Alcohol & College

April 5th, 2010  

Some of the statistics with regards to college and alcohol drinking are you might say extremely sobering. An average college student spends about $900 on alcohol every year and about 159,000 first year students will probably drop out due to some alcohol or drug related issue.

A third of college students agree that they have missed at least one class or more due to alcohol related issues. And it may surprise many to know that one night of binge drinking can make your thinking fuzzy for up to 30 days.

Today the condition is worse than you can imagine. Seventy two percent of college students claim that they consume alcohol about once every month. This number is similar for men and women. Among those under the age of 21, sixty nine percent have indulged in alcohol use in the last 30 days.

Some studies show that 43 percent of college students consume alcohol in a risky manner. Among the minority that does not consume alcohol, there are about 60 percent of people who feel that their study or sleep is often interrupted by binge drinkers. More than half have had to take care of a drunk friend.

Dangers of Alcohol Use on College Campuses

Too often alcohol becomes alcohol abuse in college environments. This is mainly because of the irresponsible manner in which college students tend to drink. Deaths from alcohol poisoning and drunk driving seem to be on the rise. Other incidents like injuries, vandalism, buy ambien crime and rape on campus has been traced back to alcohol abuse. The combination of drug and alcohol use is another potent mixture that leads to many health issues.

Busting Some Myths About College and Alcohol Use

– Many people believe that alcohol use makes them more fun to be around. But the fact is that no one finds slurring, stumbling people fun to be around. Try and think whether people are laughing at you or with you.

– “Everyone drinks heavily at parties” – Not everyone drinks heavily and you would know this for sure if you stopped drinking and noticed what everyone was doing. Most people drink moderately.

– Older college students feel that they can handle themselves and do not need to learn about alcohol use from anyone. But the fact is when you trouble other people after you indulge in alcohol abuse, you are disturbing them and so it does become their business to tell you to stop!

– There is also a feeling that college students have that they want to indulge in alcohol abuse for as long as they are in college. They feel that they will get their alcohol use under control as soon as they are out of college. The problem is that giving up on the habit is not so easy after all the months of binging.

(Make sure you or your friends are drinking at a safe level.  Pick up an alcohol test from Home Health Testing today.)

– Anne Hamilton

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The Risk Alcohol Abuse Presents to Women

March 18th, 2010  

It is a known fact that the male and female body in humans is different in many respects and it reacts to various substances in different ways. Alcohol is no different! Women are affected differently by alcohol as compared to men and therefore the acceptable level of drinking and intake are also different.

The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol Related Disorders conducted a study in conjunction with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in 2001-02 and found that 5.42 percent of males and 2.32 percent females in the US suffered from alcohol dependence. About 5 percent to 10 percent women suffer from alcoholism at some point in their lives in the US too.

It was also stated that the average age when women start to consume alcohol is older than men. However, the speed at which women progress from the first drink to dependency is far higher.

How are women affected by alcohol?

Alcohol affects various parts of the body. It is known to have an adverse effect on the brain, the heart, the liver, the stomach, the skin, the reproductive organs and the overall weight profile. Excessive drinking is known to reduce the amount of brain tissue while increasing the size of the ventricles. Those dependent tend to neglect their diet leading to heart related issues due to vitamin deficiencies. Heavy drinking can irritate the stomach and as the alcohol depresses nerve reactions, it can also disrupt your sex life.

However the most significant effects of alcohol are felt in the liver. Frequent intake and large quantities do not allow the liver cells to function properly. As Cirrhosis develops the liver tissue is unable to heal itself due to the constant consumption.

Depending on the amount of alcohol that is consumed, it is said that the individual moves from a state of euphoria to excitement to confusion to stupor and lastly to coma and death.

The effect of alcohol in women is different in women due to the lower levels water in their bodies as compared to men (compared for the same level of weight). This means that there is less availability of water for dilution in the body in the case of women. Therefore, the brain, liver and other parts of the body are exposed to a higher concentration of alcohol and toxicity.

How much is too much for a woman?

Alcohol abuse in women is defined differently than that for men. The dietary guidelines laid for women in the United States for moderate drinking are no more than one drink a day (a standard drink is defined as a 12 ounce bottle of beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine or a 1.5 ounce distilled alcohol) for women. A higher consumption is known to increase risk of accidents, injuries, high blood pressure, stroke, suicide and some types of cancer.

