Staying Safe on Campus: Alcohol, Drug & Sexual Assault Education

Objectives Alcohol Education/Harm Reduction Marijuana and Other Drugs Assessment of Use Alcohol & the Body Blood Alcohol Level Marijuana and Other Drugs Sexual Assault & Personal Safety SJU Policies and Resources

Part I: Why more alcohol education? SJU supports a “harm reduction” approach to college drinking and alcohol education. The optimal outcome of harm reduction is abstinence however, harm reduction approaches acknowledge that any steps to reduce risk is a step in the right direction. Remember - Harm Reduction is aimed at keeping students safe, should they choose to use alcohol. However, the illegal use of alcohol, especially the high risk use of alcohol, may lead to negative consequences, including intervention and accountability by SJU or the police.

What is your role today? What is our role today? Please participate and be honest! Regarding alcohol… if you do not currently drink…. Great! The info that we cover may be helpful for a friend To help students make informed decisions about alcohol use. To engage in a conversation around the serious consequences of all types of drug use. To discuss issues around personal safety on and off campus.

Part II: Assessment Alcohol of Use Drinking is a science. so…… What is in a standard drink? **Orientation Leaders will demonstrate using an activity

A standard drink is 1/2 ounces of ethyl alcohol… That translates to…. 12 oz of beer 10 oz of microbrew or wine cooler 8 oz of malt liquor or ice beer 4 oz of wine 1.25 oz of 80 proof liquor 1 oz of 100 proof liquor 1 can of 4 Loko = 5.6 standard drinks because it contains 2.88 ounces of pure ethanol

How many ounces are in a red solo cup? No idea

Think back…. To an occasion when you drank the most during the past year…. (If you do not drink, what about an amount you watched someone drink?) How many standard drinks did you/ they have? Did behavior change based on an increased number of standard drinks? Did consequences increase?

How much does the “average” SJU student drink? In a survey of SJU first-year students from August, 2010 82.2% said that they had used alcohol, at least once, in the past year 17.8% identified as non-drinkers The average number of drinks per week in a typical week, as identified by SJU students, is 7.3 standard drinks per week. Data collected using MyStudentBody, 2010

Why are typical behaviors and average behaviors distorted?

Part III: Alcohol Expectancies Drinking can be fun… What kind of positive things do you associate with drinking? How many drinks does it take to experience these positive effects? How many drinks until the positive aspects turn to negative consequences?

What are some of the not so fun things about drinking? Until….. What are some of the not so fun things about drinking?

Consequences of Alcohol Vandalism Violence and Sexual Assault (Alcohol is the #1 date rape drug) Arguments/broken relationships Impaired Academic Work Injury Trouble with police, University Loss of respect… becoming “THAT Person.”

Part IV: Alcohol 101 What is alcohol? “Depressant” is often misused - basically alcohol slows down the Central Nervous System Because our brain is part of the CNS, we see deficits in how our brain functions (motor coordination & cognitive processing)

How does alcohol get into your system? Absorption Swallow drink Into stomach 20% through your stomach and into blood stream The rest of the alcohol enters your small intestine & enters your bloodstream rapidly

What influences the rate of absorption What influences the rate of absorption? (how quickly alcohol enters bloodstream) The higher the concentration of alcohol in your drink. The faster you drink, the faster the alcohol enters your bloodstream Too much + too fast = high risk use & negative consequences

Part V: Blood Alcohol Level BAL = BAC = Blood Alcohol Level/Content Ratio of alcohol to blood in bloodstream Pennsylvania Legal Limit Over 21 = .08 Under 21 = .02 (you can get a DUI with a .02) BAC is not # of drinks

Alcohol’s Effects & BAC .02 - .04 - Lightheaded .05 - .07 - Buzzed .08 - .10 - Legally impaired .11 - .15 - Drunk .16 - .19 - Very Drunk/ brown outs & black outs .20 - .24 - Dazed & confused/ black outs .25 - .30 - stupor .31 and higher - coma or death

Tips for Moderate Drinking Set your limits before you go out Keep track of how much you drink Space your drinks Alternate alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks Drink for quality, not quantity Avoid drinking games It is okay to refuse a drink Find other things to do! If you chose to drink, do so slowly and in a safe environment Avoid taking shots Avoid drinks that mix alcohol & caffeine (Redbull & vodka, 4Loko, etc.)

