Student Handbook 2022-23 | Page 32

increases . As BAC increases , alcohol ’ s effects become less pleasant and more dangerous . The rate at which a person ’ s BAC rises varies depending on :

• The number of drinks consumed ( The more consumed , the higher the BAC )

• How quickly drinks are consumed ( Alcohol consumed more quickly raises the BAC higher than when drinks are consumed over a longer period of time )

• Your gender ( Women generally have less water weight and more body fat per pound than men . Because alcohol doesn ’ t go into fat cells as easily , more alcohol remains in a women ’ s body .)

• Your weight ( More weight = more water ; water dilutes alcohol and lowers the BAC )

• Food in your stomach ( Food slows down alcohol absorption . What ’ s the best to eat ? Protein ! It takes the longest to digest )

Binge Drinking Binge drinking is a pattern of excessive alcohol use that increases a person ’ s blood alcohol content very rapidly . This typically happens when men consumer 5 or more drinks , and when women consumer 4 or more drinks , in about 2 hours .

• About 90 % of the alcohol consumed by U . S . youth under the age of 21 is in the form of bingeing .

Binge drinking is associated with many health problems , including but not limited to :

• Unintentional injuries ( e . g . car crashes , falls , burns , drowning )

• Unintentional injuries ( e . g . firearm injuries , sexual assault , domestic violence )

• Alcohol poisoning

• Unsafe sex and sexually transmitted diseases

• Unintended pregnancy

• Sexual dysfunction

• High blood pressure , stroke , and other cardiovascular diseases

• Liver disease

• Neurological damage

Safe Strategies

• Choose not to drink or wait until you are 21

• Choose to spend less time with friends who tend to drink more than you like

• Decide not to attend social events where heavy drinking / drug use will occur

• Identify healthy way to reduce stress

• Identify ways to be more comfortable in social situations without using alcohol / other drugs

• Use the buddy system and watch out for each other

• Avoid drinking games

• Avoid pre-gamming

• Drink slowly / Space drinks over time

• Eat before and while you are drinking

• Alternate alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks

• Be assertive and clear about choices

• Be prepared with reasons to not drink or stop drinking beyond a point

• Share goals with friends

• Never leave a drink unattended

• Have a designated driver

Alcohol Related Sexual Assault The model below focuses on the most common type of sexual assault that occurs between men and women who know each other and are engaged in social interaction prior to the assault , the prototypic university sexual assault situation . For more information : Alcohol- Related Sexual Assault : A Common Problem among university Students ( Abbey , 2002 )

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