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MCC Daily Tribune

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

As college students and young adults all over the country prepare for spring events, graduation celebrations and first-time road trips with friends and loved ones, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (Oasas), CDC and National Institutes of Health on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH/niaa) recognize that these events are, for some under-age youths and adults, occasions to misuse alcohol or binge drink with devastating consequences to themselves and those who love them.

According to the NIH binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks for women; five or more drinks for men in about two hours; with extreme binge drinking (high intensity drinking), defined as drinking two or more times the binge drinking levels for men and woman.  

Dangers of Binge /High intensity Drinking and Symptoms of an Alcohol Overdose:  

  • Drinking too much and too quickly can lead to impairments in coordination, poor judgement, confusion, slurred speech and/or aggressive and impulsive behavior, leaving one at risk for unintended and unprotected sex, impaired driving and accidents, exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and assaults.    As the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises often the person (s) may continue to drink despite clear signs of impairment.
  • Drinking large quantities of alcohol can overwhelm the body’s ability to break down and clear alcohol from the bloodstream. An alcohol overdose occurs when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream that areas of the brain that control vital functions such as breathing, heart rate and ability to stay awake fail. Other protective mechanisms are dulled, like a gag reflex (prevents choking when vomiting) with inability to stay awake, “black outs” and even seizures. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can continue to rise even when a person stops drinking and has “passed out” or seems to be “just sleeping”.  Understand that a person who has passed out can die without immediate medical attention.

As BAC increases so do the risks – know the danger signs and act quickly!

Never assume that an unconscious person will be fine by “sleeping it off”, drinking coffee, giving them a cold shower or making them walk around. This can actually make the situation worse. Research shows (NIH/niaa), that while teenagers and young adults are more likely to engage in binge /extreme drinking, they also are more likely to call for help from a trusted friend and 911 when they see a peer in trouble.    

  • Knowing the danger signals and acting quickly can protect you and those around you from an alcohol overdose and irreversible damage. Understand that a person who has passed out, is unable to protect themselves and should never be left alone. If you suspect, or are with a person that is impaired and in danger, Call 911 and/or Public Safety at 585-292-2911 For Help Immediately and stay with them until medical help arrives.  

Look for upcoming Tribune posts and tabling events in April and May from MCC’s Counseling, Disability and Health Services highlighting alcohol awareness, substance misuse, injury prevention, health and wellness education.

Fran Hampton RN, BSN, MCC Counseling, Disability and Health Services 

Frances Hampton
Health Services
04/12/2024