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Updated
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Spring break is almost here. What is more fun than hanging
out in the sun and drinking a cold beer or mixed drink? Nothing, right?
Wrong! Alcohol and sun increase your chances for dehydration. Warning signs
of dehydration include dizziness, weakness, and infrequent urination. Ways
to decrease the negative effects of alcohol use include:
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Limit alcohol consumption to 1 drink per hour
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Alternate drinking alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic drinks,
preferably water
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Don't drink on an empty stomach
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Don’t mix alcohol with drugs (prescription, over-the-counter or
illegal)
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Don't pressure anyone,
including yourself, to drink more
How
about alcohol and sex? I always feel more relaxed and uninhibited when I
drink. That is a good thing, right? Wrong, again.
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Alcohol can cause less intense orgasms, difficulty obtaining and
maintaining an erection and impotence in men.
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Alcohol can cause decreased genital sensation and a decrease in vaginal
fluid leading to painful intercourse for women.
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Young adults are more likely to have unprotected sex when they drink.
Unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
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Don’t leave your drink unattended or accept an open drink from someone you
don’t know and trust. Date-rape drugs are real and easy to use.
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Alcohol use can lead to unwanted sex or rape.
Remember...
The legal drinking age in all 50 states is 21
Don’t drink and drive. It can kill! Always choose a designated
driver.
Your body metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about 1 alcoholic drink
per hour. Nothing can increase this rate! Drinking coffee, eating a
hamburger, taking a cold shower, drinking lots of water or any other “cure”
you have heard will not speed the rate of metabolism.
If you do drink too much, the best thing to do is rest and drink lots
of water. Only time will cure a hangover.
Alcohol poisoning is a real danger. Over 50 college
students die each year because of it. A person experiencing alcohol
poisoning should be taken to a hospital immediately. How do you know when
someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning? Check out this site for some
helpful hints:
http://www.brad21.org/alcohol_poisoning.html
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| Take an Alcohol Screening Tool to
assess your level of consumption:
http://155.41.222.204/AS/index.aspx?CID=79
If alcohol is affecting your school work, social life, or family
relationships, get help.
Contact the school counselor at 985-5230 for treatment
or referral. |
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For more information, go to:
Facts on Tap links to information on substance abuse facts, prevention, and
treatment
http://www.factsontap.org/research_links.htm
NIAAA site for students on alcohol myths and the flow of alcohol through the
body
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeStudents/
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