MCC Daily Tribune

April Is Alcohol Awareness Month MCC Downtown Event

Understanding The Dangers of Binge Drinking - MCC’s Commitment to Alcohol and Other Drug Education with Monroe County Department of Health Partners

As the term comes to a close with upcoming spring and summer time celebrations, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), CDC and National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIAA) on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 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.

In the Medical Examiner’s 2023 overdose report, 83 percent of deaths involved fentanyl or its analogs. Alcohol was present in 31 percent of reported opioid and cocaine overdose deaths and remains a contributing substance for misuse and injury.

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 women.

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 causing “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”. NIH/NIAA research shows 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 or 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.

If you are unsure if it’s an alcohol overdose or suspected overdose from a fentanyl laced drink, call 911 for help immediately and/or Public Safety at 585-292 2911 and administer Naloxone (Narcan) if you have it. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

See an Overdose? Call 911 - The Good Samaritan Law protects YOU and Saves Lives!

Anyone, regardless of age, who calls 911 seeking medical help for themselves or someone else during a drug or alcohol overdose is protected by the 911 Good Samaritan Law. The law empowers YOU to save a life, especially if the person has passed out and cannot be woken up, is not breathing or breathing slowly and showing signs and symptoms of a drug or alcohol overdose. Visit the New York Statewide Opioid Overdose Prevention Program website to learn more about the 911 Good Samaritan Law.

MCDPH Addiction Services IMPACT TEAM - Tabling and Training Event April 15, 2026 MCC DTC

Training is available by accessing the imbedded links on the Monroe County web page. To register for a class and obtain health and harm reduction program information call the 24/7 hotline 585-753-5300 or visit the Monroe County team IMPACT webpage for grief support for substance related loss, education, Narcan training, harm reduction and injury prevention strategies to reduce stigma associated with substance misuse.

On April 15, 2026, members of MCDPH IMPACT Team will be available on the MCC Downtown Campus to share resources, education, free Narcan, drug testing kits and other items related to substance misuse as part of April’s Alcohol, Drug and DWI Awareness event (s) sponsored by the MCC Health and Wellness team. The event will be held at the MCC Downtown campus. This is part of a Wellness Wednesday event with health and wellness activities for all students. For more information contact Health Services at 585-292-2140 (option 3).

Sources:

National Institute of Health on Drug Abuse (nida.nih.gov)

NY State Office of Addiction Services and Support (https://oasas.ny.gov/)

National Institute of Health on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/)

MCC Tribune Public Safety document (https://www.monroecounty.gov/opiod-narcan)

Harm Reduction Strategies Education /Training (email IMPACT@monroecounty.gov)

New York State Department of Health/ 911 Good Samaritan Law (health.ny.gov/overdose)

Frances Hampton
Health and Wellness
04/15/2026