Binge Drinker: Male who consumed 5 or more drinks in a row; Female who consumed 4 or more drinks in a row.
Occasional Binge Drinker: Students who binge 1 or 2 times in a two week period.
Frequent Binge Drinker: Students who binge 3 or more times in a two week period
Facts About Binge Drinking
Frequent binge drinkers were 8 times more likely than non-binge drinkers to miss a class, fall behind in schoolwork, get hurt or injured, and damage property.
More than 60% of college men and 50% of college women who binge drink report that they drink and drive.
Binge drinking during college may be associated with mental health disorders such as compulsiveness, depression or anxiety, or early deviant behavior.
In a national study 91% of women and 78% of men who were frequent binge drinkers considered themselves to be moderate.
Binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning.
Binge Drinking on a College Campus
According to a 1997 national study nearly half of all college students surveyed drank four or five drinks in one sitting in the previous two weeks.
39% of college women compared to 50% of college men binge drank within a two week period.
Frequent binge drinkers consume 72% of all alcohol that college students drink.
Each year, college students spend $5.5 billion on alcohol (mostly beer). This is more than they spend on books, soda, coffee, juice and milk combined. On a typical campus the average student will spend $466 annually on alcohol.
Alcohol Poisoning: What can happen?
Victim can choke on their own vomit
Breathing slows down or stops
Heart beats become irregular of stop
Hypothermia (low body temperature, leads to cardiac arrest)
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar, leads to seizures)
Irreversible brain damage
Many times the victim because of binge drinking does not realize that he/she has taken a fatal dose until it is too late
Critical Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused.
No response when pinching the skin.
Vomiting while sleeping.
Seizures.
Slow breathing (less than eight per minute).
Irregular breathing (10 seconds of more between breaths).
Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness.
Bystanders' Responsibility
Know the danger signs.
Do not wait for all symptoms to be present.
Be aware that a person who has passed out may die.
Don't try to guess the level of drunkenness, call 911 if in doubt.
What to Do if You Suspect Alcohol Poisoning
Call 911 or the Emergency Medical Number.
Stay with the victim.
Keep the victim from choking on vomit.
Tell emergency medical technicians the symptoms and if you know how much alcohol the victim drank. Prompt action may save the life of a friend, or your own.
Common Myths About Alcohol Poisoning
Drinking black coffee will help.
Taking a cold shower will help.
Walking it off will help.
Sleeping it off will help.
These conventional treatments do not help: pumping the stomach, syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting, activated charcoal, narcan (to reverse the effects of central nervous system depressant).