Alcohol Awareness Month
April 2013
Purdue University Calumet
Counseling Center
Gyte Room 005
(219) 989-2366
Alcohol Statistics
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention (2005):
• Alcohol is the most widely used and abused
drug by youth in the United States.
• More than 90% of the alcohol consumed by
youth is consumed through binge drinking.
Why are we telling you this?
Alcohol, the most commonly used addictive
substance, can cause severe harm to those who
use this drug, as well as those who are in the
drinker’s environment.
College students between 18 and 22 years of
age, in comparison to same-age non-college
peers, report higher levels of episodic
drinking.
-According to O’Malley & Johnston; 2002; and Wechsler, Dowdall,
Davenport, & Castillo; 1995 (as cited in Orchowski & Barnett, 2012)
How does alcohol affect your body?
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant.
This means that alcohol lowers your brain’s ability
to control behaviors and bodily functions.
Alcohol causes you to feel less inhibited in your
actions. Some symptoms of alcohol use include
slurred speech, sluggish walking, blurred vision,
and impairment to make rational decisions (in
comparison to your sober state of mind).
Standard measures of alcohol
One drink is defined as any drink that contains
0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. This includes:
• 12-ounces of regular beer or wine cooler
• 8-ounces of malt liquor (similar to beer, but with
a higher alcohol concentration)
• 5-ounces of wine
• 1.5-ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor
such as gin, rum, vodka or whiskey.
A fifth (or 750 ml) of hard liquor (40% alcohol)
is equal to 17 standard drinks.
Standard Drink Measurements
One drink=
12-ounces of beer
5-ounces of wine (one glass)/1 wine
cooler
1 shot or mixed drink
What is binge drinking?
Binge drinking occurs when one drinks in excess to
raise blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to above
0.08% grams percent or above.
For men:
▫ Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks during a
single occasion (such as a party or social event)
For women
▫ Binge drinking is define as 4 or more drinks during a
single occasion
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011)
Binge-drinking is a serious concern
• Binge drinking is a nationwide problem
• More than 38 million adults binge drink in the
United States, and the largest number of drinks
per binge is 8, on average
• Binge drinking can lead to numerous risky
behavior, such as physical and sexual violence
towards others, sexually transmitted diseases,
increased likelihood of developing certain
cancers and an increased chance of becoming
addicted to other substances
Myths about alcohol consumption
Myth: “I can drink and still be in control.”
Fact: Drinking impairs your judgment and
ability to make rational decisions. Therefore,
drinking may increase your likelihood to
engage in risky behaviors such as criminal
activity and unprotected sex. You may also
be at a greater risk of being the victim of date
rape while intoxicated.
More Myths about alcohol consumption
Myth: “Drinking isn’t too dangerous”
Fact: Statistics tell otherwise. One in three 1824-year-olds who are admitted to hospitals for
serious injuries are intoxicated.
Myth: “I can quickly sober up when I want to”
Fact: The only thing that can sober you up is
TIME. It takes about three hours for your body
to eliminate the alcoholic content of two
drinks (depending on weight). Drinking water
or eating food will not sober you up quickly.
Even More Myths about alcohol
consumption
One of the biggest (and most dangerous) myths of all….
Myth: “I can manage to drive well after a few drinks”
Fact: Every drink you consume affects your mind and
body and slows your reaction time. About half of all fatal
car crashes among 18-24-year-olds involved someone
who had been drinking alcohol. Even if your blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) is below 0.08%, you may
still be impaired. If you are below 21 years of age, it is
illegal to drink and you may lose your driver’s license if
caught drinking and driving.
Long-term effects of alcohol abuse
• Alcohol abuse or dependence
• Social problems such as unemployment,
relationship concerns, family problems, violent
behavior towards others, and lost productivity
• Increased risk for cancer of the liver, throat,
mouth, larynx, and esophagus
• Increased risk of psychiatric problems, such as
anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts
(National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.)
Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages
•Combining caffeinated
beverages with alcohol can be
a deadly combination
•Since caffeine is a stimulant,
you may not experience fatigue
and will be unable to gauge
your alcohol consumption
•Combining caffeinated
alcoholic beverages with
prescription medications may
lead to severe side effects or
death
Practicing responsible drinking
•Be mindful of how drinking affects yourself and
others around you
•If you are unsure of your safety, such as when
going to a social event, bring others you trust with
you
•Remember, the legal age of alcohol consumption
in the United States is 21
Drinking alcohol always carries risks. Be
aware of how alcohol can affect your mind and
body.
