ALCOHOL and OTHER DRUGS
ALCOHOL
BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Content and is the number of milligrams of alcohol per milliliter in your bloodstream. In Pennsylvania, the legal definition of drunkenness is a BAC of 0.08.
If you are a 120-lb. woman who drinks four drinks in one hour, your BAC will be 0.17. If you are a 160-lb. man who consumes five drinks in one hour, your BAC will be 0.14. Of 100 people with a BAC greater than 0.4, statistics show that one will die.
Most people think that if a few drinks make them feel good, then a lot of drinks will make them feel even better. But that’s not true. This is what we call the biphasic (or two-part) effect of alcohol. Here is what happens.
People tend to feel better as their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises to about a level of .05/.06. That’s the first phase or part of the process. If someone drinks more and their BAC rises above .055, the negative effects of drinking increase and the consequences more severe. That’s the second phase or part of the process. So, it’s clearly smart to limit alcohol use to remain in the first phase and avoid progression into the second phase.
Because different drinks contain varying amounts of pure alcohol, you should be aware of the proportion of alcohol in everything you drink. A 12-ounce beer (5% alcohol by volume) has the same amount of alcohol as a 1.5 ounce shot of liquor (40% alcohol) or a 5-ounce glass of wine (13% alcohol).
However, we know that many students do not consume alcohol in a standard size glass. Many students underestimate how much alcohol they are consuming because they are consuming alcohol in red cups.
No, taken before or while drinking, many medications will multiply the effects of alcohol on your body. Aspirin and other drugs prevent the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (found in the stomach and liver) from breaking down alcohol, thus slowing the liver's ability to decrease BAC. In other words, alcohol will accumulate in your blood faster and have longer lasting effects. Women on birth control pills will process alcohol slower than other women because the hormones in the pill and alcohol both rely on the liver for processing.
There are many serious health complications that can arise from
excessive drinking. Someone may develop neurological problems, including
impaired motor skills, deterioration of vision, seizures, and permanent
brain damage. Long-term heavy drinking will also affect the heart,
causing shortness of breath, enlarged heart and abnormal heart rhythm.
Someone who has been a long-time heavy drinker will also be more likely
to develop mouth and throat cancer and also to have high blood
pressure which also puts them at greater risk for stroke and heart attack.
Since alcohol is metabolized by the liver, someone is also at greater risk for alcoholic fatty liver and cirrhosis of the liver. We also know the use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Excessive alcohol use is also known to increase the risk of developing several other types of cancer.
Having a higher tolerance is a red flag for abusive alcohol use.
Higher tolerance means you can ingest more alcohol without showing signs
of intoxication. If you drink frequently, your body will become
accustomed to the effects of alcohol and you will not feel as
drunk, but your BAC continues to rise. Increasing your tolerance will
lead you to drink more to achieve the same buzz, leading to greater
liver damage, increased risk for alcoholism and other health
complications. Someone who has an increasing tolerance is displaying one
sign of problem alcohol use and it is a cause for concern, not
celebration.
Another red flag for concern is blacking out. Blacking out is NOT a normal response to alcohol. It is also NOT the same as passing out. Someone who has blacked out can talk, walk, dance, drive, have sex... because they are still conscious but are not forming any memory about what is happening. Memories are not encoded in their short-term memory and they may experience partial or total amnesia about events that occurred while they were intoxicated. If someone often reports blacking out as a result of their alcohol use, this is a reason to express concern and seek support.
Waking up after a night of drinking is never fun. As part of a hangover, you are likely to experience a headache, body aches, fatigue, heartburn, nausea, and dehydration. Nothing can truly cure a hangover except time, which will vary according to gender, size, weight, tolerance, medications taken, food consumption, dehydration, and rate of alcohol consumption.
However, you can lessen the symptoms by drinking lots of water to combat the dehydration caused by alcohol. Be particularly careful taking any medications. Like alcohol, aspirin can irritate the lining of the stomach, increasing your chances of developing stomach ulcers. Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) is metabolized by the liver, and when combined with alcohol, can cause liver damage. Thus, to avoid further damage to your body, resist taking medication for a hangover.
