What are weekends made for.
Ask Dr. Duck*
DearDr.Duck When I'm out at a party and don’t feel like drinking,
l often feel pressured to drink. How do I turn down a drink without
turning off my friends? Signed. Hi ,, Business.
Dear IK A straight forward "Thanks, I'm not drinking
alcohol todav ' or 'I've got all the gusto I can handle'' might bo all
you need to sav lk' clear about your decision not to drink before
you meet with your friends and allow yourself to led gixxi about
being an individual whodoesn't have to conform
Dear Dr. Duck I ately, when I go out and party with friends, lend
up getting drunk and feel hangover the next day. Do I have a
drinking problem? Signed, ).K., journalism.
I Var I k The fact that you end up getting drunk each time
you party might imply you are no longer in c ontrol over how much
alcohol you consume at any one time (although you might tell
yourself that you want to get drunk) Furthermore, your hang
overs might indeed indicate that your btxiv is having physical
withdrawal-type reactions. Both the loss ot control and with
drawal are known symptoms of alcohol dependency
Towhatextent you have a problem with alcohol depends on
various factors It's best if you assess your behaviors with a
professional counselor. In the meantime, however, you might
want to explore in what ways your drinking affects.
a) your emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing,
b) your relationships with friends and family;
c) your academic /professional performance and aspirations
i fy th* titunar/iijf t min ut* b§*> 1227
You might want to keep track of:
a) how much time and energy you use thinking about getting
a i hance to drink;
b) how often you "alter" your plans (and perhaps even friends)
tor the opportunity to get high,
c) what the specific circumstances are when you are drinking;
d) how much you consume each time you drink, etc.
• Dear Dr. Duik: l very Friday and Saturday nights, my roommates
t ome home drunk and act obnoxiously. I pretend I'm asleep so I
don't have to deal with them. Should I talk to them, and if so, what
should I say? Signed, D.H., I eisure Studies.
Dear D H In any relationship, it is generally most helpful to
lx- honest in a caring and nonjudgmental way By pretending to be
asleep, you only create distance between you and your room
mates You may either resent them for waking you up, or you
might toe! that thev really don't care about or respect you.
Before you talk to them, vou need to be clear about your
observations and feelings. Writedown the frequency of behaviors
and bo specific in what you note. Then
1) express vour care for them;
2) state objectively your observations;
3) express how you feel - 1 feel upset. tired of. . .
abused
Campus health issues are related to alcohol abuse
According to a 1989 U.S. Department of Health and 1 luman Services report,
the greatest threat to the health of college students is AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases (STD incidence rate: 1 /10). The leading cause of death for
college students is "accidental" — a fall from a balcony, a drowning in a river,
asphyxiation due to aspiration of vomit. Statistics show that alcohol use by
college students is a significant contributing factor in cases of STD, assault, and
accidental death:
> 60% of women were intoxicated when infected with STD
> 90% of gay men were intoxicated when infected with HIV
> 40% of criminal assaults on campus involved alcohol use
> 33% of students who are heavy drinkers reported physical injury to them
selves or others as a consequence of drinking
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. A' * M
—
Gender may play role in alcohol absorption
Women appear to have significantly lower amounts of a stomach enzyme
that breaks down some of the intoxicant in alcohol before it circulates through
the bodv. The stomach plays a protective role in the metabolism of alcohol in
men and only a negligible role in metabolizing alcohol in women, according to a
report released in January, l4l>0, by researchers from the University School of
Medicine in Trieste, Italy, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, N'.Y.
The lack of enzyme may account for the greater susceptibility of women
than men to the effects of alcohol. If differences in body weight aa> taken into
account, a woman might become legally intoxicated after consuming 20-to-30
percent less alcohol than a man. If weight differences are not considered, an
average-sized woman might reach a given blood alcohol level after consuming
about 50 percent less alcohol than a man.
Is it worth the price?
Being arrested for drunk driving is expensive. A DUII (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants)
conviction costs approximately S3,260 after adding tines, attorney's fees, insurance costs, etc.
Here is a list of what you can buy with $3,260:
• 217 concerts
• 327 albums or tapes
• 82 pairs of shoes
• 13,040arcade videogames
• 93 pairs of )eans
• Two-fitths of a new car
• 1,841 Big Macs
• 724 movies
• 65 ski trips
• 2,608 gallons of gas
• 26 portable stereos
• 181 haircuts
Ten Ways to say “No"
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I don't need to loosen up — 1 just got it together.
My weekends are made for something else.
If 1 were any more mellow. I d melt.
I like my happy hours to happen on their own.
It sloshes too much when I jog.
6. I like me just the way 1 am.
7. My liver and I have an understanding.
8. Chocolate and alcohol don't mix.
9. Things are polluted enough as they are.
10. My life is weird enough as it is.
T 4*™ fro- . ■' hr
OflterfH.fi—yS*** •*!'**"'
.
Time to have fun!
Here are some great leisure-time activities
•Go to coffee
• Ride a bike
• Go to the movies*
• Get involved in Club Sports
•Feed the dmks
•Call vour grandparents
•Brows*.’ the Sth Street Market*
•Try new recipes
•Skate at l ane County Ice*
•Volunteer at the YMCA*
• Pic k (lowers
• Write a letter
•Ik' creative at the 1 Ml Craft Center
•1 like Spencers Butte*
• Work out
•Canoe the Mill Race
•Helpan elderly person
• Rent movies
•Swim at the l ively Park Wave Ptx>l*
• Ask someone out*
• Read
•Swing in the park
• Play 11v ial Pursuit
• 1 like the McKenzie I rail*
• 1 isten to tapes
*>o»<r Widmi U i you to fte* t mJI l II1
Ways to Reduce Stress
• Plan some unscheduled time every day.
• Laugh more often.
• Practice relaxation exercise's when you
feel tense.
• Make time for tun and recreation.
• Build up your general strength get
rest and eat right.
• Talk out your problems with someone.
• Be flexible and don't take yourself Ux>
seriously.
J CAN'T
about your health and the well being of others within the University
community. For more information on how you can get involved, call
Joanie Robertson, Assistant to the Dean for Training and Prevention,
or Karlin Conklin, Media Relations Assistant, at COSAFE.
COSAFF (Dean of Students) • 686-3105
Counseling Center • 686-3227
Student Health Center • 686-4141
Crisis Line • 686-4488
Public Safety • 686-5444
Alcoholics Anonymous • 342-4113
Adult Children of Alcoholics • 683-6533
Narcotics Anonymous • 341-6070
©SAFE
Campus Organization for a Substance Abuse Free Environment