This document discusses the risks of alcohol misuse and provides information about standard drinks, binge drinking, blood alcohol content (BAC), and alcohol poisoning. It defines binge drinking as consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time, around 5 drinks for men and 4 for women. The document also outlines some myths and facts about alcohol, like the myth that wine is the safest drink or that taking a cold shower will sober a person up. Statistics about alcohol-related deaths and injuries among college students are also presented.

1. At Risk Behavior
Alcohol Misuse/Abuse
~Lori Wangberg, CMU Health Educator

2. Learning Objectives
 Define standard drink & binge drinking
 Identify myths versus facts
 Identify short term & long term effects
 Define blood alcohol content
 Understand alcohol poisoning
 Understand alcohol is a drug

3. What is alcohol??
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joecashin/73342186/sizes/s/Source:
Photo by: Joe Cashin

4. Alcohol – What does it do?
 Affects Central Nervous System (CNS)
(spinal cord, brain and nerves)
Short term effects: impaired judgement and
coordination, increased risk for injury
Long term effects: irreversible damage to brain,
liver and heart
http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPapers/Documents/ETOHBIOFx.htm

5. Alcohol Myths/Facts
 Taking a cold shower will sober me up
Fact: Time is the only thing to sober a person up
 Wine is the safest of all drinks
Fact: Alcohol no matter what form is alcohol
 Drinking makes me cool
Fact: Doing things such as vomiting or passing out is
not cool, and you are more likely to make bad
choices under the influence of alcohol
Source:
http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/media/pdf/MythsF
actsBrochure_508compliant.pdf

6. Statistics…..
For a frame of reference:
Over 1,700 college students 18-24 die
from alcohol-related unintentional
injuries each year (NIAAA).
Over 696,000 college students are
injured each year while under the
influence of alcohol (NIAAA)
Over 97,000 are involved in sexual
assaults while under the influence of
alcohol each year (NIAAA)
*NIAAA – National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism

7. Standard drink equivalents
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Photo by: William Cho
All drinks are not
created equal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adforce1/1586828155/sizes/m/

8. http://www.co.warren.ny.us/trafficsafety/stopdwi/bacchart.phpSource
:
Compare the difference…..

9. Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
http://www.bloodalcoholcontent.org/
•Defined as the amount of alcohol
circulating in the blood at any given
time
•BAC’s are subjective, they can vary
between individuals even if you drink
the same amount of alcohol

10. http://www.co.warren.ny.us/trafficsafety/stopdwi/bacchart.phpSource:
Number of drinks and BAC

11. Binge Drinking
 Consuming large amounts of alcohol
in a short period of time.
~About 5 drinks for a man
~About 4 drinks for a woman
Dangerous because it can result in
alcohol poisoning, when your body
cannot metabolize it fast enough
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm

12. Alcohol Poisoning
 Large consumption of alcohol can
result in alcohol poisoning.
 When to call for help/ 911
Slow breathing (less than 8-10
breaths/minute)
Bluish color/cold, clammy skin
Inability to wake up the person
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/OtherAlcoholInformation/factsAboutAlcoholPoisoni
ng.aspx

13. Alcohol Poisoning
 Can result in death, body cannot
eliminate the alcohol so it builds up
and death by poisoning occurs.
 Watch the following video clip from the
SamSpadyFoundation.org / story of a
young college co-ed who died from
alcohol poisoning

14. Sam Spady story
 http://www.samspadyfoundation.org/d
vd_preview.html

15. Michigan Laws/Alcohol
 It is not legal to buy, drink or even have
alcohol with you in the State of Michigan
 It is not legal to have alcohol in open
cans/bottles/cups on Michigan highways
 It is not legal to purchase/give alcohol to
people under the age of 21
(These are all misdemeanors)
For a full summary of Michigan alcohol
laws, see
http://www.cmich.edu/ehs/Policies_and_Procedures/Alcohol_Policies_a
nd_Procedures/Summary_of_Selected_Michigan_Laws.htm

16. FYI – Need Help/Resources
 Campus Counseling Center
Foust 102 / 774-3381
 University Health Services
Foust 200 / 774-6599
Or visit the following websites:
www.niaaa.nih.gov
www.samhsa.gov
www.cdc.gov

17. Thank you to the following….
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Publications/EducationTraini
ngMaterials/Documents/1College_Bulletin-
508_361C4E.pdf
BAC charts/standard drinks
http://www.co.warren.ny.us/trafficsafety/stopdwi/bacc
hart.php
Myths versus facts:
Stats
http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/media/pdf/MythsFa
ctsBrochure_508compliant.pdf
Alcohol laws
http://www.cmich.edu/ehs/Policies_and_Procedures/
Alcohol_Policies_and_Procedures/Summary_of_S
elected_Michigan_Laws.htm

18. For making this presentation
possible…
 CNS depressant
 http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPa
pers/Documents/ETOHBIOFx.htm
 Alcohol image/margarita
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/adforce1/1586
828155/sizes/m/
 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
sa/2.0/
photo by William Cho

19.  BAC
 http://www.bloodalcoholcontent.org/
 binge drinking
 http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-
sheets/binge-drinking.htm
 alcohol poisoning
 http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov
/OtherAlcoholInformation/factsAboutAlco
holPoisoning.aspx
 Sam Spady
 http://www.samspadyfoundation.org/