To avoid suffering a hangover you should consider modifying your drinking habits. Not only should you drink less, be sure to eat while drinking, alternate alcoholic drinks with soda or water, keep track of your use and make a plan that you share with trusted friends.
Known as alcohol poisoning or alcohol overdose, it can lead to death because too much alcohol is in the blood. Most often this is caused by rapid ingestion of alcohol from chugging, funneling, drinking games or doing shots, and consuming drinks with a high percentage of alcohol. Many of these behaviors that can lead to alcohol-related emergencies happen through pre-gaming activities. Even if a person passes out, the blood alcohol content (BAC) can continue to rise because alcohol continues to be absorbed from the intestinal tract.
Symptoms Include:
- Passing in and out of consciousness
- Passed out or unconscious
- Reduced heart rate
- Used other drugs with alcohol
- Vomiting uncontrollably, or vomiting while sleeping or while passed out
- Cold, clammy skin
- Bluish-colored nail bed or skin
- Breathing slowly or with irregularity (less than 8 breaths per minute), or has stopped breathing entirely
- A head injury
It is important to understand that JUST ONE of these symptoms is cause for concern. MORE THAN ONE of these symptoms absolutely constitutes an alcohol emergency. It is important that you do not leave your friend alone, that you call for help (610-519-4444), and that you place them in a position where they will not choke on their vomit. Check out the image below for the Bacchus Maneuver that shows how you should position your drunk friend.
What you do to help depends on the state of your friend. Your friend doesn't have to be passed out or throwing up to need your help. Other signs for concern:
- inability to maintain balance or eye contact
- slurred speech
- shortness of breath
- abnormal body temperature (either too hot or too cold)
If you observe any of these symptoms in your friend, but you're not sure whether to get medical help, err on the side of caution and call VEMS 610-519-4444 or 911 (if you are off campus). If you don't believe it's necessary to seek medical attention, here's what you should do:
- Stop the person from drinking alcohol.
- Find a quiet place for the person to sit and relax (walking around is not the best idea if the person has lost coordination).
- Offer water, but remember that nothing except time can help a person "sober up."
- If your friend wants to lie down, make sure he/she lies on their side and place something behind their back to prevent them from rolling over.
- Monitor your friend's breathing while he/she sleeps to make sure it is not abnormally shallow or slow (less than 8 breaths per minute is considered shallow or slow).
Three General Rules:
- Don't leave your friend alone, even if the person is conscious. Watch for signs of alcohol poisoning.
- Don't assume that they will make it home safely. The full effect of the alcohol may not have hit yet. If they start to vomit, have lost motor coordination, or is no longer coherent, it is necessary to seek medical attention.
- Don't assume an unconscious person is sleeping. If someone cannot be aroused, it is a sign of alcohol poisoning not of deep sleep!
How can you help?
If you observe any ONE of the above, call VEMS 610-519-4444 or 911 (if you are off campus) immediately. Continue efforts to wake your friend, make sure they are lying on their side to prevent choking on vomit, and closely monitor breathing.
Check out the image below to see how you should position your drunk friend in three simple steps:
Set limits. One way to make sure you do not drink to excess is
to decide how many drinks your body can safely handle and do not exceed
this limit during the course of the night. Unfortunately, it is not
always easy to keep track, especially if you have already pre-gamed or
when playing drinking games. Such games may provide entertainment and a
chance to feel included in a social group, but they contribute to
excessive drinking. Chugging alcohol will delay awareness of how much
alcohol is in your body because of the time it takes to raise your BAC.
Eat a meal before you drink. Food will slow the entrance of
alcohol into your bloodstream by preventing it from entering your small
intestine which absorbs alcohol faster than the stomach. High protein
foods, like cheese, are best at slowing down the effects of alcohol, and
thus help prevent a hangover.
