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Alcohol Risk Reduction

The goal of the Office of Health Promotion and Education’s Alcohol Risk Reduction program is to provide comprehensive programming and resources for the prevention and reduction of alcohol related harms on Western Michigan University’s campus. This is done by utilizing evidence based approaches in the field that focus on environmental strategies and high risk drinking behavior. For more information, call (269) 387-3263.

 

Current efforts

• Organizing a campus alcohol advisory board
• Collaborating with departments and student groups across campus
• Developing materials, resources, and training

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How to be safe and responsible

What to know

• Do the math:
  one drink = 12 oz. beer
  one drink = 1 oz. of hard alcohol
  one drink = 4-5 oz. of wine
  
• Binge or problem drinking is defined as consuming 5 or more drinks on one occassion.
  
• Any amount of alcohol can impair judgment—moreso under certain conditions.
  
• Our body metabolizes approximately one alcoholic drink per hour—there is no way of speeding it up.
  
• Drinking while engaging in sexual behavior can increase risk for sexual assault, transmitting STIs and unplanned pregnancies.
  
• Alcohol is a drug—it is an addictive substance that changes our brain chemistry, and can cause chemical dependency.

How to be safe

• Drink no more than one drink per hour.
• If you are going somewhere make sure to have a designated driver.
• Try not to drink when you are having emotional distress- do something else like exercise, calling a friend, reading a book or finding a way to relax.

Plan Ahead

• Eat before you drink anything
• Ask a friend to keep an eye on you
• Set a limit on how many drinks you’re going to have
• Never leave your drink unattended
• Prepare to say no if you’re offered drinks by others

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Alcohol Risk Reduction

Prevention and Intervention Guide

For more information about how to help someone.

What to look for:

• Are they drinking regularly?
• How many drinks are they having in one sitting?
• Are they saying that it’s affecting their health?
• Are they suffering from any mental health problems?
• Are they drinking when they are sad, unhappy, anxious or stressed?
• Do they have a family history of alcohol or other drug abuse/addiction?
• Are their friends and loved ones expressing concern about their drinking?

What to do:

If you think there’s a problem, ask questions—some examples are:

• How many times a week/month do you drink?
• How many drinks do you usually have?
• Do you know what binge drinking is?
• Do you have a family history of alcohol or other drug abuse/addiction?
• Do you drink when you are sad, unhappy, anxious or stressed?
• Are you sexually active?
  If yes, do you most often have sex while you are drinking?
• Are you aware of the laws relating to alcohol?
  Do you know that you can get cited for drinking in public, or other wise causing a disturbance while drinking?
• If you drink, do you make sure that you are safe?
• What concerns do you have about your drinking?
• Have your friends or loved ones expressed concern about your drinking?
• Have you been treated for alcohol or drugs in the past?
• Are you aware of resources to get help?

If students/patients are hesitant or uncomfortable to disclose information, provide handouts or information about websites they can go to for help:

http://counsellingresource.com/quizzes/alcohol-cage/index.html

http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health

Let them know that they are not alone, and it’s okay to get help. Encourage them to moderate their behavior. If students/patients don’t show signs of habitual drinking, or abuse of alcohol or other substances, you can make sure they know their risks and how to be safe.

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Where to get help

On-campus resources

Behavioral Health Services at Unified Clinics
1000 Oakland Drive (East Campus) 387-7000
provides a wide range of treatment and intervention services

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

Community resources

Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services

Online resources

Education and Research
The BACCHUS Network
College Drinking-Changing the Culture
Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention
American College Health Association
Facts about binge drinking

Substance Abuse and Addiction
CAGE Screening Test for Alcohol Dependence
SAMHSA

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