RU Aware?
Page 5: The Myths and Facts of Alcohol
There are many little known facts and many known myths about alcohol
and its consumption.
Some of the myths include:
Myth: "The worst thing that can happen is that I’ll pass out and
have a hangover tomorrow."
The fact is that death can and does occur from drinking too much alcohol.
This is known as alcohol poisoning or acute alcohol intoxication and occurs
when the level of alcohol in the body acts as a poison, causing death from the
drug overdose. Another way that alcohol can cause death is due to alcohol
related accidents, such as drunk driving, falls. and suicide.
Myth: "People pass out from drinking all the time. It’s nothing to
worry about."
The fact is that you pass out due to the body’s inability to tolerate the
amount of alcohol that you have put into it. Alcohol is a central nervous
system depressant that works to slow down the heart rate, lower your blood
pressure, and slow your breathing rate. Once your brain has been depressed
enough by the alcohol, you pass out. The amount of alcohol it takes to make
you pass out is dangerously close to the amount of alcohol it takes to make
you dead!
Myth: "The best thing to do for someone who is drunk is to put them to
bed and let them sleep it off."
Although this is partly true, the fact is that a drunk person is helpless
and must be cared for. DO NOT LEAVE A DRUNK (INTOXICATED) PERSON
ALONE!!!!! Stay with the person, check their breathing, check their
skin temperature, and frequently try to wake them.
Myth: "If my friend passed out, I wouldn’t call for help. I
couldn’t live with myself if I got them in trouble".
The fact is that if you don’t call for help, your friend may not live to
be mad at you. When someone passes out from drinking too much, they are
unconscious and have consumed too much alcohol. This person is suffering
from alcohol poisoning and needs medical attention.
Did you know that. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Between 2% and 3% of the current American college population will die
from alcohol related causes.
- Thirty percent of college failure is alcohol related.
- Drinking and driving is the number one killer
of Americans between the ages of 17-24.
- In the U.S., 70 people are killed daily in drunk driving accidents, that
is roughly one person killed every 22 minutes.
- 69% of all drownings are alcohol related.
- One in every three suicides involves alcohol.
- The average female college student spends $150.00 per year on alcohol.
- The average male college student spends $300.00 per year on alcohol.
- The average DUI arrest costs the charged person $3000.00.
- Alcohol plays a role in 50% of all arrests.
- 90% of the vandalism that occurs on college campuses is a result of
alcohol use.
- 75% to 90% of campus rapes involve alcohol use.
- 75% of men and 50% of women involved in sexual assaults had been
drinking prior to the assault.
- The abuse of alcohol is present in 70% of all murders and other violent
crimes.
- 54% of alcoholics have an alcoholic parent.
- One out of 3 Americans don't drink - and that's okay too.
