My best friend died. I don’t want you to. Shar and I, we did You don’t have to believe me. I’m not into preaching. But just listen — everything together. then make up your own mind. You Same grade, same classes. She lived want numbers? They’re on page 6. right downstairs. We would talk and But this isn’t about numbers. It’s about talk. We had our secrets and we tried Shar. And you. And your friends. new stuff together. So when we tried It’s none of my business if you , we figured we would take drink. I’m not your parents. I’m not it easy, no harm, right? I mean, I the cops. I can’t stop you. But if you’re liked it, but Shar really liked it, she going to drink, you need to know a even used to joke about passing out. few things. It never occurred to me…you know… If you go through a six-pack, it’s the same as knocking back Know what you’re drinking. “It’s nine ounces of the hard stuff. That’s a third of a bottle. only .” Or maybe “it’s only .” Have you ever said that? I did. Shar did. If you go through a six-pack, Drink more and it goes up. Maybe it judgment. You think you’ve got all it’s the same as knocking back nine takes more if you’re a 200-pound your moves, but you don’t. Alcohol ounces of the hard stuff. That’s a guy. But if you’re a woman, it takes is an anesthetic — it slows down your third of a bottle. If that’s not what you less. It’s not fair. It’s chemistry. brain and your reflexes, even if were planning, think about it. you don’t think so. Go too far and Shar weighed 115. you’ll lose coordination, your vision Oh, yeah, driving. After three or four She told me she could handle it. might blur, and you could experience drinks in one hour — or three — And I believed her. But when you a blackout (meaning you don’t you’re going to be DUI. Your blood drink too much, you can’t trust your remember what you did while you alcohol level will probably be over .08 were drunk). percent — that’s the limit in Illinois.

2 After three or four drinks in one hour — or three beers — .35 percent. Doesn’t sound like you’re going to be DUI. much, does it? That was Shar’s blood alcohol level. We were all partying pretty hard, having a good time. dozen or so drinks. She was staggering hadn’t seen her for a while, I found Looking back, I guess she had a a little, and laughing. Later, when I her passed out in a corner.

Drinking Over Time

When You’re If you drink before you’re 15 years old, you’re If You’re You run the risk of having a baby with Fetal a Teen: FIVE TIMES more likely to develop alcohol Pregnant: Alcohol Syndrome — a baby with a small head, dependency than if you wait until the age of 21. possible , abnormal facial features, and (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) poor muscle tone.

3 Here’s what I found out. After six about .25; this is where some people blood alcohol level won’t stop rising to 10 drinks, some people can’t see pass out. And don’t forget — even for a while. straight, walk straight or talk straight. after you stop drinking, your body Over .30, you’re a candidate for a That’s somewhere between .12 and is still pumping the last few drinks coma. At that point, you’re not .20. At a dozen drinks, you’re at into your bloodstream. So your sleeping it off. And if there’s no one

Even if you wait until you’re 21, there’s still a 10 Many Years Maybe you can handle it now. But you’ll pay As an Adult: percent chance that you’ll have a lifetime alcohol Down the Road: for it later. A lifetime of heavy drinking can dependence problem. trash your health and appearance. And when you’re older, it takes less alcohol to overdose.

4 And don’t forget — even after you stop drinking, your body is still pumping the last few drinks into your bloodstream. around who knows what to do, Drinking is a decision. Knowing how you’re in trouble. to deal with the consequences of that decision could save someone’s life. I didn’t know what to do. Neither did anyone else. Now I do. And even if it’s too late for Shar, it’s not too late for you and your friends.

Learn to recognize the signs of alcohol poisoning. Know when someone’s in trouble. Know how to help. Find out more at www.DontBeSorry.org Over .30, you’re a candidate for a coma.

By the Numbers

Yeah, it can happen to you. Here are cases reported of sexual assault or ❍ 400,000 students reported having the statistics…don’t become one. date rape. had unprotected as a result of drinking. ❍ Last year, 1,400 college students ❍ Within the past 12 months, 31 were killed in alcohol-related percent of college students between (Statistics: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health) accidents. the ages of 18 and 24 met the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol ❍ 500,000 college students were and 6 percent for alcohol injured, and there were 70,000 dependency.

6 Knowing what to do if How to tell if someone has someone drinks too Alcohol Poisoning much could save a life. 1. Unconsciousness or semi- 5. Does not respond to being pinched, consciousness; prodded or poked; Passing out IS NOT THE SAME as “sleeping it off!” 2. Slow breathing — 8 breaths or less 6. Cannot stand up; If someone passes out, you need to a minute or breathing that stops 7. Rapid pulse rate. act — NOW! No matter what you for more than 8 seconds at a time; may have heard, passing out is not 3. Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin; normal. People who have overdosed 4. Does not respond to being talked on alcohol can’t help themselves, to or even shouted at; so it’s up to you to get help. Your friend’s life may depend on it.

7 What to do if you think someone has Alcohol Poisoning 1. Call 911 immediately…this is a showers, black coffee or oxygen do 7. Remember, being a good friend medical emergency! any good at all. means being aware and taking action. When it comes to saving 2. Turn the person over onto their 5. A life could be at stake. That’s a someone’s life, it’s better to be safe side so that if occurs, it lot more important than the than sorry. won’t get into the airway. possible legal consequences of underage drinking. Remember…you may be the only 3. Stay with the person until medical person there who knows how to save help arrives. 6. Don’t try to second-guess, because your friend’s life! while you’re waiting, your friend 4. Don’t waste time with non-medical could be dying. treatments. It’s a myth that cold

8 Brain: Alcohol destroys brain Esophagus: Alcoholics have cells. Drink regularly for a long high rates of cancer of the time and you’ll probably wind up esophagus, mouth, and larynx. with serious cognitive, memory Heavy drinking also leads to and mood problems. erosion of the esophagus.

How Alcohol Lungs: Heavy drinkers have more lung infections and can be : Heavy regular drinking Affects Your Body more susceptible to pneumonia can cause high , and lung collapse. When you’re damage to the heart muscle and drunk, you lose your reflexes, so heart failure. Cardiovascular you can’t clear your airway when disease is already the leading you vomit. That means your cause of death; why increase stomach contents may get sucked the risk? into your lungs, which can lead to choking or pneumonia, even death.

9 Liver: Chronic drinking is the Stomach: Alcohol irritates the Binge Drinking: Bingeing leading cause of of the stomach, and can cause regularly affects the whole liver, a condition that can choke , ulcers and acid reflux. body and is an instant ticket to off blood flow to the liver and Gastritis is an inflammation aging. You could wind up with destroy it. Right now, a transplant of the mucous membrane that problems you shouldn’t have is the only cure for liver failure. lines the stomach. Erosion in to think about for another 40 that lining can cause constant years, including liver disease loss of blood into the stomach (cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc.), or, if a vessel ruptures, major cardiovascular disease Kidneys: Alcohol increases urine bleeding. (enlarged heart, high blood output and dehydration, which pressure, anemia), , Joints & Muscles: Alcohol put a heavy strain on your kidneys. higher rate of infections, dependence can cause Prolonged heavy drinking can muscle decay, stomach and osteoporosis and arthritis, and cause kidney damage. intestinal problems, higher deform the joints. It can shrink rates of cancer, weakened muscles and lead to severe bones resulting in more muscle pain and weakness. fractures and more.

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