University Health and Counseling Services

Wellness Information

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Alcohol

Resources

Screening:

E-Checkup To Go: This quick screening can help you assess whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful as well as connect you with resources for additional help.

UHCS Counseling: If you or someone you know is struggling with an alcohol or drug problem, call University Health & Counseling Services, 262-472-1305 to make an appointment with our AODA Counselor.

How much is too much?

Ever think you drank way too much last night? You did if you experienced slurred speech, memory loss, vomited or passed out. How drunk you are really depends on your blood alcohol content (BAC). This refers to how much alcohol is in your blood. The higher your BAC, the more dangerous drinking becomes.

Approximate Effects of BAC Levels

BAC Level	Health Effects
0.02-0.04%	Relaxation, body warmth, lowered alertness, lowered inhibitions, some loss of judgment
0.06-0.08%	Impaired coordination, lack of balance, reduced physical reaction time, reduced reasoning & memory
0.10%	Deterioration of reaction time, control of body functions, slurred speech, slowed thinking
0.12-0.15%	Vomiting, major loss of balance, swaying, staggering, reduced ability to sense things, emotional instability
0.20-0.30%	Apathetic, lethargic, trouble standing, cannot see clearly, some black out or pass out, vomiting (risk of choking)
0.40%	Most pass out, some fall into coma. Fatal to ½ of people who reach this level
0.45%	Breathing stops…Death!
REACTIONS VARY BY INDIVIDUAL- USE CAUTION!

Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these basic bodily functions.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning (If you notice that someone is exhibiting these signs, you need to call 911 or seek emergency help)

Slows breathing & pulse
Suppresses gag reflex
Lowered body temperature
Lowered blood sugar
Severe dehydration
Confusions or stupor
Cannot be roused
Vomiting
Seizures
Low body temperature
Blue or pale skin
Irregular breathing – fewer than 8 per minute

What is a “Standard Drink”?

Standard Drink

A standard drink consists of 12oz of beer, 1 alcopop, 5oz of wine or 1.5oz of hard liquor

Size of Alcohol Container = Number of Standard Drinks
Regular Beer	Malt Liquor	Table Wine	80-proof spirits or "hard liquor"
12 fl oz = 1	12 fl oz = 1.5	5 fl oz = 1	1.5 fl oz glass/50ml bottle (a shot) = 1
16 fl oz = 1.3	16 fl oz = 2	750 ml (regular bottle) = 5	A mixed drink or cocktail = 1 or more
22 fl oz = 2	22 fl oz = 2.5	1.5 L = 10	200 ml (a "half pint") = 4.5
40 fl oz = 3	40 fl oz = 4.5		375 ml (a "pint" or "half bottle") = 8.5
Quarter Barrel = 82.7			750 ml (a "fifth) = 17
Keg/half barrel = 165.3			1.00L = 23
			1.75 L (handle) = 39

Drinking Misconceptions:

Research proves that college students consistently overestimate the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption other students drink. This is true at UW-Whitewater; here are some statistics of where we stand.

UWW Statistics (from the 2015 National College Health Assessment)
23.6% of UWW students report they do not consume alcohol at all

71.1% consumed 4 or fewer drinks the last time they partied

45.7% perceived UWWvstudents drank 10-29 days in the past 30 days

10.8% UWW reported drinking 10-29 days in the past 30 days

Drugs

Marijuana (Pot, ganga, weed, grass, 420):

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among American college students. It is the dry leave, flowers, stems and seeds of the Cannabis plant. The main chemical in marijuana is THC.

Short-term health effects:

Distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory.
Marijuana increases heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking

Long-term health effects:

Addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite the known harmful effects upon functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities.
Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms including: irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which can make it difficult to remain abstinent.

Marijuana Facts:

Marijuana is addictive.
Marijuana is the drug of choice among young people. Among young people who use drugs, approximately 60% use marijuana only.
Smoking one joint is equal to smoking five cigarettes.
Marijuana and alcohol are equally dangerous.
The average THC levels rose from less than 1% in the late 1970s to more than 18% in 2015 but can be found as high as 30%.
Marijuana hangovers exist and include problems with alertness, coordination, depth perception, and distorted sense of time.
THC can last in your body for up to four weeks.

2014-2016 AODA Review

Alcoholics Anonymous- Jefferson County: http://www.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=11

Alcoholics Anonymous-Walworth County: http://www.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=6

Alcoholics Anonymous-Wisconsin: http://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html