Drinking Safe

It is well known that students in college drink but drink excessively. This seems to be a stigma that has plagued students in college for quite some time, even though not everyone students drink. However, while drinking in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, when taken to far it can become dangerous to the individual and their friends. “Binge drinking peaks at ages 21-23,” and “19.5 percent of full-time college students, aged 18-22, were considered heavy drinkers,” states the Center for Science in the Public Interest. And more notably, “First year students drink less frequently but more heavily than upper-class students.”

          Cathy Anderson, TLU’s on campus nurse tells the harms and risks of Binge drinking (Often defined as consuming five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past 30 days):

Drinking impairs your judgment, which increases the likelihood you’ll do something you’ll later regret like unprotected sex or damaging property. Don’t think that drinking isn’t dangerous. One in 3 of the 18 to 24 year olds admitted to the ER for serious injuries is intoxicated. It takes on average about 3 hours to eliminate the alcohol content of 2 drinks (dependent on your weight).

Nurse Anderson also gave a list of the possible signs of alcohol poisoning, which occurs more often than not during binge drinking activities, “The person may be unconscious or semiconscious. Their breathing will be slow and their skin cold, clammy, pale or bluish. Don’t figure they can “sleep it off”, call 911 and stay with them. Turn the person onto their side so they don’t inhale their vomit.” Nurse Anderson also stated that alcohol poisoning is an emergency, and to treat it as such.

          Students who go out and drink at house parties, or even at other establishments such as bars or clubs run the risk of not only drinking too much, but also potentially being drugged. “Don’t leave your drink unattended, open the can or bottle yourself, and don’t drink from the punch bowl,” as Nurse Anderson said. Furthermore, Officer Hopper gives the following advice to students who believe they may have been drugged at a party, “If you think you have been drugged make sure your friends and the designated driver knows.  Have them take you to an emergency room. Take the drink with you if possible so it can be analyzed. Make sure someone calls the police so an investigation can be completed.”

          However, if in a position that a friend seems to have been drugged or have alcohol poisoning it is of vital importance that you call 911, even if you are underage. There is a law called the “911 Amnesty Law,” that protects the caller (even if that caller is underage) if they are calling to seek help for themselves or another individual that may be intoxicated.

          Texas Lutheran University does offer some events and opportunities for students to become more aware of the adverse effects of drinking and drugs. Nurse Anderson suggest the following for students: “Think about it” Module, T.I.P.S. training for organization leaders, Oksoberfest, Safe Spring Break, Student Health 101 articles, Brochures in Resident Halls, and NCAA presentations for athletes.

Chaney Hill, Reporter