university Health center
Health Education Program
Mixing alcohol with other drugs makes for dangerous interactions
by Matt Nelson
It seems, these days, that articles concerning
campus health often deal predominantly with is
sues surrounding alcohol and other drugs. Alco
hol has become a major focus of college campuses
nationwide due, greatly, to the effects of student
intoxication including accidents, assaults, and
even death. The introduction of “date-rape” drugs
and their easy mixture with alcohol has led the
government to publish awareness materials, alert r
law enforcement, social groups, and campus '
health centers to the potential use of such sub
stances for the purposes of sexual assault. Fur
thermore, many students who choose not to drink
still use at least one drug occasionally for recre
ation. While much emphasis has been placed on
these aspects of alcohol and other drug use, the
area of alcohol and combined drug interactions has
been consistently overlooked.
Every campus in the nation has a large number
of students taking prescription and over-the
counter pharmaceuticals. Alcohol interferes with
the intended action of almost every class of pre
scription and over-the-counter drug available. Of
the 100 most prescribed drugs, at least 50% have
been shown to react adversely with alcohol. This
statistic does not even include more common and
less controlled over-the-counter medications. Ex
emplifying the importance of drug-alcohol interac
tions, a Peer Health Educator tells this story...
“A friend of mine had been given a pain med
ication prescription for a knee injury. Later in the
day, we decided to go to a party and have a few
drinks. Unfortunately, my friend failed to remem
ber that she had taken the painkillers. We ended
up taking her to the hospital because she went into
convulsions at the party.” Obviously, the friend
had not paid attention to the labeling on the med
ication or had not been specifically told not to mix
the medication with alcohol. In this case, the stu
dent was extremely lucky-the fact that her friends
were around and sought medical attention for her
immediately likely saved her life. This is not al
ways the case.
Instances such as this exemplify the most dan
gerous category of alcohol and other drug interac
tions. Alcohol’s depressant effects are exponen
tially increased with the addition of other
depressants
as painkillers, tranquilizers,
and sleep aids. The result is decreased heart rate
and blood pressure, reduced coordination, slowed
reflexes and increased drowsiness. Outward
symptoms, such as convulsions, are less common.
More often, the person simply falls asleep or passes
out, thereby exhibiting no alarming symptoms,
while the combination of drugs and alcohol con
tinue to depress the central nervous system until
the heart ceases to beat.
Aside from the misuse of alcohol and prescrip
tion drugs, the most prevalent adverse drug inter
actions are usually unintentional, non-fatal and in
volve over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Americans
use more OTC pharmaceuticals per capita than
any other nation.
Dr. Lindquist, a medical practitioner at the Uni
versity of Oregon Health Center, frequently deals
with alcohol and other drug interactions. He has
observed that the most common adverse interac
tions result from taking multiple over-the-counter
medications, with the same active ingredient, for a
single illness. Some medications, such as the de
congestant pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), are stimu
lants while others, such as antihistamines (Be
nadryl), are depressants. While less potent than
most prescription medications, double-dosing
over-the-counter medications can have equally
negative consequences. Also prevalent on campus
is the use of prescription antibiotics for infections.
Alcohol, consumed while on antibiotics, signifi
cantly reduces their effectiveness and may also
cause nausea and upset stomach.
The interaction of alcohol and other drugs has
only begun to receive the attention of universities
due to the increased use of date rape drugs. It is
nonetheless important for students to be aware
that many of the medications they are prescribed
l or buy over-the-counter-can have equally harmful
interactions when mixed with each other and/or
with alcohol. It is, therefore, our responsibility to
research the possible interactions of medications
we take. Fortunately, many resources are available
to interested students at the University of Oregon
Health Center, including: the Peer Health Educa
tion office (345-4456), Pharmacy (346-4454), and
any of the medical practitioners on staff at the
Health Center. Call 346-2770 to make an appoint
ment. After-hours, a call to the Health Center
(346-2770) will connect you to a Seattle based
“Dial-A-Nurse” service.
