With a new year of school just beginning, one of the most common health concerns students face is developing a mature and healthy relationship with alcohol. The following facts can be a good start to understanding alcohol a bit better.
• Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down your brain and nervous system. Caffeine and similar drugs are stimulants, which means that they speed up your brain and nervous system. Putting both together really messes up your body, and not in a good way. It is best to keep the two separate to avoid some dangerous situations.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overconsumption of alcohol is responsible for about 88,000 deaths and 2.5 million years of potential life lost in the U.S. every year.
• When passing out or sleeping after drinking too much, it is very possible to choke to death on your own vomit, and this is actually more common than people may think.
• If you want to look out for friends who have had a lot to drink, learn the Bacchus manoeuvre (also known as the recovery position) so you can put them in it and prevent them from choking on vomit. When in doubt, always call 911. It`s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to alcohol-related risks and emergencies.
• Keep an eye on your friends, and look out for your fellow partiers and clubbers. If you see something that looks wrong, dangerous or concerning, there is a good chance that it might be, so don’t be afraid to speak up, offer help, call 911 or call campus security to ask for help.
Hopefully these tips will help you with drinking smarter and safer. For more information, Brock Student Health Services (Located on campus in Harrison Hall, and at extension 3243) offers assistance with alcohol abuse issues, and you can always talk to a doctor or contact Brock’s free personal counselling services (brocku.ca/personal-counselling) for more help.
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