What to do if you or a friend consumes
too much alcohol?
-Call Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Dial 911
• If you are on campus, call University Police at (219)
989-2911
-If you live in University Housing, notify an
administrator in the building.
-Do not leave the individual alone. An individual
with alcohol poisoning may vomit and choke if left
unattended.
-If you have consumed too much alcohol, contact a
trusted friend or an individual to stay with you.
Signs of alcohol poisoning
• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or the person
cannot be woken
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Slow breathing
• Irregular breathing
• Low body heat (i.e. Hypothermia), bluish skin color
or pale skin color
Remember that a person’s BAC levels will continue to
rise even after the person has passed out. Do not
allow the person to simply “sleep it off.” If you have
concerns, call 911 immediately.
(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2007)
CAGE Alcohol Screening Instrument
CAGE
• Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your
drinking?
• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Eye opener: Have you ever had a drink first thing in the
morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a
hangover?
Answering “yes” to two or more of the previous statements
may warrant further examination into a possible alcohol
abuse problem.
Note: This instrument is for educational purposes. You should visit a
licensed mental health professional if you believe you have a problem
controlling the amount of alcohol you consume, and/or if alcohol is
negatively affecting your life.
Alcohol and mental health screening
tools
The U-Lifeline Self-Evaluator is an online confidential tool
which screens for a variety of mental disorders, as well as
for alcohol and other drug dependency.
▫Access U-Lifeline’s confidential mental health screener
The SMH online screening program provides an
anonymous and quick screener for depression, alcohol,
and eating disorders. This will provide you with information
to decide whether professional consultation is necessary.
▫Visit the Screening for Mental Health, Inc. Online Screening. From here
click on Screening Locator to choose your state and university.
Where can I find help?
For questions or concerns about alcohol use, or
for referrals to mental health and substance
abuse treatment facilities in the community,
please contact the Purdue University Calumet
Counseling Center located in Gyte room 005 at
(219) 989-2366.
Services at the PUC Counseling Center are
kept private and confidential as defined by
Indiana state law.
Mental Health and Addictions
Resources
211 Information and Referral. Northwest Indiana
Community Action Corp. Dial 211 (local residents) or
(219) 794-1829. For TTY, dial 888-814-7597. Provides
information and referrals for Northwest Indiana. You may
also search the online directory of services.
Purdue University Calumet Couple and Family
Therapy Center. 1247 East 169th Street Hammond, IN
46324. CFTC offers counseling services on a sliding fee
scale based on family size and income.
• Phone: (219) 989-2027
• Website
More Mental Health and Addictions
Resources
AA Central Service Organization. 7207 Indianapolis Blvd.,
Hammond, IN 46324. Provides information and referrals for
support group locations and hotlines.
• Phone: (219) 844-6695
• Websites: Alcoholics-Anonymous.org or Al-Anon.org
Treatment4addiction.com. This comprehensive online
resource directory offers a treatment guide for those looking for
information on substance abuse or serious to moderate
physiological conditions.
• Phone: 800-781-7840
• Website
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, October 28). Fact Sheets: Alcohol Use and Health.
Retrieved from CDC.gov
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. Understanding Alcohol and Alcoholism. Retrieved
from NCADD.org
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2007, July 11). Facts about Alcohol Poisoning. Retrieved
from College Drinking Prevention.gov
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Drinking in America: Myths, Realities, and Prevention
Policy. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention, 2005. Available at UDETC, PDF, Accessed February 20, 2012.
Orchowski, L. M., & Barnett, N. P. (2012). Alcohol-related sexual consequences during the transition from high
school to college. Addictive Behaviors, 37, 256-263.
O’Malley, P., & Johnston, L. D. (2002). Epidemiology of alcohol and other drug use among American college
students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 14, 23-39.
Wechsler, H., Dowdall, G. W., Davenport, A., & Castillo, S. (1995) Correlates of college student binge
drinking. American Journal of Public Health, 85, 921-926.