By Tammy Gay
~
"Drinking heavily can damage your body
and could even be fatal."
- Ruth Staten, Ph.D., substance abuse specialist, University Health Service, and
associate professor, College of Nursing
~
|
LEXINGTON, KY (April 8, 1999) -- Nearly 14
million people in the United States - one in every 13 adults - abuse alcohol. In the
college-age range, binge-drinking, or having several drinks in one sitting, is the most
prevalent alcohol problem. A 1997 survey found more than 42 percent of college students
reported binge drinking at least once within two weeks of the survey. The University
Health Service, University Counseling and Testing Center, and the Health/Alcohol Education
Office at the University of Kentucky are teaming up during National Alcohol Screening Day
today to combat alcohol problems on UK's campus.
At booths set up at three locations on campus, students will have an opportunity to
complete an anonymous, written questionnaire about alcohol, and talk one-on-one with
trained health care individuals who can answer questions about support and/or treatment
for alcohol abuse.
"Drinking heavily can damage your body and could even be fatal," said Ruth
Staten, Ph.D., substance abuse specialist, University Health Service, and associate
professor, College of Nursing.
Officials define heavy drinking as five drinks in one sitting, but college students
often exceed that limit.
"If you drink a lot of alcohol in a short period, it may take up to 30 minutes for
the alcohol to fully affect your body," Staten said. "When it does it could
result in blacking out, making you unable to remember your actions the next day, or
passing out."
When people pass out after drinking too much, friends think their responsibility ends
when they put them to bed. However, leaving a person who has drunk a lot of alcohol alone
after he or she passes out could be dangerous and potentially fatal, Staten said.
With enough alcohol in that person's system, he or she could stop breathing or vomit
and choke to death. Some students have found that setting limits before starting the night
of partying can help control their drinking.
"Students have come back to me after I suggested they limit their drinking before
they start, and told me they were surprised how much fun they had without getting
intoxicated," Staten said.
"Drinking is a problem on every college campus in the United States. Every student
has been to a party and seen someone drinking too much. What they don't think about is
why, and what could happen to that person later that evening." |
