers controlling respiration and heartbeat.
Handling Hangovers
Hangovers are visible symptoms after a heavy bout of drinking. These symptoms can include a sense of dizziness, unquenchable thirst, a scratchy throat and weakness. Migraines, chills, nausea, chest pains, diarrhea and vomiting may also be present. These effects are nature's way of telling us that too much alcohol is harmful. It is important to realize that drinking alcohol affects every organ of the body.
Hangover Intervention
The only true cure for a hangover is time. However, there are a few things that you can do to lessen your discomfort.
- Drink plenty of water. Alcohol has depleted your body of fluids and drinking water helps to restore fluid balance. Remember that caffeine will further dehydrate your body so stick with water, juice or milk.
- While Tylenol is known as a common hangover remedy, this and alcohol can lead to liver damage in chronic drinkers. Take other pain relievers in small doses if you must - but remember that they can react with the alcohol to further irritate the stomach.
- Nourish yourself with simple foods that will not upset your stomach. Toast and fruit for breakfast are a good start. Also, consume food with some sugar. Alcohol has broken down sugar stores in the liver and these need to be replaced.
- Get plenty of rest and sleep.
Handling Alcohol Emergencies
Alcohol can have a dramatic and wide reaching effect on the body. Alcohol is a depressant that slows down brain activity. In the brain alcohol affects judgment and coordination and the part of the brain that allows us to control our actions and behavior. The more you drink, the more the parts of the brain controlling judgment and muscle coordination are impaired. This is often when students can become injured. Increased consumption leads to increased depressant effects including confusion, lack of coordination, memory blackouts or becoming unconscious. If a person loses consciousness, it means that the body can no longer function as a result of the volume of alcohol consumed. Losing consciousness means that the person has reached a very dangerous level of intoxication and it’s very possible that their blood alcohol level will continue to rise even after they’ve passed out. Immediate professional intervention is needed if the individual:
- Is unable to stand or walk, or can do so only with diffuculty.
- Is only poorly aware of his/her surroundings.
- Has difficulty breathing, or,
- Is breathing slowly, with 10 seconds or more between breaths.
- Is passed out / or cannot be awakened, or is convulsing.
- Has lost control of his/her bodily functions.
- Has fever or chills.
- Has cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin
- Has difficulty speaking.
- Has an injury.
- Is paranoid, confused, or disoriented.
- Is violent or threatening.
- Appears to be a risk to him/herself or others.
Medical attention is warranted...
whenever there is a serious injury or illness related to alcohol consumption. In the absence of injury or illness, some individuals may need medical attention for intoxication at blood alcohol levels beginning at approximately 0.15%. How alcohol affects the individual will largely depend on the drinker's tolerance level. A heavy drinker may not be at medical risk at 0.15%, but a novice drinker could be in serious danger.
If you suspect that someone needs medical attention, it is important that you call for help immediately! If you are unsure about whether an individual needs professional assistance, err on the side of caution and call for help. Turn an individual on his/her side to prevent choking in case of vomiting. Stay with the individual & call Campus Police at 624-2121 or Pittsburgh Paramedics at 911.
Other Important Numbers
Ambulance ..... 911
Campus Police ..... 412-624-2121
Counseling Center ..... 412-648-7930
Presbyterian Hospital/Emergency Room ..... 412-647-3333
Student Health Service/Health Education & Promotion ..... 412-383-1830
Student Health Service/Medical Services ..... 412-383-1800
Western Psychiatric Inst/General Info ..... 412-624-2100
How much is too much?
ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PARTY HABITS:
- Do you party alone?
- Have others expressed concern about your drug or alcohol use?
- Have you been involved in arguments or fights with your friends or family while you were drunk (or high)?
- Do you often forget what has happened while you were partying?
- Do you feel you need alcohol/drugs to have a good time?
- Do you spend less time with your friends than you used to?
- Have you ever missed class because you were too wasted to get up on time?
- Do you think about drinking or using drugs often?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you should consider consulting a counselor or a health professional. While one "yes" doesn't mean you are dependent, it suggests that your drinking may be causing you some problems.
Unfortunately there are no quick cures for alcohol problems. However, treatment is available for people whose lives are negatively affected by drugs. Early intervention can help you avoid the harmful affects of long-term alcohol or other drug use.
You can help yourself or a friend by calling the Office of Health Education & Promotion of Student Health Service at 383-1830. Or call the University Counseling Center at 648-7930.
Recent Data: Pitt Students and Alcohol
The University of Pittsburgh Student Health Service conducts a regular survey of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use among undergraduates. The most recent survey was conducted in March 2006.
The results of this study show that alcohol remains the number one drug of choice among Pitt undergraduates. Fifty-one percent (51%) reported drinking five or more drinks at a sitting within the last two weeks. These numbers are comparable to drinking levels reported at other colleges in the Northeastern U.S. Male students were more likely to experience alcohol-related problems than females although the gender gap has been closing in recent years. Also, students affiliated with Greek-letter organizations were more likely to experience alcohol-related problems than those who were not.
On a more positive note, most Pitt undergraduates (51%) report drinking alcohol infrequently (once or twice a month or less). The majority indicate that they typically do not drink to excess. Fifty-five percent (55%) claim to drink moderately (0-4 drinks) when they "party". Fifteen percent (15%) report that they usually do not drink at a party. However, a considerable misperception persists among our students. Pitt students report that they believe that most students (71%) drink heavily (5 or more drinks when they "party"). In reality, only 45% reported drinking in this fashion.
Sixty-four percent (64%) of students indicate that they know where to get help if they or a friend had a drinking or drug problem. Sixty percent (60%) of students thought that the campus is concerned about the prevention of alcohol and drug use. This is a continued increase from previous surveys.