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Harm Reduction Strategies
How to Care for an Intoxicated Person
Harm Reduction
There can be both desirable and undesirable experiences associated with drinking alcohol. If you are of legal age and enjoy drinking alcohol, here are some suggestions so that you will be more likely to experience the desirable effects without also experiencing the undesirable effects. By sticking to these suggestions, you should also be able to avoid very serious situations involving alcohol poisoning. - Know your limit. If you're not sure, experiment at home with your spouse or friends so you can decide the amount that provides the most positive experience without any of the negative consequences.
- Consume no more than one drink per hour without any ill effects.
- Eat food while you drink. Food, especially high protein food such as meat, cheese and peanuts, will help slow the absorption of alcohol into your body.
- Sip your drinks. If you gulp, you also lose the pleasure of their flavors and aromas.
- Don't participate in "chugging" contests or other drinking games. These activities compete with suggested rates of alcohol consumption and you’re drinking is at the mercy of the game or the pressure of competition.
- Accept a drink only when you really want one. If someone tries to force a drink on you, ask for a non-alcohol beverage instead. If that doesn't work, "lose" your drink by setting it down someplace and leaving it. Click here to get ideas on how to turn down a drink.
- Skip a drink now and then or alternate alcohol and non-alcohol drinks. Having non- alcohol drinks will help keep your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) down, as does spacing your alcohol drinks.
- Keep active; don't just sit around and drink. People who stay active tend to drink less and be more aware of any effects of alcohol.
- Beware of unfamiliar drinks. Some drinks such, as Zombies, Diesel Fuel, Irish Wake’s, Long Island Ice Teas, and other fruity or sweet drinks can be deceiving as the alcohol content is not easily detectable. Therefore, it is difficult to space them properly.
- Use alcohol carefully in connection with pharmaceuticals. Ask your physician or pharmacist about any precautions or prohibitions and follow any advice received.
How to Care for an Intoxicated Person
Visit these sites to get more information on how to care for someone who has had too much to drink. Call 2911 on campus in an emergency situation.
http://www.radford.edu/~kcastleb/action.html
http://www.uni.edu/wellrec/wellness/subabuse/risks/index.html