U' S' Naval Academy

1
Binge Drinking Blood Alcohol Concentration
(BAC)

• U. S. Naval Academy
• 3/C Alcohol Drug Education Curriculum
• Lesson II

Moderation goes a long way
2
Lesson Overview

• What is Binge Drinking
• What is Responsible Use
• What is the profile of a binge drinker
• How do you identify/handle alcohol poisoning
• What is BAC
• Tips for responsible drinking habits

3
Resources

• Maryland Highway and National Highway Traffic
  Safety Administrations
• (b) ETR Associates
• (c) Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other
  Drug Prevention 1993, 1997, and 1999 survey of
  17,600 students from 140 colleges and
  universities
• (d) National Council on Drug and Alcohol
  Dependence, Inc

4
Responsible Use

• How do you personally define responsible use of
  alcohol?

Does it match what is expected of you?
5
Responsible Use

• What is Responsible Use
• Drinking for enjoyment, not to get drunk
• Only drinking when allowed (legal and
  regulations)
• Staying in control of your actions (always
  accountable)

Intoxication is NEVER an excuse!
6
Binge Drinking

• Large amounts of alcohol in short period of time
• 5 drinks for men, 4 for women over about two
  hours
• One drink is
• 44 of college students nationally are binge
  drinkers
• 91 of identified binge drinkers describe
  themselves as light or moderate drinkers

1.5-ounce shot glass of 80 proof liquor
5-ounce glass of wine
12-ounce can of beer
Equals
Equals
Majority of college students abstain or drink in
moderation
7
Profile of a College Binge Drinker

• High School bingers are 3x more likely to college
  binge.
• Caucasians 2x as likely to binge compared to
  others.
• Students who say religious participation is not
  important to them are 2x as likely to be binge
  drinkers.
• Students who say athletic participation is very
  important or important to them are 1.5x more
  likely to be bingers.
• Fraternity/Sorority members 4x more likely to
  binge.

Everyone is at risk!
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Do you?

• Drink 4, 5, or more drinks in a row on one
  occasion?
• Binge drink two or more times per month?
• Need to drink to have fun?
• Often have a few drinks when things get tough?
• Do or say things you normally wouldnt after
  having just a little alcohol?
• Refuse or get upset when asked to stop drinking?
• Frequently talk about drinking or getting drunk?
• Have a hangover 2-3 times per month?

If so, you should consider why you accept this
behavior in yourself
9
Binge Drinking Echoes

• Have you ever said or heard
• Come on, you can drink another one
• Lets take him out and get him drunk
• If you can fight for your country you can get
  drunk
• We only get away from school once a week so lets
  do it right
• DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK.

10
Binge Drinking Echoes

• Have you ever said or heard
• Check out the new guy, hes never been out
  before
• How about a drinking game?
• Its not a party till someone passes out
• Put him in bed and let him sleep it off
• Ill watch him and make sure hes OK
• If we call anyone well all get in trouble

This is how peer pressure can drive someone to
binge drink?
11
Alcohol Poisoning

• When excessive amounts are ingested, the brain is
  deprived of oxygen. Eventually, the brain will
  shut down the voluntary functions that regulate
  breathing and heart rate.
• What happens?
• Unconscious or semi-consciousness.
• Slow respiration (breaths).
• Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin, and strong
  odor of alcohol.
• If you cannot wake someone get medical help!

Be a friendencourage moderation
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Alcohol Poisoning - Medical

• EMERGENCY ACTION
• Call x3-3333 (on Yard), 911 (off-yard), USNA
  OOW, and Brigade Medical Call immediately and
  Stay until help arrives.
• While awaiting transport turn intoxicated person
  on side and maintain that position by placing a
  pillow in the small of the person's back. This
  prevent aspiration (choking) should the person
  vomit.
• If a person appears to be "sleeping it off,
  realize that even though a person may be
  semi-conscious, alcohol already in the stomach
  may continue to enter the bloodstream and
  circulate throughout the body. The person's life
  may still be in danger. If you are having
  difficulty in determining whether an individual
  is actually intoxicated, contact Brigade Medical
  immediately--you cannot afford to guess.

13
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

• BAC is the amount of alcohol in the blood stream.
  
• A BAC level of .10 means that for every 1000
  drops of blood in the system, one of those drops
  is alcohol.
• BAC has nothing to do with how intoxicated you
  feel.
• Two people of the same body weight, who drink the
  same amount, should have similar BACs. Tolerance
  is responsible for one person seeming to be fine,
  while the other is passed out.
• Feeling fine when over the legal driving limit
  will not prevent you from getting a DUI/DWI

14
MARYLAND BAC LAW (.08)

• At .08 virtually all drivers experience a loss of
  critical driving skills.
• At .08, the risk of an accident is 3 times
  greater than a sober driver (9 times greater at
  .09).

15
Responsible Drinking Tips

• Pace your drinking.
• Consider alternating non-alcoholic decoy drinks
  (i.e. drinking plain orange juice every other
  drink).
• Dont drink on an empty stomach.
• Keep track of how much you are drinking and know
  how much alcohol is poured into every glass.
• Dont drink shots.
• After the first few drinks, your taste buds will
  be dulled to drink strength.
• Avoid possible interactions between alcohol and
  other drugs (including over-the-counter
  medications).

16
Responsible Drinking Tips

• Drink only if YOU want to.
• Dont just sit down. If active you will drink
  less and be more aware of your intoxication
  level.
• Avoid chugging contests or drinking games.
• Stop drinking before the party is over. Drink
  non-alcoholic beverages the last hour or so.
• Keep in mind that an added ice cube, a slightly
  smaller glass, or a decoy drink will go
  undetected by others and they may help you to
  resist well-meaning efforts (pressure) of peers.

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• Questions ???