Think Before You Drink

Alcohol intoxication, sometimes known as alcohol poisoning, is a serious and sometimes deadly consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Alcohol poisoning is closely correlated with high risk drinking.  High risk drinking is defined as consuming 4 or more drinks in one setting in the past 2 weeks for women and 5 or more drinks in one setting in the past 2 weeks for men. Drinking too much in a short period of time can affect your breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and gag reflex. This can cause the user to go into a coma and potentially lead to death. Despite the risks, more than 38 million Americans report binge drinking more than 4 times a month and consume an average of 8 drinks per binge (CDC, 2012).

Some of the most common signs of alcohol poisoning are:

• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Seizure
• Slow breathing (less than 8 breathes per minute)
• Blue tongue or pale skin
• Passing out

If you or someone you know experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. 

In the United States, a standard drink is one that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:

12 ounces of beer
5 ounces of wine
1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor

Virtually all students will be exposed to drinking directly or indirectly at some point in their college careers. Four out of five college aged students consume alcohol. There are many alarming statistics associated with the use of alcohol especially in this college age range of 18-24 (NIAAA, 2016). Many of these statistics are due to a lack of knowledge and experience when consuming alcohol.

• Death: 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol.
• Assault: More than 690,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
• Sexual Abuse: More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual abuse.
• Injury: 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 receive injuries while under the influence of alcohol.
• Academic Problems: Approximately 25% of college students report academic consequences from their drinking behaviors (including: missing class, falling behind, poor paper and exam scores, and overall lower grades).
• Health Problems/Suicide Attempts: More than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem and 1.5% of students indicate that they tried to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use.

What Can We Do For You?

Request a Presentation
Request a presentation today and the HERC staff will come to you! Whether it be for a residence hall, a Registered Student Organization, class, or other groups, the staff will provide tips, information, and interactive discussions about alcohol, related risks, and how to be safe when consuming alcohol. Visit http://www.eiu.edu/herc and fill out the form under “Request Form.”

EIU Collegiate Recovery Community
The EIU CRC provides an empowering environment where students living in, or seeking, long-term recovery from substance use disorders and other quality of life concerns can successfully realize their goals of academic success and an improved quality of life. The EIU CRC mission is to help students maintain a sober and health lifestyle in order to fully engage in their academic, social, and personal pursuits.  In the service of this mission, our aim is to:

• Provide a safe, supportive space for students with alcohol and drug issues to engage in sober activities with other recovering students
• Raise awareness about long-term recovery as a viable goal for students who struggle with addiction, as well as combat the stigma associated with alcoholism and drug addiction
• Foster supportive relationships with the friends, allies, and family members of those who struggle with addiction

For more information about the CRC, please visit http://www.eiu.edu/herc/CRC.php or contact Amanda Harvey at (217) 581-7786 or ajharvey2@eiu.edu.

Additional On-Campus Resources
Health Education Resource Center (HERC)
217-581-7786
www.eiu.edu/herc

Health Service
217-581-3013
www.eiu.edu/health
Counseling Center
217-581-3413
www.eiu.edu/counsctr

 Student Standards
217-581-3827
www.eiu.edu/judicial