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DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
How do I help a friend who has passed
out?
First check for major trauma (blood or clear fluid from ears, any severe
injury, pain or bleeding). If your friend has any of these symptoms or is
unarousable, combative or threatens to harm self or others, call 911 immediately.
If in the vicinity of a residence hall, contact an RA quickly.
If your friend has minor trauma (cuts or abrasions) is disoriented or difficult
to arouse, has continued vomiting or has ingested other drugs as well, call the
24-Hour DIAL-A-NURSE (the Infirmary, 684-3367).
If your friend is arousable, knows his/her name, place and time, and is
cooperative, just observe. If vomiting has occurred, place the individual on
his/her side and prop a pillow or a blanket behind his/her back. Vomiting while
laying on the back can lead to inhaling vomits, suffocation and possible
death.
THERE IS NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN ON AN UNDERAGE DRINKER WHO IS TAKEN TO THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR ALCOHOL OVERDOSE IF THERE ARE NO OTHER POLICY
VIOLATIONS.
When is drinking alcohol a problem?
Basically, when drinking causes problems.
The following questions (� 1980, from "Thinking About Your Drinking," Health
Center, U. of Maryland, College Park) can help you decide whether you might
have a drinking problem. Answer each question as best you can.
Academic Success
Do you occasionally drink in order to forget or feel better about problems
with your studies?Have you cut afternoon classes so that you could go to happy
hour?Have you missed morning classes because of a hangover?Have you received a
poor grade on an exam or paper because you were out drinking the night
before?Have you ever drunk before going to class or before a test?Does drinking
interfere with your ability to get school work done on time?
Family and Boy/Girlfriend Relationships
Have your family or friends complained about your drinking, or suggested
that you cut down on your drinking?Has anyone in your family--siblings,
parents, grandparents--had problems with alcohol?Have you ever been criticized
by someone you were dating because of your drinking?After drinking, have you
ever engaged in sex that you were later sorry for or embarrassed about?Before
going out with a boy/girlfriend, do you drink to steady your nerves?Have you
ever passed out from drinking while you were on a date?
Peer Relationships
Do you get into conflicts with your friends or acquaintances after
drinking?Do you sometimes stay home and drink instead of going out to meet
others?Have you lost any friends following an incident that occurred while you
were drinking?Do you act more quarrelsome or angry after a few drinks?
Physical/Psychological Health
Have you occasionally had bad abdominal pain the morning after
drinking?Have you ever seriously injured yourself while drinking?Have you ever
found that you could not remember what you did the night before when you were
drinking?Do you feel guilty about your drinking?Do you drink when you feel
lonely or depressed?Do you drink after blowing an exam or after other
disappointments?
Legal/Financial
Have you run out of money in the past because you spent too much on beer,
wine, or liquor?Have you gotten in trouble with the police and/or University
officials because of your behavior after drinking?Have you ever pulled a fire
alarm or damaged property after drinking?After drinking, have you ever been
driving and become involved in an accident?Do you drive a car when you know you
have had too much to drink?Have you ever gotten into trouble at work or lost a
job because of your drinking?
General
Do you usually drink until the supply is gone?Do you usually gulp the first
two or three drinks?Do you drink before noon fairly often?How do I help a friend
who is frequently abusing alcohol?
Confront your own misconceptions about alcohol, alcoholism, and friendship. For
example:
-- "A person can't really have a problem if they only drink beer."
-- "Real friends put up with being used by the problem drinker."
-- "A real friend covers up for their friend by lying to professors or
parents."
-- "You can punish, threaten, bribe, preach and martyr someone into recovery."
Realize it will take much effort, possibly with little thanks, to help your
friend. However, peers have the best chance of successful intervention. Be
patient. Also remember that you need support, too!
Learn as much as you can about problem drinking. There are books,
organizations, and resource people who can help right here on campus. Call the
substance abuse specialist at The Healthy Devil for confidential assistance,
684-5771.
Know about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Women for Sobriety (WFS) and where
meetings are held. You can show support for your friend's recovery by taking
him/her to meetings. The Duke substance abuse specialist has current meeting
schedules.
Plan your confrontation, i.e., place, time, what to say, etc. Make sure there
are no interruptions. Have a follow-up plan for your friend, i.e., immediately
go to an A.A. meeting or have an intake session at a treatment center or with
the Duke substance abuse specialist (prearranged). It is very important to have
a follow-up plan so that real change, not broken promises, are the result of
the intervention.
Tell the person that you're concerned about what alcohol has done to him/her.
Don't get emotional or it will end up as a blaming/guilt session. Focus on
negative consequences of your friend's drinking behaviors. You can tell your
friend how you feel by using "I" messages, i.e., "I am afraid you're going to
be badly hurt one of these days if you keep drinking like this."
Tell the person that you will give support by taking him/her to meetings or
counseling sessions and then attend with your friend. Plan to spend time
together without alcohol and drugs involved. Hold to your promises, but also
recognize your limits.
Encourage friends in their treatment and recovery, but realize they may not be
open to talking about it. Notice if they drop out of treatment programs.
Encourage them to go back or contact their A.A. sponsor or therapist.
Be aware of relapses. Relapse does not mean failure. Getting them back into
treatment as soon as possible can help them learn how truly vulnerable to
alcohol/drug abuse they really are.
REFERENCES ON ALCOHOL
Alcohol and Drugs on American College Campuses: A Report to College
Presidents, by Dr. Cheryl A. Presley and Dr. Philip W. Meilman,
September, 1992) Alcohol Practices, Policies, and Potentials of American
Colleges and Universities: A White Paper. Office for Substance Abuse
Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, September 1991 The
Encyclopedia of Alcoholism, second edition. Robert O'Brien and Morris Chafetz,
M.D., 1991 The Encyclopedia of Drug Abuse, second edition. Robert
O'Brien, Sidney Cohen, M.D., Glen Evans, and James Fine, M.D., 1991 Drugs in
Modern Society by Erich Goode, third edition, 1989
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