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• Social problems, such as fighting and lack ofparticipation in youth activities• Legal problems, such as arrest for driving orphysically hurting someone while drunk• Physical problems, such as hangovers orillnesses• Unwanted, unplanned and unprotectedsexual activity• Disruption of normal growth and sexualdevelopment• Physical and sexual assault• Higher risk for suicide and homicide• Alcohol-related car crashes and otherunintentional injuries, such as burns, fallsand drowning• Memory problems• Abuse of other drugs• Changes in brain development that may havelifelong effects• Death from alcohol poisoningSource: Florida Department of Children and FamiliesBinge drinking on college campuses• According to a 1997 national study conductedby the Harvard School of Public Health,nearly half of all college students surveyeddrank four or five drinks in one sitting withinthe previous two weeks.• Students who live in a fraternity or sororityhouse are the heaviest drinkers: 86 percentof fraternity residents and 80 percent ofsorority residents report binge drinking.• In a recent study, 39 percent of collegewomen binge drank within a two-weekperiod compared to 50 percent of collegemen.• Colleges with high binge-drinking rates alsowere much more likely to attract studentswho were binge drinkers in high school.• In schools with high binge-drinking rates, 34percent of non-binge drinkers reported beinginsulted or humiliated by binge drinkers;13 percent reported being pushed, hit orassaulted; 54 percent reported having to takecare of a drunken student; 68 percent wereinterrupted while studying; and 26 percentof women experienced an unwanted sexualadvance.Sources: U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices and Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServices AdministrationMyth:fact:Myth:fact:Myths and facts about drinkingCoffee can sober upsomeone who has hadtoo much to drink.Only time sobers. It takesabout one hour to oxidizeeach drink.Hard liquor is moreintoxicating than beer orwine.A 12-ounce can of beer, afive-ounce glass of wineand a 12-ounce wine coolercontain the same amountof alcohol and the sameintoxication potential as1 1 /2 ounces of liquor.Alcohol poisoning 101Many people choose to ignore bingedrinking. It is dismissed as a game or a funtime. But every day, people die from theconsequences of binge drinking: alcoholpoisoning, car wrecks, drownings and soforth. Have you ever participated in partiesor events where people binge drink? Doyou know people who drink excessiveMyth:fact:Source: Florida Highway PatrolSomeone who has hadtoo much to drink willlook intoxicated.Someone’s physicalappearance can bemisleading. One drinkcan impair someone’sability to drive. Judgmentis the first thing affectedwhen someone has beendrinking and importantmotor skills are next.Alcohol poisoning is one of the most serious consequences of bingedrinking. When excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed, thebrain is deprived of oxygen. The struggle to deal with an overdoseof alcohol and lack of oxygen eventually will cause the brain to shutdown the voluntary functions that regulate breathing and heart rate.Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:• Vomiting• Unconsciousness• Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin• Slow or irregular breathing (fewer than eight breaths a minute or 10 or more seconds between breaths)Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationlearning with the times activity • Binge drinkingamounts of alcohol on a daily or weeklybasis? Did you know that drinking fouror more drinks in a short period of timeis considered binge drinking? Look inthe Tampa Bay Times and tbt* for barand restaurant ads. Do any of these adsencourage binge drinking?tampabay.com/nietampabay.com/nie 101111