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Alcohol Issues and Campus Life. GatorWell Health Promotion Services Division of Student Affairs 273-4450. College Students & Alcohol. Rationale for Discussion Alcohol Quiz Emergency Situations Low Risk Strategies. High-Risk Drinking. Periodic excessive drinking characterized as:.
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Alcohol Issues and Campus Life GatorWell Health Promotion ServicesDivision of Student Affairs 273-4450
College Students & Alcohol • Rationale for Discussion • Alcohol Quiz • Emergency Situations • Low Risk Strategies
High-Risk Drinking Periodic excessive drinking characterized as: • 5 or more drinks in one sitting (2 hours) for men • 4 or more drinks in one sitting (2 hours) for women
Alcohol Most Commonly Used Substance Among UF Students *Based on UF 2010 CORE Data
Negative Consequences Associated with Alcohol Use Among UF Students *Based on UF 2010 CORE Data
Students’ Drinking Effects: Life on or Around UF’s Campus *Based on UF 2010 CORE Data
Not Everybody Drinks *Consuming any alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal.
Gender Differences True or False: • Men can metabolize alcohol faster than women.
Sex True or False: • Alcohol is a sexual stimulant.
Sober Up True or False: • There is no way to sober up quickly.
Alcohol & Energy Drinks True or False • Mixing alcohol with energy drinks will sober you up.
Alcohol & Energy Drinks • Mixing a stimulant (caffeine) with a depressant (alcohol) can mask the depressant effects of alcohol. • Caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics, leading to dehydration. • Mixing caffeine can make your heart rate and blood pressure rise. • Mixing caffeine and alcohol can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol Poisoning True or False: • A person can die from alcohol poisoning.
Signs & Symptoms • Person is passed out or unresponsive and cannot be awakened. • Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin. • Slow breathing rate, with 10 seconds or more between breaths. • Vomiting while “sleeping” or passed out, & not waking up after vomiting. • Unable to stand or walk without help
First Aid for Alcohol Poisoning • Call 911 immediately. • Lay victim on their side (recovery position). • Stay with the person & monitor vital signs (e.g. breathing & pulse). • Be prepared to give emergency personnel as much information as possible
What Not To Do • Do not hesitate to call 911. • Do not leave the person alone. • Do not try to give the person anything to eat or drink. • Do not put the person in a cold shower. • Do not just let him/her “sleep it off.”
UF Medical Amnesty Policy • Created to promote a healthy and safe environment for all UF students. • Encourage students to call 911 in serious or life-threatening alcohol and/or drug abuse situations. • Person calling for help and person in crisis will not be referred for Student Code of Conduct charges regarding the alcohol or drug use. • Medical Amnesty Policy incidents will not be entered on the student’s official academic record.
Low Risk Strategies • Plan how you will get home before you go out. • Determine how much you will drink before you go out. • Eat before you drink. • Pace yourself, no more than one drink an hour. • Alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages. • Avoid shots. • Avoid drinking games, dares, and contests. • Start late - finish early. • Never leave your drink unattended.
Problem Drinking Behavior • Frequently drink to get drunk • Try to “solve” problems by drinking • Experience personality changes • Drink when they should not • Cause other problems
Addicted to Alcohol • Increased Tolerance • Inability to have a few drinks-keep bottles hidden for quick pick-me-ups • Miss work or skip class to party or to recover from partying • Obsess over alcohol • Often drink alone
Addicted to Alcohol Continued • Allow alcohol to effect job, education, family, or significant other. • Feel the need to drink before a stressful situation. • Spend a lot of time planning where and when to get next drink • Deny drinking • Dependence
How to Help a Friend • If you care, show concern. • Avoid blaming, lectures, and verbal attacks. • Keep an open mind about how your friend evaluates his or her situation. • Encourage non-drinking behavior by planning activities not related to alcohol. • Limit personal drinking when you are with your friend who has a problem. • Encourage friend to take advantage of campus resources
Bystander Behavior • Individuals who are concerned about a problem but don’t act on their concern. • May perceive a problem, but nothing is done to make a difference. • Can prevent social injustices by taking action when bad things occur to other students. • Bystanders should help students if they witness any form of misbehavior and other problems. • UF ‘U Matter, We Care’ Program
With over 50,000 students and not 1 to spare, the U Matter, We Care initiative serves as a recognizable umbrella for care related programs and resources for those in distress. The underlying philosophy of the U Matter, We Care initiative is that UF community members care about each other and proactively reach out to help when needed. U Matter, We Care extends UF’s caring culture by educating our community about signs and symptoms of distress, and providing those in distress the appropriate resources. www.umatter.ufl.edu ~ umatter@ufl.edu ~ 352-294-CARE
Make a difference. Be part of the solution. Who can help those in distress? Counseling and Wellness Center (352) 392-1575 ~ www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc Dean of Students Office (352) 392-1261 ~ www.dso.ufl.edu Housing and Residence Education (352) 392-2161 ~ www.housing.ufl.edu University Police Department (352) 392-1111 ~ www.police.ufl.edu International Center (352) 392-5323 ~ www.ufic.ufl.edu www.umatter.ufl.edu ~ umatter@ufl.edu ~ 352-294-CARE
Summary • Alcohol is the #1 health problem on college campuses. • A minority of students cause the majority of alcohol related problems. • If you choose to drink remember low risk drinking strategies. • Don’t ever hesitate to get someone the medical help they need. • Nobody likes a sloppy Gator.
Resources • GatorWell: 273-4450gatorwell.ufsa.ufl.edu • Counseling & Wellness Center: 392-1575www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc • Dean of Students Office: 392-1261 www.dso.ufl.edu • Student Health Care Center: 392-1161www.shcc.ufl.edu