Alcohol and Other Drugs
Wellness Information
UHCS Services
The AODA Counselor at UHCS is available to help! If you or someone you know is struggling with an alcohol or drug problem, call University Health & Counseling Services at 262-472-1305 to make a FREE & CONFIDENTIAL appointment.
Overview
Alcohol
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. 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”?
| 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 from the 2015 UW-W 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 UWW students drank 10-29 days in the past 30 days
- 10.8% UWW reported drinking 10-29 days in the past 30 days
Marijuana
Marijuana (aka pot, ganga, weed, grass) is the most widely used illicit drug among American college students. It is the dry leaves, 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.
Resources
Disclaimer
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This site is not meant to replace the advice of a health care or counseling professional. You should not rely on any information on these pages, or information generated for you by this site, to replace consultations with qualified professionals regarding your own specific situation. Some links take you to a source outside of UHCS. The owners of that site, not UHCS, are responsible for the content.