Myth-busters All people are created equal when it comes to how alcohol impacts the body? FALSE (Quantity, Rate, Weight, Times, & Gender all make a difference) With a BAC of .08, how long will it take to “sober up” to a BAC of .00? 5 hours (.08%….064%….048%….032%….016%….00%) TIME is the only way to sober up. Alcohol leaves the body at a rate of .016%... No matter what you do! 3. “ High Tolerance” means that you can drink more, and obtain a lower BAC than someone with a lower tolerance. FALSE – Tolerance is actually a need for greater consumption to get the same effects. Two people of the same weight and gender who have been drinking the same amount at the same rate will reach the same BAC levels, even if one has developed tolerance and the other hasn’t. 4. Is Marijuana considered a Depressant or a Stimulant? Marijuana has characteristics of both. As a stimulant, it can increase heart rate, impact Blood Pressure and weaken the heart. It can mask the effects of alcohol, making for a dangerous combination.

Part VI: Marijuana & Other Drugs Monitoring the Future Study (High School Seniors 2009) 35% of students report past year use of drugs Marijuana 32% report past year use Any illicit drug other than marijuana 15% report past year use Vicodin, Narcotics other than heroine. Amphetamines, hallucinogens, tranquilizers

“Prescription” Drug Use College student illegal use of Xanax, Adderall, Ritalin, & Concerta is on the rise nationally “Researchers noted that despite the perceptions of the students, there is no real evidence that non-medical use of prescription stimulants helps students perform better academically, noting that the non-medical use of prescription stimulants is often indication of problem behaviors among college students.” - Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America SJU University Policy – can be found responsible for violating the University Drug Policy if you are using others’ Rx drugs, or even abusing your own Rx. Information gathered from NIDA

Community Standards at SJU (click here for video)

Part VII: SJU Safety Information

Alcohol & Sexual Assault More than 75% of acquaintance rapes involve alcohol use by the victim or perpetrator. Watch out for friends and vice versa- leave bars or parties together. If a friend is acting out of character or appears intoxicated, help him/her. Don’t drink from punch bowls or large open containers. Pour your own drinks, don’t accept drinks from others. Trust your instincts- if you do not feel safe, get help. If someone is under the influence of Alcohol, they can not consent to sex. Sexual assault is a crime of motive & opportunity. Ultimately there is no surefire way to prevent an attack. If you think you have been assaulted, there are services to help you at SJU.

Understanding Sexual Victimization Sexual assault is a traumatic experience for anyone. It can happen anywhere & to anyone. Sexual assault is a crime of violence. It is never about love or affection- it is about power & control. Victims of sexual assault may feel violated and powerless.

Risk Reduction

Response to Sexual Assault Sexual assault is a crime of motive & opportunity. Ultimately there is no surefire way to prevent an attack and it is never the victim’s fault. Find someone you know & trust to support you. You need to be in control of the response. Get medical assistance Decide whether or not to report the assault to police and to SJU (they are there to help.) Counseling & Support at SJU

How to Help a Friend Always believe a victim and reaffirm that it is not their fault Try and offer a safe environment Do not blame the victim Do not push the victim to make quick decisions. Let them decide in a pace in which they want to talk about the experience Be patient and supportive

Consent Consent is not present if: A person says NO (in any way) & at any point. A person is unable to give consent to sexual contact because of disability, age, or the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication; asleep or unconscious. Just because consensual sex may have occurred once, does not mean that sexual assault can not occur in the future

Remember… Alcohol consumption is a complicated issue Whether or not to drink is your choice Weigh the risks and benefits associated with drinking to make an informed decision Respect the community, University & surrounding area, where you will spend the next 4 years Know the resources on Campus

Resources for Students Office of Student Outreach & Support WADE- Wellness, Alcohol & Drug Education Program Campion 212 Support for student’s during difficult personal situations Alcohol & Drug Assessment, in-person & on-line NA & AA meeting locations Student Health Center, Sourin Hall, 1st Floor Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) Merion Gardens A504 Free & confidential appointments Walk-in Center in LaFarge Hall/ 11:30-1:00 Mon-Fri REPP (Rape Education & Prevention Program) 610-733-9650 (Student-run sexual assault 24 hour crisis hotline) Office of Public Safety & Security 610-660-1111

Mystudentbody.com You will receive an email instructing you to complete the alcohol, wellness and sexual violence section of mystudentbody.com before you arrive on-campus. All First-Year Students are expected to complete this 60 minute, on-line course

Thank you! Questions or Comments? We look forward to seeing you in the Fall!