Alcohol poisoning can be fatal. Don’t let your friend sleep it off.

If someone is incoherent or passed out, these are indicators of risk:

• cold, clammy skin
• looks bluish or pale
• slow or irregular breathing
• vomiting when passed out
• used other drugs with alcohol

While exhibiting one or all of these symptoms does not always indicate alcohol overdose, they do serve as clear signs that you should immediately seek help. If on campus call Public Safety at 212-854-6666 or from off campus, dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Alcohol Self-Assessment

Curious about your drinking pattern?  Visit this site to see how you measure up compared to other women your age.  

Or ask yourself the following questions:

ARE YOU DRINKING TO COPE WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS?

There is no foolproof way of knowing if someone has an alcohol problem, but you can ask yourself some questions that might begin to help you determine if you or someone you know has a drinking problem.

1. Are you, yourself, uneasy about your drinking behavior, why you drink, how much, and/or how you feel when you drink?
2. Has someone close to you spoken to you about your drinking behavior?
3. Do you drink at most social occasions you attend, such as parties, dates or informal get-togethers?
4. Do you sometimes think that you need to drink to have a good time?
5. Do you seem to have more courage to meet and talk to people when you have had a few drinks?
6. Do a few drinks allow you to be more yourself, more the person you would like to be?
7. Have you ever taken a few drinks before going to class, to work, or before dates or appointments to bolster your courage?
8. Do you keep a bottle in your apartment or car so it will always be handy if you need it?
9. Do you do things when you drink that you wouldn't do if you were sober?
10. When things go wrong with work, school, in you home life or with your parents, do you drink to forget about it or to make yourself feel better?
11. Do you sometimes forget things that happen while you were drinking?

Blackouts are a definite sign that your brain can no longer tolerate alcohol, whether you have been drinking one year or twenty, whether they occur after a few drinks or many, or whether you appear intoxicated or not.

The "test" above is not a foolproof diagnosis, but it is a rather good indicator. The likelihood that it is a serious problem increases with each succeeding "yes," and even two "yes" answers should be considered a danger sign. It may mean that you are using alcohol to deal with stressful situations in your life. You may want to start now to develop some other methods of coping with stress. You can do this on your own or with the help of friends, but if you would like confidential counseling to discuss your alcohol or drug use contact ASAP at extension 4-2182.

Depression - Alcohol and Other Drugs

A lot of depressed people, also have problems with alcohol or other drugs. Sometimes the depression comes first and people try drugs as a way to escape it. (In the long run, drugs or alcohol just make things worse!) Other times, the alcohol or other drug use comes first, and depression is caused by:

• the drug itself, or
• withdrawal from it, or
• the problems that substance use causes

And sometimes you can't tell which came first... the important point is that when you have both of these problems, the sooner you get help the better.

Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) is the amount of alcohol present in your blood as you drink. It's calculated by determining how many milligrams of alcohol are present in 100 milliliters of blood. But you don't need a Breathalyzer, a calculator, or a measurement conversion chart to figure out what BAL you had last night. Use the Table of Blood Alcohol Levels below. This is a generalized chart based on a person who is metabolizing (or breaking down) one drink an hour.

Remember, while this chart is a good general guideline, every individual reacts differently to alcohol. The chart doesn't take into account your individual body composition, your use of medication, your mood changes, or your personal metabolism rate. Therefore, your blood alcohol level may in fact be slightly higher or slightly lower than the chart indicates for the number of drinks you consume. Just keep in mind that your body processes alcohol at a constant rate of .5 oz. per hour, regardless of how many ounces you consume. Therefore, the faster you drink, the higher your blood alcohol level will be.

BAL Behavior By Numbers
(Source: www.factsontap.org, 2004)

BAL .02%-.03%: You feel mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded. Your inhibitions are slightly loosened, and whatever mood you were in before you started drinking may be mildly intensified.

BAL .05%-.06%: You feel warm and relaxed. If you're the shy type when you're sober, you lose your feelings of shyness. Your behavior may become exaggerated, making you talk louder or faster or act bolder than usual. Emotions are intensified, so your good moods are better and your bad moods are worse. You may also feel a mild sense of euphoria.

BAL .08%-.09%: You believe you're functioning better than you actually are. At this level, you may start to slur your speech. Your sense of balance is probably off, and your motor skills are starting to become impaired. Your ability to see and hear clearly is diminished. Your judgment is being affected, so it's difficult for you to decide whether or not to continue drinking. Your ability to evaluate sexual situations is impaired. Students may jokingly refer to this state of mind as “beer goggles”, but this BAL can have serious repercussions.

BAL .10%-.12%: At this level, you feel euphoric, but you lack coordination and balance. Your motor skills are markedly impaired, as are your judgment and memory. You probably don't remember how many drinks you've had. Your emotions are exaggerated, and some people become loud, aggressive, or belligerent.

BAL .14%-.17%: Your euphoric feelings may give way to unpleasant feelings. You have difficulty talking, walking, or even standing. Your judgment and perception are severely impaired. You may become more aggressive, and there is an increased risk of accidentally injuring yourself or others. This is the point when you may experience a blackout.

