Jan 3, 2007

Dangers of Student Binge Drinking

On September 5, 2004, a beautiful college sophomore named Samantha Spady died from alcohol poisoning after drinking too many shots of vanilla flavored vodka. A talented artist, Sam was from the small town of Beatrice, Nebraska. She also was a student at Colorado State University, where I teach. Sam was never my student, but she could have been. And she may as well have been, as my classrooms are filled with promising young women just like her.

On the CBS Evening News, I watched yet another story about how popular binge drinking has become among college and high school students. According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control, almost half the high school students they surveyed admitted to drinking, and of those students, over half of them binge drink. And according to the SAM Spady Foundation, over 1,400 college student deaths each year are related to binge drinking. 1,400 students. That's insane.

Being preachy is not usually my style, but students, this is awful. If you drink, you need to know your limit and drink responsibly.

To students who binge drink: I have to say, I don't fully understand why you do it. Is the fun of binge drinking worth the risk to you? It seems to me there's a line between getting a little drunk and getting wasted, and that crossing the line is not worth it. Being a little drunk results in goofy behavior and maybe a hangover, but probably no regrets. Being wasted results in unpleasantries like vomiting, bad hangovers, weight gain, and blackouts-- not to mention very stupid behavior. Excessive alcohol consumption can also result in addiction, date rape, alcohol poisoning, and death. (And if you're underage, any drinking can result in your arrest.) Are those extra drinks really worth the side effects and the safety risks?

After their daughter's death, Rick and Patty Spady founded the SAM Spady Foundation to help educate students and parents about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. (SAM stands for Student Alcohol Management). Their website includes a list of warning symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Call 911 immediately if you see someone with these symptoms:

  • Unconscious or semiconscious
  • Breathing less than 10 times per minute or irregular (check every 2 minutes)
  • Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin
  • Can't be awakened by pinching, prodding or shouting
  • Vomiting without waking up (Source: SAM Spady Foundation)

I'm a mom, and the most horrible thing I can think of is losing my daughter. 1,400 sets of parents lose their children every year because of excessive alcohol consumption. Students, please be careful.