Each year during the third week of October there is a national campaign known as National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW). This campaign was created by an organization known as the Inter-Association Task Force on Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse Issues (IATF) which strives to educate college students on how to make healthy and responsible decisions in school in order to be more successful in their future. Many organizations work with the IATF in order to spread the word of the campaign.
One of those organizations is Delta Zeta National Sorority with their “I Have a Choice” campaign, which also works to educate college-age students about the dangers of alcohol abuse, inspiring them to examine their lifestyles and make informed decisions regarding this and other substances. This campaign requires mandatory participation for all 158 collegiate chapters of Delta Zeta and often involves other Greek organizations as well as sports teams and the general campus population.
The easiest way to make responsible decisions when dealing with alcohol is to understand the facts. Here are some facts provided by the IATF;
•Heavy Alcohol Use – Five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least five different days in the past 30 days
•People aged 18-25 enrolled full-time in college are more likely to drink heavily than peers enrolled in college only part-time
•Only 27.2 % of college students have not drank alcohol in the past month
•Alcohol slows the absorption of many nutrients, leading to deprivation and impaired body function
Many people often forget that alcohol is a drug that is capable of being fatal in large amounts. Responsible decisions when deciding to consume alcohol can be extremely important when considering your health and overall scholastic success. When consuming alcohol it is best to limit your consumption to two servings per day, and no more than 14 servings per week, with a standard serving being 12 ounces of beer, eight ounces of malt liquor, five ounces of wine or one and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor. Mix your alcohol consumption with food and alternate with non-alcoholic beverages in order to regulate your intake. Avoid mixing alcohol with any over the counter or prescription drug; as this can lead to acute liver failure and other serious interactions.
Never forget that it is all right to stay sober. Bringing non-alcoholic drinks or “mocktails” out to parties or social events is always recommended. Also be aware of the people around you consuming alcohol. As a sober witness you could be essential in the recognition of somebody who has drank too much. Signs of serious alcohol poisoning can include but are not limited to; serious mental confusion, vomiting, slow or irregular breathing and hypothermia. Knowing these symptoms can be crucial in knowing when to get medical attention for a person who has drank too much.
Resources and information about alcohol and ways in which you can become educated about alcohol’s effects can be found at IATF.ORG as well as on the Center for Disease Contro’ls website at CDC.gov. If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol abuse, or if you just want more facts about alcohol abuse, The Counseling and Human Relations Center right here on campus is a great resource to take advantage of.