BAL .20%: You feel confused, dazed, or otherwise disoriented. You need help to stand up or walk. If you hurt yourself at this point, you probably won't realize it because you won't feel pain. At this point you may experience nausea and/or start vomiting (keep in mind that for some people, a lower blood alcohol level than .20% may cause vomiting). Your gag reflex is impaired, so you could choke if you do throw up. Since blackouts are likely at this level, you may not remember any of this.

BAL .25%: All mental, physical, and sensory functions are severely impaired. You're emotionally numb. There's an increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of seriously injuring yourself by falling or other accidents.

BAL .30%: You're in a stupor. You have little comprehension of where you are. You may suddenly pass out at this point and be difficult to awaken. (But don't kid yourself…passing out can also occur at lower BALs. But, at lower blood alcohol levels, you may decide you had enough to drink and go "pass out." With an alarming BAL like .30%, your body will be deciding to pass out for you.)

BAL .35%: This blood alcohol level also happens to be the level of surgical anesthesia. You may stop breathing at this point.

BAL .40%: You are probably in a coma. The nerve centers controlling your heartbeat and respiration are slowing down. It's a miracle if you're not dead.

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Information for Daughters of Alcohol and Substance Abusers

If you grew up in a household with a parent who abused alcohol or drugs…you are not alone. According to a January, 2000 study that was released by the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), one out of four people come from a family where one or both parents abuse alcohol or other drugs.

Your attitudes and behaviors, and the way you see yourself, have all been shaped by the experiences you had growing up. While it may seem like ancient history, understanding your past can help you decide where you want to go and how you’re going to get there.

From your experiences growing up, you probably know first-hand that alcohol and other drugs sometimes made your parent:

• say or do things that seemed bizarre or embarrassing
• act unpredictably or illogically
• break promises
• be argumentative and even violent

Family life may have been chaotic and confusing. It may still feel that way.

Although no two people are affected by a parent’s substance abuse in exactly the same way, many children of substance abusers feel:

• guilt, shame and anger about a loved one’s alcohol or drug use
• overly responsible for their family’s well-being
• uncomfortable sharing feelings and connecting with others
• concerned about their own drinking or drug use
• isolated, anxious or depressed

These feelings can persist long past childhood. They can stick with you after you’ve moved away from home, or just started living more independently. But they don’t have to stop you from having a healthy, productive life.

Chances are you developed a lot of survival skills as a child. You can use these skills, along with the new ones you develop, to deal with your feelings, create balance in your life and pursue goals that fulfill your needs.

Just remember: You didn’t cause your parent or parents' problem. You couldn’t control it or cure it then. And you can’t now. But you can cope. Finding support is important, and ASAP offers the support of both individual and group counseling.

For more information about available groups or to make an individual appointment, please call 212.854.2128. All of our services are confidential.

Top Tips for a Night Out

Everyone gets excited to finally escape the residence hall and have some fun. Here are some tips to ensure that you have a great evening and make it home safely!  

Rules of Drinking
Whether you enjoy beer, wine, a cocktail, or a mocha latte, here are some suggestions to make your evening more enjoyable.

Rule 1: If you are drinking alcohol, pace yourself! A good rule of thumb is to stick to one alcohol-containing drink per hour. Alternate an alcohol-containing beverage with an alcohol-free one.

Rule 2: Don't drink from a punch bowl -- you can never be sure what's in it!

Rule 3: Don't leave your drink unattended. Someone may put something in it! You should always be aware of "predatory drugs", substances that can be slipped into your drink without your knowing it. Rohypnol and GHB have been identified as “date rape drugs.”

Rule 4: Get your own drink and watch it being made. Don't accept one from anyone else!

If you suspect someone has put something in your drink, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Rule 5: One of the dangers of drinking too much alcohol is that you could put yourself at risk for Alcohol Poisoning. If someone is incoherent or passed out, there are indicators that you may be at risk:

• cold clammy skin
• looks bluish or pale
• irregular breathing
• vomiting when passed out
• used other drugs with alcohol

While exhibiting one or all of these symptoms does not always indicate alcohol overdose, they do serve as clear signs that you should immediately seek help. If on campus, call Public Saftey, 88 (from a campus phone) or 854-3362.

Before you go out you should always discuss the plan for the night with your friends.

Things to talk about are:

• Decide how much you are going to drink before you leave home.
• What should I do if I see you drinking too much?
• What happens if one of us wants to leave and the other doesn't?
• What if one of us hooks up with someone?
• What if I'm worried about you because your behavior is "weird"?

Additional Information

Alcohol and Substance Information Websites

The ASAP office offers individual and group counseling to students and is a resource where members of the community can seek advice or information about alcohol or substance use issues.

There is a lot of information available on the web. Some sites are ‘pro use,’ and their information may be based on opinion rather than scientific merit.

These are useful resources to learn more about drug and alcohol use, including the latest research:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Drug Abuse
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

Go Ask Alice - student friendly. The site has a lot of information about specific drugs but also answers questions about helping a friend with a drug or alcohol problem, coping with a hangover etc.

Recovery is a process that is different for different people, many people benefit from the support of a self help group. These are sites that present different options for support:

Alcoholics Anonymous
Marijuana Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Moderation Management - supports controlled drinking
Alanon - offers support to partners, children or anyone whose life has been impacted by the alcohol use of a loved one
Smart Recovery - recovery support