AIDS: Twenty Years Later
By Amy Pape
la the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that
900,000 people are living with HIV and one third of these are unaware ■
that they are infected* {Yet we still believe that we can teilifaperson is
; HTV positive just by their appearance),
FACT * ';% ■ | -
One half of all new HIV infections are among those aged 25 and under,
(Yet we hang on to the belief that "it just can’t happen to me”).
FACT
In 1996 AIDS climbed to the fifth leading cause of death among people
aged 25 to 44. (Yet many of us are still willing to risk transmission for con
venience).
FACT
The CDC reports that while the number of AIDS cases is declining, the
number of people living with HIV infection is growing, which means that
each risk behavior carries an increased risk for infection, (Let us not forget
that there still is no cure for this disease).
After twenty years, AIDS and HIV are still one step ahead of us. In order
to stop HIV, each and every one of us needs to protect ourselves every time we
engage in risky behavior, even if we think we know our partners. We all know
that abstinence is the only surefire way to prevent infection and can even be
enjoyable. (Check out the other articles in WellNow). But for those of us who
still want to engage in sexual contact (oral, anal, and vaginal sex), condoms
and dental dams are a must. These handy latex tools prevent the spread of
HIV as well as many other sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
These weapons against infection are a lot less expensive than a lifetime of pre
scriptions and pain that come with a positive HIV diagnosis. Condoms and
dental dams are available free to students at the Health Education Office. Stu
dents that are enrolled in the FPEP (Family Planning Expansion Project) pro
gram receive a free year's supply of condoms. Call 346-2770 to see if you quali
fy for FPEP.
The next step in combating HIV is to get tested. If you have been sexually
active, no matter how many partners you have had, it is important to get an
HIV test. Yes, it can be nerve racking waiting for the results. I remember when
I first got tested. The two weeks I waited for my results were the longest of my
life. However, now that I know my results I can be honest and open with my
partner.
Confidential testing is available at the Health Center for $12. Appoint
ments can be made by calling 346-2770. The $12 can be billed to your student
account and will show up as miscellaneous lab work. Results are kept in a
confidential file within your medical records and can be released to others
only upon your written consent. If you test positive, State of Oregon regula
tions require that the results be sent to the State Health Department. Under
this new "names-to-code" reporting system, your name will be linked to your
positive result until the health department has completed an HIV case report
form and you have been referred for HIV prevention and care services. Once
these have been done, a code will be matched to your results and your name
will be deleted from the system.
College aged people are the fastest growing group of new HIV infections
and without all of us acknowledging the risk and protecting ourselves, we will
lose many in our generation. Get protected, get tested, and get informed.
Winter2002
WELL
NOW
See wellNow online at:
http://healthed.uoregon.edu
i; n ! v e u I t y
T HEALTH CENTER
We’re a matter of degrees +
in this issue...
fHsge9L~
Food Labels
What’s in the food you’re
eating? Learn more about
what food labels mean and
what you should look for.
Breast Self Exams
How to detect breast cancer
early by conducting monthly
breast self exams.
Pages..
Satisfaction
Don’tbe afraid to discover what
pleases you sexually.
Enjoy Sensuality
Enjoy eroticism with your part*
ner, with or without going “all
the way”.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
How can one combat those win
ter blues that come with the rain
and gray skies?
Eating Disorders
What to do if a friend needs
your help coming to grips with
an eating disorder.
Pages 3 & 4L. ||
Factoids
Interesting health facts to amuse
and/or make you think.
M
«; S I v E k S I T V
HEALTH CENT E R
We're a matter of degrees ^
Hours: 1
Mon., and Wed.-Fri.: 8am to 6pm
Tuesday: 9am to 6pm, ■
Saturday & Sunday: 10am to 2pm I
Phone:
Appointments: 346-2770
Dental: 3484432
Pharmacy: 3464454
Physical Therapy: 3464401 ■
Insurance: 346-3702
Urgent Care: 346-2770
Peer Health Education: 3464456 ■
General: 3464441
On-line:
http://healthcenter.uoregon.edu ■
I_I