College and university presidents agree, the majority of vandalism, violence and physical injury occurring on college campuses is a result of short-term binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined by the Harvard Alcohol Study as four or more drinks in a row in one sitting for women, and five or more drinks for men. Another national study conducted by the CORE Institute supports the concern that students drinking to get drunk are at highest risk for injury, assault, academic problems and depression.
47% of binge drinkers in college experienced, over the past year, 5 or more problems such as poor classroom performance, arguments and fights, unplanned sexual activity or overdoses requiring medical help.
Knowing when to get help. The first step to treating alcohol abuse is to admit you have a problem. A checklist of warning signs:
The first amount of alcohol reaches the brain about 30 seconds after ingestion. It passes first through the stomach and small intestine, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. When it reaches the brain,alcohol acts primarily on nerve cells.
One drink for the average person creates a feeling of relaxation. Two to three drinks in an hour can affect the drinker's judgment and lower inhibitions. Five drinks in two hours will raise the BAC (blood alcohol content) to .10, the point of legal intoxication in most states.
Eliminating alcohol takes time. About 90% is metabolized by the liver; the rest is eliminated through the lungs and urine. Eliminating a half ounce of alcohol takes about one hour, and drinking a lot in a short period of time will often cause a hangover – the sign of alcohol poisoning. Symptoms include nausea, disorientation, headache, irritability and tremors.
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