Healthy Drinking:

1
Healthy Drinking
Possible, Probable, or Myth?

• Steve Lux, MS
• Health Enhancement
• Division of Student Affairs

2
Introduction

• The purpose of this presentation is to present
  some Alcohol 101 information as well as some
  information about NIU student drinking.
• Health Enhancement is the health promotion/
  disease prevention office within Student Affairs.

3
What is a Drug?

• Inaba any substance that directly alters the
  normal functioning of the central nervous system
  (CNS).
• Weil Any substance that in small amounts
  produces significant change in the body, mind or
  both.

4
Good Bad Drugs by Culture
Good Drugs
Bad Drugs
Group
Early Muslim sects Coffee Alcohol Early
Catholic Church Wine Coffee North Am.
Indians peyote/tobacco Alcohol Indian
Yogis marijuana opiates/alcohol Heroin
addicts narcotics marijuana/psyched. 60s
hippies marijuana/psyched.
Alcohol/Tobacco early 17th c. Europe alcohol toba
cco Todays youth ? ?
5
Drugs themselves are neither good nor bad
rather, they are powerful substances that can be
put to good or bad uses. We are concerned with
the relationships people form with drugs, whether
legal or illegal, approved or unapproved. ---Andre
w Weil, MD
6

• Weil on Drug Usage
• Basic reason is to vary consciousness. What are
  some non-drug ways to alter consciousness?
• Humans born with a need for periodic changes in
  consciousness
• Some people use drugs to achieve this change
• Two basic reasons easy and quick
• Getting high - what does this mean?
• Highs are states of consciousness marked by
  feelings of euphoria, lightness,
  self-transcendence, concentration and energy.
• What are other reasons for taking drugs?

7
Why People Use Drugs

• To Aid Religious Practices
• To Explore the Self
• To Alter Moods
• To Treat Disease
• To Escape Boredom and Despair
• To Promote and Enhance Social Interaction

8
Why People Use Drugs

• To Enhance Sensory Experience and Pleasure
• To Stimulate Artistic Creativity and
  Performance
• To Improve Physical Performance
• To Rebel
• To Go Along with Peer Pressure
• To Establish an Identity

9
Characteristics of a Good Relationship with a Drug

• Recognition that the substance you are using is a
  drug and and awareness of what it does to your
  body.
• Experience of a useful effect of the drug over
  time.
• Ease of separation from use of the drug.
• Freedom from adverse effects on health or
  behavior.

10
Any drug can be used successfully, no matter how
bad its reputation, and any drug can be abused,
no matter how accepted it is. -- Andrew
Weil
11
NIU Drinking Facts

• The first and most important piece of information
  regarding student alcohol use is that most
  students drink moderately.
• Most students drink 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 drinks when
  they party.
• Students also usually practice protective
  behaviors when they party.

12
ACTIVITY
13
Protective Behaviors

• What are they?
• What have you seen others (family, friends, etc.)
  do to help protect them from harm?
• What do you do (if you drink) to keep yourself
  safe?
• Break up into small groups and come up with three
  behaviors that drinkers can use to protect
  themselves.

14
Protective Behaviors

• Pace drinks to one or fewer per hour.
• Decide ahead of time how much to drink.
• Keep track of how much they drink.
• Decide not to drink.
• Avoid drinking games.

15
Protective Data

• 76 of NIU students surveyed said that they
  always or usually practiced one or more of the
  previously listed behaviors when they party.
• Based on April 2000 survey data collected by the
  University Health Service (N 827).

16
Alcohol 101

• Alcohol is a Central Nervous System depressant
  therefore its primary effects are on the brain
  and spine
• Alcohol is also known as ethyl alcohol, ethanol
  or EtOH --little to no vitamins, minerals or
  other essential nutrients, though beer and wine
  contain some -- 100 calories per ounce

17
Alcohol 101, cont

• alcohol does not need to be digested like other
  foods, it can be absorbed directly into the
  bloodstream-- most of the alcohol you consume is
  absorbed in the intestines
• moderate amounts of alcohol in the bloodstream
  can produce more pain tolerance, relaxed muscles,
  enhanced digestion, and lowered inhibitions

18
More Alcohol 101

• In order for alcohol to affect the CNS, it has to
  get into the blood. There are many factors that
  affect how much alcohol is in the blood or how
  fast that alcohol is absorbed.
• Level of intoxication is measured with the Blood
  Alcohol Concentration (BAC).

19
Blood Alcohol Concentration

• Blood Alcohol Concentration/ Blood Alcohol
  Content/ Blood Alcohol Level -- all mean the same
  thing. . . the measurable amount of alcohol in
  the blood how much alcohol is in the blood. . .
  
• Determines the level of intoxication.

20
BAC

• Factors which affect BAC and/or absorption rate.

21
BAC

• Factors that impact BAC and/or absorption rate
  () include
• time/speed ()
• weight
• amount consumed
• blood volume
• gender
• alcohol potency

22
BAC, cont

• food in the stomach ()
• other drugs present () -- aspirin
• carbonation ()
• mood, general state of health (may affect stomach
  emptying time)
• drink temperature ()

23
Drink Equivalent

• 1.5 oz. shot of 40 (80 proof) distilled spirits
• 5 oz. glass of 12 table wine
• 12 oz. can of 5 beer

24
Safer Drink Level

• A Safer Drink Level is a BAC at or below .05. The
  risk of injury associated with alcohol use
  increases only slightly between BAC 0 and BAC
  .05.
• As BAC exceeds .05, the likelihood that a person
  could experience alcohol related injury increases
  significantly.

25
Safer Drink Charts

• To use the Safer Drink Level charts, find the
  weight closest to your own and the hours you
  spend drinking. Then determine how many drinks
  are safer for you.

26
of Drinks in Safer BAC
27
of Drinks in Safer BAC
1.8 2.4 2.9 3.4 3.9 4.4
28
Note about Safer

• For people who are ill or on medication, pregnant
  women or alcoholics, drinking may always be risky.

29
Also. . .

• Keep in mind that there are many factors that can
  increase your BAC. These include drinking potent
  drinks, gulping/chugging drinks, drinking on an
  empty stomach, and drinking cold, carbonated
  drinks.

30
Resources

• Counseling Student Development Center 753
  -1206
• E-Chug confidential online alcohol assessment.
• http//www.health.niu.edu/he/links/alcohol.html
• www.health.niu.edu