Steer clear of carbonation and shots. The carbon dioxide of
carbonated drinks, like beer and soda, increases the pressure in your
stomach, forcing alcohol out through the lining of your stomach into the
bloodstream. The high concentration of alcohol in shots also means that
your BAC will increase rapidly.
Alternate with non-alcoholic beverages. Not only will this slow your consumption of alcohol, but it will also counter the dehydrating effects of alcohol.
Don't combine alcohol with other drugs. Alcohol's effects are
heightened by medicines that depress the central nervous system, such as
antihistamines, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and some
painkillers. Other drugs have harmful interactions with alcohol as well,
so it is best to consult a physician before drinking while on
medication. The combination of illegal drugs and alcohol can also have
adverse effects.
Don't drink if you're suffering fatigue or feeling depressed. Exhaustion magnifies the effect of alcohol on the body, and alcohol exacerbates negative mood. For someone who is struggling emotionally, alcohol is an ineffective coping strategy.
If you think a friend has a drinking problem, you may want to confront the problem, offer support, and get involved in some sensitive discussions or situations. You can help. Don’t step back believing it’s none of your business. Excessive drinking and drinking problems can be harmful to the drinker and the people around him or her. Many people with drinking problems say that talking with their friends helped them to seek professional help or gain better control of their drinking habits.
Talking to Your Friend about the Problem
- If you care, show your concern. Don’t be too polite to bring up the topic, but be tactful. Ask whether your friend feels he/she has a drinking problem and continue asking questions that encourage frankness.
- Avoid blaming, sermons, lectures, and verbal attacks.
- Keep an open mind about how your friend evaluates his or her situation. And know your own limits — don’t continue the discussion if you start getting impatient or angry. You may find that short, periodic discussions work best.
Once you have raised the subject, your friend may respond defensively, deny having a problem, or agree that he/she has a problem with alcohol.
Dealing with Defensiveness
Make it clear to your friend that you dislike the behavior, not him or her. If you drink, be honest about your own drinking and attempts to control it. Understand that your friend’s defensiveness is based on a fear of facing the problem and it isn’t directed at you.
Dealing with Denial
If your discussions have no effect on your friend’s drinking behavior, you should say how the drinking problem affects you. For example, you can say how hard it is for you to enjoy going out together because you are afraid your friend will get sick, pass out, or otherwise embarrass you both.
Dealing with Agreement
If at some point your friend agrees that drinking is creating personal problems, you may want to ask:
- What is it about your drinking that causes you problems?
- What do you think you can do about it?
- What are you going to do about it?
- What kinds of support do you need from me to stop or limit your drinking?
You may also want to have some referrals ready, such as the University Counseling Center, the Assistant Dean for Alcohol and Drug Intervention, and/or local community resources.
Drinking Habits
Below is a general list of drinking behaviors as it relates to moderate and problem drinkers and alcoholics. It is not necessary for a person to have every behavior to fit into a category, and your friend may have some behaviors that are not listed. However, this list can give you an idea of whether your friend has a problem and how severe it is.
Moderate drinkers typically:
- Drink slowly (no fast gulping)
- Know when to stop drinking (do not drink to get drunk)
- Eat before or while drinking
- Never drive after drinking
- Respect non-drinkers
- Know and obey laws related to drinking
Problem drinkers typically:
- Frequently drink to get drunk
- Try to “solve” problems by drinking
- Experience personality changes — may become loud, angry, or violent, OR silent, remote, or reclusive
- Drink when they should not — before driving or going to class or work
- Cause other problems — harm themselves, family, friends, and strangers
People addicted to alcohol typically:
- Spend a lot of time thinking about drinking and planning where and when to get the next drink
- Keep alcohol hidden for quick pick-me-ups
- Start drinking without conscious planning and lose awareness of the amount consumed
- Deny drinking
- Often drink alone
- Feel the need to drink before facing a stressful situation
- May have “blackouts” — cannot remember what they did while drinking although they may have appeared “normal” to people at the time
- Miss work or skip class as a result of hangovers or choosing to drink
- Go from having hangovers to more dangerous withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens (“DTs”), which can be fatal
- Have or cause major problems — with the police, an employer, family, or friends
Setting Limits
Until your friend decides to face the facts, you may need to set limits on what you will do with or for him/her. Let your friend know what the limits are and stick to them. For example, you might tell your friend that you are not going to give him/her attention during or after drinking, that you don’t want any drinking in your room or apartment, and that you don’t want him/her showing up to see you after drinking.
