Harm Reduction

1
Harm Reduction
2
Introduction

• This lesson provides tools for abuse-free
  drinking.
• After this training session a student shall be
  able to
• Describe the effects of a rising Blood Alcohol
  Content (BAC)
• Describe three simple techniques to help control
  your drinking.
• Describe two options in the event you cant
  control your drinking

3
Agenda

• Discuss harm reduction techniques
• -25 minutes
• Discussion of benefits to drinking responsibly
• -5 minutes

4
So, You Want To Get Drunk?

• If were going to go out tonight and get
  completely drunk, whats the best way to do it?

5
Now Lets Stay Sober!

• If we know how to get drunk, will applying the
  opposite knowledge work to keep you sober

6
Personal BAC Monitoring

• BAC Depends on
• Amount of blood
• increases with weight
• Amount of alcohol consumed over time
• the faster you drink, the higher the BAC the
  liver can only handle about one drink an hour
• Understanding the effects of arising BAC can be
  useful in controlling drinking

7
BAC Effects

• .02 Mellow feeling, less inhibited
• .05 Noticeable relaxation,
• coordination impairment begins
• .08-.10 Drunk driving limit,
• Definite impairment, reduction in
  reaction time
• .15 Clearly drunk
• .30 Many people pass out
• .40 Most pass out, some die
• .50 breathing stops, most die

8
So, Whats the Point

• If you know how to get drunk and what happens
  when you drink you have a choice whether to
  drink abusively or not.
• With some prior planning you can reduce you
  chance of harming your career from an alcohol
  incident

9
Use Your Stomach

• Eat before you drink.
• Choose drinks with mixers and low alcohol
  content.
• - calories slow down absorption
• - carbonation speeds up absorption

10
Use Your Mouth

• Slow down your drinking rate.
• One per hour
• Sip, dont chug.
• Too much too fast can kill
• Alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Dont quench your thirst with alcoholic beverages.

11
Use Your Head

• Plan how much you will drink before you begin
• Prepare for changes to your plan
• like pressures to drink more or others
  buying you alcohol
• Get involved in non-alcoholic activities.
• Limit your drinking to 3-4 drinks
• dont drink everyday
• no more than 12 drinks per week

12
What IF.

• What if even with the tools provided, options and
  choices available, you still drink too much?
• Talk to your CDAR or any member of the Coast
  Guard Addictions Team
• Self Referral beats an alcohol incident every
  time!

13
Resources

• Employee Assistance Program
• 1-800-222-0364
• Coast Guard Work Life
• 1-800-USCG-WLS
• Unit CDAR
• Commanding Officer
• Chaplain

14
Summary

• This training presented you with information so
  you can
• Describe the effects of a rising Blood Alcohol
  Content (BAC)
• Describe three simple techniques to help control
  your drinking.
• Describe two options in the event you cant
  control your drinking.
• How is this information useful to you?