Alcohol Issues and Campus Life
GatorWell Health Promotion Services
Division of Student Affairs
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
UF High-Risk Drinking Rates:
Fall 2005 – Spring 2010
80
70
51.1
Percentage
60
45.4
50
43.7
43.4
44.4
37.8
40
37.1
30
20
10
0
Fall 2005
Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2009 Spring 2010
Year
Alcohol Most Commonly Used
Substance Among UF Students
2010 Substance Use in Past 30 Days
70.0%
63.1%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
12.3%
20.0%
11.8%
0.8%
10.0%
0.0%
Alcohol
*Based on UF 2010 CORE Data
Tobacco
Marijuana
Ecstacy
Negative Consequences Associated with
Alcohol Use Among UF Students
50.2%
49.2%
31%
27%
18%
19.2%
12.6%
Hangover
Poor grades
*Based on UF 2010 CORE Data
Fight
Vomited
Drove
under the
influence
Blackout
Regret
Students’ Drinking Effects:
Life on or Around UF’s Campus
Second Hand Effects
32.7%
27.2%
28.4%
Messes up
living spaces
Ruins social
activities
23.2%
Interrupts
study
*Based on UF 2010 CORE Data
Feel unsafe
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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GatorWell: 273-4450
gatorwell.ufsa.ufl.edu
Counseling & Wellness Center: 392-1575
www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc
Dean of Students Office: 392-1261
www.dso.ufl.edu
Student Health Care Center: 392-1161
www.shcc.ufl.edu