- Knowing and sticking to your limits is especially important if your friend is denying a drinking problem and wants you to accept excuses or make exceptions for poor behavior.
- Don’t be manipulated into hiding or dumping alcohol, or covering for your friend in front of family, dates, or other friends. Protecting or lying for him/her will not work. Instead, it enables your friend to continue inappropriate or destructive behavior.
- While it is important to be sensitive to what your friend needs to control the problem, you must remember that you can’t control your friend’s life. At some point, your responsibility ends. Don’t feel guilty if you reach that point.
Progress, Not Perfection
In some cases, even though your friend agrees that there is a problem, he/she may be unable or unwilling to act as quickly or directly as you would like. Keep in mind that alcohol-related habits are hard to end or control. If your friend is struggling, try to:
- Remain supportive by recognizing the effort your friend puts into even small attempts to limit drinking.
- Be prepared for some steps backward as well as forward.
- Help your friend make contact with other recovering problem drinkers.
- Encourage non-drinking behavior by planning activities not related to alcohol and by limiting your own drinking when you are with your friend
Helping a friend with a drinking problem is not easy, but it is very important! Know that you are not alone and use resources on your campus or in your community to help your friend and be sure to take care of yourself in the process.
CAMPUS RESOURCES
- University Counseling Center
610-519-4050
- Office of Health Promotion
610-519-7407
healthbytes@villanova.edu
- Local AA Meetings
- Tuesday, 8 pm: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
104 Louella & Lancaster Avenues, Wane
- Wednesday, 7 pm: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
104 Louella & Lancaster Avenues, Wayne
- Wednesday, 7:30 pm: St. Martin’s Church at Bolingbrook Mansion
424 King of Prussia Road, Radnor
- Thursday, 8 pm: Church of the Redeemer
230 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr
- Thursday, 8:30 pm: Radnor United Methodist Church
930 Conestoga Road, Bryn Mawr
- Friday, 8 pm: St. Joseph’s University
5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia
Campion Building, Sunroom 2 (off Cardinal Avenue)
- Friday, 8 pm: St. Katharine of Sienna Parish Hall
104 S. Aberdeen Avenue, Wayne
- Tuesday, 8 pm: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
William Way LGBT Community Center
1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia www.waygay.org
For a list of additional meetings, visit www.aasepia.org
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
- Al-Anon/Alateen (for family members and friends)
(888) 4AL-ANON (425-2666)
- National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
24/7 Hotline, English and Spanish: (800) 729-6686
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
(212) 269-7797
24/7 referrals: (800) NCA-CALL (622-2255)
OTHER DRUGS
DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS
Drugs are classified according to their common effects and actions on the mind and body.
DEPRESSANTS
Depressants slow normal brain function. Because of this effect, depressants are often used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.
Although the different depressant drugs work uniquely in the brain, it is through their effect on GABA activity that produces a drowsy or calming effect. GABA works to decrease brain activity.
Despite their prescription for treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders, depressants also carry high addictive potential. The withdrawal effects from long-term depressant use can be life-threatening and produce some of the worst consequences of any other drug classifications. This includes alcohol.
Examples include: alcohol, Valium, Xanax, Librium, and barbiturates.
HALLUCINOGENS
Hallucinogens are drugs which cause altered perception and feeling. Hallucinogens have powerful mind-altering effects and can change how the brain perceives time, everyday reality, and the surrounding environment. They affect regions of the brain that are responsible for coordination, thought processes, hearing, and sight. They can cause people to hear voices, see things, and feel sensations that do not exist.
Hallucinogens change the way the brain works by changing the way nerve cells communicate with one another.
