$5 and Two Cents Made My Hell

 *If I wrote this paper way back when am I legit?*

Brandy Ruiz

1E: Alcohol-Over 21 in company under 21

1/11/2012

Alcoholism affects roughly 76 million Americans. There are many factors that may lead up to such alcohol dependency or abuse, like physical and emotional pain; however, when referring to college students, most of the abuse is caused by binge drinking at parties. This is very dangerous as long periods of heavy drinking can cause blackouts which lead to memory loss. Unfortunately, this outcome leads to another undesired effect, which is rape, dependency, and even death! A sad fate indeed. This paper attempts to answer some basic questions about alcohol abuse.

There are several factors that affect an individual's tolerance at any given time. For instance, the individual's body weight will determine how fast alcohol will hit the bloodstream and start to impair their judgment. The lower the weight, the higher the chances of a high alcohol level with fewer drinks. This being said, females tend to have a lower tolerance level than men. Age and an individual's nutritional state also affect tolerance levels. The younger the person the lower their alcohol tolerance will be. Exposure to other drugs, such as prescription drugs, as they tend to affect the absorption and metabolism of alcohol. 

There are five risk-reducing steps that people can do if they choose to drink. One step is to limit the number of drinks drank during a short period of time. One drink per hour is recommended. This would reduce the chance of blacking out and also throwing up, which if the person passes out, could choke on their own vomit and die of asphyxiation. The second risk-reducing step would be to take precautions, such as having a designated driver or a cab ready. Step three and four is to use protected sex and not drink if female and pregnant as this would cause birth defects. The fifth and final risk-reducing step is to not drink at all. This will prevent any possible risks from occurring.

Alcohol poisoning is when an excessive amount of alcohol has been consumed as is now depressing nerves that control involuntary actions, such as breathing and gag reflex. There are a few signs of alcohol poisoning that people should keep in mind when drinking alone or with friends at a party. A good sign of alcohol poisoning is when mental confusion, stupor, coma, or lack of sexual arousal occurs. A clear sign is vomiting and seizures. It’s important to check for slow or irregular breathing patterns; fewer than eight breaths per minute is suggestive of alcohol poisoning. Lastly, an indicator of alcohol poisoning is when a person has low body temperature, Hypothermia, bluish skin color, or paleness. Being aware of these danger signs should help in determining whether the person should call 911 for medical assistance. However, waiting until all symptoms are present is not recommended. It is best to stay alert and be aware that the person who passed out may die. The actual sign to look for when considering whether to call 911 is if there is any suspicion of alcohol overdose. Alcohol poisoning is not a game, so trying to guess the level of drunkenness is immature and could be lethal as time is of the essence.

  It’s difficult to determine “normal” alcohol consumption in college. There are so many factors of college life, such as peer pressure and the need for social acceptance, that influence individual drinking habits. In my view, normal alcohol consumption is probably that limited to our physical capability, that is, one alcoholic beverage per hour, not on a regular basis. Drinking on a regular basis indicates a drinking problem and this shouldn’t be the case in an academic environment. Doing so will stifle academic and social progress. I think it’s fine for students to drink at parties and when they’re out with friends, as long as they take precautions and are at least aware of the signs of alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol consumption becomes a problem when students are drinking every day and also binge drinking continuously. I know someone that drinks almost every day and has developed problems, although not academically, but personally. This person blacks out constantly due to heavy drinking and I think is unaware of how their behavior affects those around them or perhaps this person just doesn’t care. It’s difficult dealing with people that have substance abuse issues. Nevertheless, I would support this person by providing them with emotional support and also reminding them of the signs of alcohol poisoning, and mentioning that it can cause their death which is something that would take an emotional and financial toll on their loved ones. Furthermore, I would recommend that they seek emotional support at the campus health center. I know there is counseling available to students. This advice could help the person, but realistically, this person would need a lot of support from their friends and loved ones as well. This person I care for is not a student-athlete, but alcoholism affects student-athletes as well.

There are several ways in which alcohol negatively affects sports-related performance. Alcohol is a drug and as such affects the body, physically and psychologically. This causes behavioral problems that are not limited to disinhibition, aggression, intolerance, and rowdiness. None of these behaviors are conducive to successful performance in sports. Alcohol further damages fine motor movements, and mental acuteness, such as balance. This affects how athletes perform during training and also during actual games and after a night of average alcohol consumption, the athletes’ anaerobic performance can decrease by 25 percent. Meaning that physical and mental acuteness goes down and the game could be lost due to this lack of athletic performance. Two other ways in which an athlete's body is damaged, due to alcohol consumption, are the suppression of appetite leading to malnutrition and also dehydration. Finally, alcohol reduces the quality of sleep leading the athlete to feel tired instead of feeling invigorated by exercise.

In conclusion, alcohol consumption in college should be limited as excessive drinking leads to academic and personal dilemmas. There are several risk-reducing steps that people should take into consideration when drinking alone or out with friends. Also, there are several physiological effects that limit athletes to perform properly. Taking all the facts into consideration, the best solution to alcohol consumption is to limit the drinks consumed per hour or just not drink at all. I’ve learned my lesson from the time I consumed too much alcohol and threw up for an entire day. I’ve stopped binge drinking and have actually felt better about myself. I hope others, like my friend, can find a healthy substitute for a bad habit.