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How to tell if there is a Problem

If you are concerned that a student may have a problem with alcohol, ask yourself if he/she is:

• drinking more than they used to?
• switching peers/social groups?
• passing/blacking out?
• frequently getting sick after drinking?
• minimizing his/her use?
• drinking alone?
• lying about his/her use?
• avoiding concerned friends/peers?
• changing his/her behaviors?
• losing motivation/interest in school?
• spending most of his/her money on alcohol?
• frequently tired/sleepy (appearing hung over)?
• experiencing legal problems (DWI, DUI, fights, vandalism)?
• becoming secretive and defensive about use?
• isolating him/herself from others?
• forgetting/denying things they say or do while under the influence of alcohol?
• seeking out only alcoholic social events?
• bragging about amount of use?
• drinking just to get drunk?
• acting agitated or unexplainably hostile?
• experiencing noticeable, frequent illness or injury?

Answering "yes" to some of these warning signs could indicate a problem with alcohol, drugs, or some other personal issue.

Helping a Student

It is not always easy to tell if a student has an alcohol problem, but in your frequent interaction with students, you may notice considerable changes in his/her behavior and performance that may warrant concern.

Below is a list of warning signs that could indicate a problem with alcohol or other drugs:

• Coming to class, rehearsal etc. drunk or high
• Sleeping or drowsiness
• Tardiness and/or skipping class
• Unexplained agitation/hostility
• Decrease in quality of words
• Frequently asking for extensions on projects.
• Making excuses for poor behavior (tardiness, late work)
• Changes in appearance
• Noticeable health problem
• Decreased attention in class, practice, etc.
• Poor judgment and decision-making
• Constant references to alcohol use

You may feel uneasy regarding how to best approach a students whose behavior elicits concern. Even in a brief conversation, when you offer your observations and provide options for additional support, the immediate benefit to the student is the knowledge that someone sees and cares. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you decide to address your concerns with a student:

1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES:
1. Do not ignore the situation.
2. When people are confronted about their behavior, they tend to be defensive.
3. Be well informed. The more you learn about alcohol and its effects, the more helpful you can be to others.
4. Helpful intervention is a process, not an event. It takes time.
5. Do not be judgmental.
6. Be a good listener.
2. ATTEMPT TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
1. Let the person know you care (ie. "I'm concerned about…")
2. Try to remain calm. Do not lecture and do not judge.
3. Stick to the observable facts (ie. missing class, change in behavior)
4. Anticipate the possible responses (ie. minimizing use, changing topic, jokes, excuses, etc.)
5. Be ready to provide educational materials or to refer them.
3. AVOID:
1. Arguing with the person
2. Getting angry and losing control
3. Enabling
4. Delaying the confrontation
5. Diagnosing (ie. "You are an alcoholic.")
6. Sparing the person the consequences of his/her use.

What to do in an emergency

• MIT Police: 100 or 3-1212
• MIT Medical: 3-1311

When someone is intoxicated

DO:

• Continually monitor him/her.
• Check his/her breathing.
• Wake him/her frequently to make sure he/she is not unconscious.
• When lying him/her down, make sure his/her head is to the side to keep him/her from swallowing vomit.
• Stay calm. Do not let your anxiety transfer to the person in trouble.
• Have another person with you to help.
• Keep him/her comfortable by talking calmly and in short, simple phrases.
• If he/she is expressing suicidal thoughts, do take him/her seriously. People are more likely to act on suicidal feelings when under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
• Call for help (MIT Police: 100 or 3-1212 MIT Medical: 3-1311

DON'T:

• Let the person drive or ride a bike.
• Put another drunk person in charge of taking care of him/her.
• Give food, drink (including coffee) or medication to sober the person up.
• Give him/her a cold shower. The shock may cause him/her to pass out!
• Argue with or threaten him/her while intoxicated.
• Try to walk, run, or exercise him/her.
• Attempt to constrain him/her.
• Put him/her to bed. Intoxicated people often become so "relaxed" that they can pass out and choke on their own vomit.
• Allow him/her to leave alone.

REMEMBER: THE ONLY THING THAT CAN SOBER A DRUNK PERSON IS TIME!

Alcohol Poisoning

Acute alcohol intoxication, or alcohol poisoning, can occur after the ingestion of a large amount of alcohol. Factors (body weight, height, body chemistry, if the individual ate before drinking) influence how a person may react to large amounts of alcohol. Inexperienced drinkers, those sensitive to alcohol, or those who consume larger amounts of alcohol in a small period of time may become acutely intoxicated and suffer serious consequences even after ingesting smaller amounts of alcohol.

When ingested in larger quantities, alcohol slows body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. When alcohol significantly depresses these vital centers, unconsciousness results, this is one step away from coma and possible death.

Signs & Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning:

• Unconsciousness or semiconsciousness. He/she is unable to respond or be woken up.
• Slowed or irregular breathing. Slow respiration, eight or less breaths per minute or lapses between breaths or more than 10 seconds.
• A pulse rate lower than 40 beats per minute is a medical emergency.
• Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin.
• Repeated episodes of vomiting
• Vomiting while "sleeping" or passed out, and not waking up when vomiting.

Note: a person does not need to exhibit all of these signs/symptoms to be at risk.

If you encounter someone who exhibits one or more of these symptoms, you should call for help. This is a medical emergency.

While waiting for medical transport, gently turn the intoxicated person on his/her side and maintain that position by placing a pillow in the small of the person's back. This is important to prevent aspiration should the person vomit. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.Any individual may not yet have alcohol poisoning, but his/her blood alcohol level can continue to rise, for up to 90 minutes after he/she has had his/her last drink. This means he/she has a potential risk of alcohol poisoning and may need to be monitored.

Call for help under the following conditions:

• If he/she is:
• unable to stand or walk, or can do so only with difficulty
• only poorly aware of his/her surroundings
• has difficulty breathing
• has passed out or is stuporous
• has fever or chills
• has difficulty speaking or identifying him/herself to others
• is reported to have consumed a large quantity of alcohol, or chugged, or ingested other sedating or tranquilizing drugs within the last 30 minutes
• If the individual is not showing any of the above symptoms, consider if the following three conditions are met:
• He/she is conscious, alert, and appears to understand the risks of the situation
• He/she can state his/her name, class, and campus address
• He/she is able to stand or walk without assistance, although speech may be slurred.
• Then the following steps are beneficial:
• Get the person to bed
• Place him/her on his/her side with a pillow on the small of the back
• Check on him/her every 10-15 minutes for the remainder of the night

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