Hallucinogens possess a moderate potential for addiction with very high potential for tolerance, moderate level of psychological dependence, and low potential for physical dependence. Most of the risks associated with hallucinogen use are associated with the risk for personal injury and life-threatening accidents.
Examples include: LSD, PCP, MDMA (Ecstasy), marijuana, mescaline, and psilocybin.
OPIATES
Opiates are powerful painkillers.They are made from opium, a white liquid in the poppy plant. Opiates produce a quick, intense feeling of pleasure followed by a sense of well-being and calm.
Long-term opiate use changes the way the brain works by changing the way nerve cells communicate with one another. If opiates are taken away from opiate-dependent brain cells, many of them will become overactive. Eventually, cells will work normally again if the person recovers, but they cause wide range of withdrawal symptoms that affect the mind and the body.
As with many other drugs, opiates possess very high addictive potential.
Examples include: heroin, morphine, codeine, and Oxycontin.
STIMULANTS
Stimulants are a class of drugs that elevate mood, increase feelings of well-being, and increase energy and alertness. Stimulants can cause the heart to beat faster and will also cause blood pressure and breathing to elevate. Repeated use of stimulants can result in paranoia and hostility.
Stimulants change the way the brain works by changing the way nerve cells communicate with one another. Learn more about how the brain is impacted by stimulant use.
As with many other drugs, stimulants possess very high addictive potential.
Examples include: cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), nicotine, and caffeine.
The Controlled Substances Act regulates the availability of drugs in the United States, whether they can be prescribed, and to what extent they can be prescribed. Drugs are classified into one of five schedules. Drugs in the Schedule I category are most restrictive and the least restrictive drugs are in Schedule V.
Schedule I drugs:
- Have high potential for abuse;
- Have no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States;
- Have a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision.
Schedule II drugs:
- Have high potential for abuse;
- Have currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States;
- May lead to severe psychological or physical dependence when abused.
Schedule III drugs:
- Have potential for abuse less than that of Schedule I and II drugs;
- Have currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States;
- May lead to moderate or low psychological or physical dependence when abused.
Schedule IV drugs:
- Have low potential for abuse;
- Have currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States;
- May lead to limited psychological or physical dependence when abused.
Schedule V drugs:
- Have low potential for abuse relative to Schedule IV drugs;
- Have currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States;
- May lead to limited psychological or physical dependence when abused relative to Schedule IV drugs.
The way in which a drug affects the mind and body is determined by the way in which it is administered. Drugs must, eventually, enter the bloodstream to have an effect. How long the drug lasts (determined by the drug itself and how it enters the bloodstream), how fast it acts (how direct the route to the bloodstream), how the drug acts (specific effects tied to the type of drug), and intensity of the effect (how much of a drug is consumed and whether or not the drug is “cut” with other substances) are all factors that contribute to the way in which a drug affects the mind and body.
Let’s look specifically at how fast a drug acts which is directly impacted by mode of administration. There are five ways someone can ingest or consume a drug, listed in order of slowest to fastest acting.
- Transdermal (absorption through the skin, e.g., nicotine patch)
- Anal/rectal
- Oral
- Inhalation
- Injection
Injection provides a direct route to the bloodstream, while the transdermal mode of administration requires an indirect and much slower process. There are various risks associated with the various modes of administration as well. For example, injection drug users are at increased risk for transmission of diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.
TOBACCO
When you inhale cigarette smoke, your lungs are punished with tar and many gases, including carbon monoxide. Nicotine, found in tobacco, affects your central nervous system as a stimulant. Once nicotine is taken into the body, blood sugar rises slightly, giving you increased energy that will soon subside and leave you fatigued and perhaps depressed, fueling the craving for more nicotine. As a vasoconstrictor, nicotine tightens blood vessels and restricts blood flow, causing permanent damage to arteries in the long run.
