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STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES |
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General Information Mumps
recommendation |
What Is Binge Drinking? A. Drinking for many days in a row. B. Drinking five or more drinks in one sitting. C. Drinking to get drunk. D. A good way to risk getting injured, having unplanned sex, or getting involved in a fight. E. Drinking a "binge" -- a new drink that's a shot of tequila, a shot of rum, a shot of vodka, a shot of whisky... Answer: b, c, d.
Binge drinking is a concern on the CSUB campus -- and on campuses nationwide. Statistics show that it is very common. Among college freshmen, over half the men and one-third of women are binge drinkers. It's also clear that binge drinking is often related to injury and death.
Here are some ways to prevent risks and problems: · Understand the risk. National statistics show that: o Students who binge drink are 2 - 5 times more likely to experience problems from drinking. o Students who binge drink are twice as likely to die from injuries than non-bingers. o As many as 300,000 of the nation’s 12 million undergraduates will die from alcohol-related causes while in school. · Don't become a statistic! o Plan your drinking. Think about how much you want to drink before you drink. Often people over drink when they didn't intend it. o Remember that food, mood, and environment affect your susceptibility to alcohol. o Gauge your level of intoxication. Ask a friend to tell you if you seem to be drinking unsafely. o Don't ever force anyone to drink, pressure anyone else to drink, or "spike" drinks. This is not only rude, it can be harmful, even fatal. o Be aware that drinking games put you at risk for binge drinking, since most games encourage drinking a lot in a short period of time.
What You Can DoKnow what to do in an alcohol emergency. If you're with someone who has had too much to drink: · Don't let the person drink more alcohol. · Help the person avoid dangerous situations (driving, wandering outside, sexual encounters). · If unconscious, put the person on his/her side to prevent choking if vomiting occurs. · If unconscious, monitor the person's breathing, body temperature, and heart rate. If breathing and heart rate slow, body temperature drops, or the person is non-responsive, call an ambulance. · Be aware that binging -- while not necessarily alcoholic -- is certainly abuse. If you know someone, or are someone who binges and experiences problems, [ranging from blackouts (memory loss), to physical harm] ask for an expert, non-judgmental assessment of drinking patterns.
CSUB SHS (661) 654-2394 ED 12/05
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