College Students May Severely Underestimate Risks of Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is a tragic trend among college students that is claiming lives, far too young. Recent deaths at universities related to students drinking dozens of shots of alcohol during a short period of time is encouraging a new focus on ways to help prevent college students from binge drinking and teach them the dangers of alcohol poisoning.
One example is Michigan State University student Bradley McCue, who was found unconscious and then later died. His blood alcohol concentration level was a jaw-dropping 0.44 percent on the night friends celebrated his 21st birthday with him. Witnesses reported that McCue consumed 24 alcoholic shots over a rapid time span, lasting not even two hours. The autopsy called his death alcohol poisoning, also referred to as acute alcohol intoxication. Two cases reported in Colorado in 2004 by the New York Times also point to what may be a lack of awareness among college students about the consequences of binge drinking and alcohol poisoning.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence says alcohol poisoning cases happen hundreds of times annually on college campuses. A 2002 study says in the bigger picture, the number of deaths each year related to binge drinking by college students may be as many as 1,400, taking into consideration driving accidents and other injury-accidents related to binge drinking episodes.
By definition, binge drinking can refer to having five drinks or more, one right after another. An estimated 20 to 40 percent of college students may engage in binge drinking episodes three times during a two-week span.
College students may not even realize rapid consumption of alcohol can kill them, believing instead it may bring on a bad hangover or cause them to pass out. Part of the danger in binge drinking is that the body’s blood alcohol concentration level jumps up quickly when drinks are consumed rapidly. The rate of a blood alcohol concentration spike can also vary according to a person’s weight or gender, with women typically showing the effects of binge drinking faster than men.
During a binge drinking episode, be it from wine, beer or hard alcohol, the rate of breathing, blood pressure levels and heart rate decline. Other symptoms include passing out, vomiting, having seizures or skin discoloration. As more amounts of alcohol are consumed quickly, sedation can occur at the brain level, spurring unconsciousness and even death.
What college students may not realize is that acute alcohol intoxication is a life-threatening condition, and that immediate medical intervention is required. Even if the student remains conscious, they may be at a high risk for falls with injuries, drowning, irrational and risky behavior and loss of memory.
College leaders suggest a shift in culture is needed to help combat binge drinking, which includes bans on drinking at sporting events at many universities. Promoting non-drinking social events and requiring student drinkers to attend rehabilitation programs has become part of other university efforts. Some, like Colorado University, have tried contacting parents when a student is found in possession of alcohol or drugs and enacted penalties like suspension from the institution. Increased campus educational campaigns about how deadly binge drinking can be may also help stop a devastating trend of fatalities related to alcohol poisoning.