Short-term:
- Stained nails and teeth
- Bad breath
- Wrinkled, aged skin
Long-term:
- Lung cancer
- Emphysema
- Heart disease
- Earlier menopause
- Death
Tobacco is the number one cause of deaths every year (over 400,000). If you don't quit now, you'll have to quit sometime in the near future to avoid serious health complications. Sooner is certainly better than later, not just for your health, but also for your wallet. Fighting nicotine cravings may seem an insurmountable task, but just think about the health benefits your body receives from breathing continuous fresh air. Even after just two days of no smoking, nerve endings start regenerating and your sense of taste is enhanced, letting you enjoy food more. Do your reasons for smoking justify endangering your body?
By quitting, you reduce your risk of cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; your blood pressure might be lowered; your immune system will become stronger; your lung capacity will increase; and you'll have greater physical strength and endurance. Everyone around you will see physical improvement as you enjoy whiter teeth, clearer skin, fresher breath, and brighter eyes!
First, it is important to understand that smoking is an issue of addiction and not of will power. In order to quit successfully, smokers need friends and family to support them. You may reduce the psychological stress of quitting by pretending your friend is just "practicing" quitting, and reward them frequently with candy and other favors. This approach will also help prevent you from getting angry or annoyed if you catch your friend with a cigarette, which is unfortunately probable. In fact, most people make at least three attempts to quit before succeeding.
Offer to join your friend in an exercise program, which will increase self-esteem and offset possible weight gain. Help your friend avoid restaurants, bars, and other places that encourage smoking. These social places don't just encourage smoking by the presence of other smokers, but by reminders of the individual smoking at those sites. Remember that smokers who are in the process of quitting often become irritable - do not take this behavior personally. Supportive friends must remain calm and patient to help the smoker overcome the stress and trauma of withdrawal.
Physical withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, nausea, difficulty sleeping, and respiratory pain and congestion. Emotionally, you may be irritable and anxious, and suffer from mood swings and depression. Many people smoke because they believe it will help them lose weight; nicotine suppresses the appetite and causes the liver to release glycogen, which raises the blood sugar level slightly. Without the stimulating effects of nicotine, you are likely to feel hungry more often and have a slower metabolism. Additionally, you will begin to enjoy food more as your sense of taste returns. People trying to quit smoking often need a replacement for the oral pleasure of smoking, so think of low calorie items that can keep your mouth busy, such as gum, hard candy, or raw vegetable sticks.
No! Because smoke from cigars and cigarettes contains the same harmful toxins and carcinogens, the differences in health risks are related to the differences in daily use and level of inhalation. Although cigars are generally bigger than cigarettes, containing more tobacco, the majority of cigar smokers only smoke occasionally and do not inhale. However, even those who do not inhale have an increased risk for mouth cancer.
Someone who smokes the occasional cigar without inhaling may not suffer the health risks associated with smoking a pack of cigarettes everyday, but second-hand smoke from a cigar is more dangerous than that of a cigarette. Because cigars have more tobacco, and burn longer than cigarettes, they give off more environmental tobacco smoke. Additionally, cigar smoke contains higher concentrations of the carcinogens found in cigarette smoke.
No! Smokeless tobacco pollutes your body with numerous chemicals that cause health problems from gum recession to oral cancer. Tobacco in any form causes cancer and contains nicotine, a highly addictive chemical. People who use smokeless tobacco are several times more likely to develop oral cancer than those who do not use tobacco.
There are two types of spit tobacco: chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco comes in loose leaf, plugs, or twists, while snuff is generally powdered tobacco, sold dry or moist. People who chew keep tobacco in their mouths for several hours to get a continuous high from nicotine. Snuff is "dipped," meaning a small amount is pinched from the can and placed between the cheek and the gum. Nicotine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth, resulting in a quick high.
Toxic chemicals in smokeless tobacco, including arsenic and formaldehyde, contribute to cancer of the mouth, leukoplakia (white, leathery patch inside the mouth where skin has been irritated by tobacco juice), heart disease, gum disease, and tooth decay. Spit tobacco permanently discolors teeth, and as the gums recede, teeth will fall out.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
In an emergency, call Villanova Public Safety at 610-519-4444.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988.