Frequently Asked Questions
| "Learn about the facts of drinking and drug use, and signs of abuse." |
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What are some of the negative effects
of alcohol and other drug use?
Alcohol and other drugs can have many effects on
your behavior and your ability to make decisions.
As a result, drinking heavily can compromise your
personal safety by:
- Putting you at increased risk for unwanted and
unintended experiences
- Slowing your reactions to potentially risky
situations
- Disabling your sound judgment
- Making you less aware of your surroundings
- Making it hard for you to recognize someone
else's level of intoxication
- Inhibiting your ability to communicate what
you do and don't want
- Limit your ability to practice safer sex
What are the signs of an
alcohol or drug emergency?
If you witness the following signs of an alcohol
or drug emergency, act quickly and call 911 for help
if you see any of these signs:
Check for:
- Unconscious and/or unresponsive
- Any trouble breathing
- Disorientation or stupor
- Panic
- Unable to stand /walk without help
- Bluish and/or cold to the touch
- Vomiting blood
- Vomiting related to drug ingestion
- Any injury + intoxication
- Convulsions
What do I do if I witness
an alcohol emergency?
Call 911 . Act quickly.
Care for the person until help
arrives. This may be the greatest thing you ever
do in the name of friendship. For safety, check the
following:
- Airway: Is it clear?
- Breathing: Is it shallow or labored?
- Consciousness: Is the person conscious?
- Initiate CPR as needed
- Try to wake the person and turn them on their
side with one arm under their head, face tilted
toward the floor (if they vomit, turning them on
their side decreases the risk of their airway being
blocked)
- Try to find out what they have taken, how much,
and when
- Reduce stimuli; create a quiet, safe place
- Try to keep them calm and conscious
- Stay with them
What can I do to be a
moderate drinker?
If you choose to drink alcohol, here are some tips
to maintain moderation:
- Plan ahead
- Set a reasonable limit and stick to it
- Think quality, not quantity, and keep track
- Slow down-it isn't a race
- Remember that it takes about 20 minutes to feel
the effects of a single drink
- Sip your drinks and make them last
- Drink water between alcohol drinks to keep yourself
hydrated
- Eat before you drink alcohol
- Check your mood-alcohol intensifies it! (Best
to pass on the alcohol if you are upset, angry,
sad, depressed, or anxious)
- Measuring is smart! Know how much alcohol is
in your drink
- If you choose to drink away from home, have
a designated driver
- Everyone chooses not to drink alcohol sometimes;
abstaining for the evening is always an option
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