Symptoms of alcohol abuse in women

Alcohol abuse is a situation in which a woman starts to depend on alcohol to such an extent that she starts to harm herself and others. Missing work or failing to fulfill childcare responsibilities, drinking while driving, getting arrested for excessive drinking and aggressive behavior or continuing to drink despite family issues and tensions due to alcohol consumption are some of the symptoms of alcohol abuse in women.

Social pressures increase alcohol abuse in women

While men have been at the receiving end with regards to alcohol abuse and drinking and driving, a study conducted by U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the proportion of women involved in a drinking and driving accident increased among those in the 19+ age group. It is hypothesized that the high levels of demands from women in the modern world have increased and women are taking to alcohol for respite. Some women are known to drink excessively just to fit in!

Make sure that you are moderating your alcohol use and not making any risky decisions by carrying an alcohol test with you when you decide to drink. It is the safest way to be sure you are sober and ready to go behind the wheel.

– Anne Hamilton

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The Social Problems That Make Alcohol Testing Necessary

March 4th, 2010   1 Comment
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of adults in the United States are regular drinkers (defined as at least 12 drinks in the last year). It is also estimated that among the 15.1 million alcohol dependent individuals in America, a third are women.
While limited amounts of alcohol consumption does not harm anyone, one needs to be wise enough to know how much is enough. There is also a difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. While the former refers to drinking alcohol and then indulging in socially unacceptable behavior, something that can cause physical harm to others, the latter involves a physical dependence and craving for alcohol.
Uncontrolled alcohol consumption can affect the individual as well as the society that he or she lives in. There are also certain larger societal issues that drinking causes.
Individual negative effects of alcohol abuse
In the short term alcohol consumption makes a person cheerful. Over time it can cause dehydration, lack of motor coordination, blurred vision and a lowering of inhibitions. Long term health concerns include liver health.
An initial sign that someone is beginning to develop an alcohol dependency is that they seek out alcohol drinking occasions. They look at drinking as an escape from problems. Loss of will power and inadequate attempts to seek help are common.
Loss of self control becomes a pattern among those who abuse alcohol. Friendships start to last only if the companion is an alcohol partner.
Societal concerns of excessive alcohol consumption
The social effects of alcohol are far reaching. Some of these are:
– It is estimated that more than a hundred thousand people face death due to alcohol.
– There is a considerable loss in productivity that the workforce faces at large. Estimates go up to $100 billion per year. Work accidents, absenteeism, low performance while on the job are specific ways in which the overall productivity is reduced.
– About 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of injuries at the workplace are caused due to drinking in some way or another.
– Alcohol abuse is involved in 50 percent of driving fatalities and someone is killed in an alcohol related accident every 30 minutes in the United States.
– Lactating, breast feeding or pregnant women who drink actually feed alcohol to their babies who are unable to burn the alcohol in the way an adult liver can. Genetic disorders and other defects are more probable among babies born of drinking mothers. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are common due to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
– 3/4ths of all domestic abuse incidents involve the consumption of alcohol by the abuser.
Knowing when you are moving from a casual drinker to one that is actively looking for alcohol almost all the time is essential. If you feel that you child or spouse is drinking more than what is considered okay, use the alcohol test to check out the number of times he or she is drinking. In the long run it may be one of the best things you can do for a person.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of adults in the United States are regular drinkers (defined as at least 12 drinks in the last year). It is also estimated that among the 15.1 million alcohol dependent individuals in America, a third are women.

While limited amounts of alcohol consumption does not harm anyone, one needs to be wise enough to know how much is enough. There is also a difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. While the former refers to drinking alcohol and then indulging in socially unacceptable behavior, something that can cause physical harm to others, the latter involves a physical dependence and craving for alcohol.

Uncontrolled alcohol consumption can affect the individual as well as the society that he or she lives in. There are also certain larger societal issues that drinking causes.

Individual Negative Effects of Alcohol Abuse

In the short term alcohol consumption makes a person cheerful. Over time it can cause dehydration, lack of motor coordination, blurred vision and a lowering of inhibitions. Long term health concerns include liver health.

An initial sign that someone is beginning to develop an alcohol dependency is that they seek out alcohol drinking occasions. They look at drinking as an escape from problems. Loss of will power and inadequate attempts to seek help are common.

Loss of self control becomes a pattern among those who abuse alcohol. Friendships start to last only if the companion is an alcohol partner.

Societal Concerns of Excessive Alcohol Consumption

The social effects of alcohol are far reaching. Some of these are:

– It is estimated that more than a hundred thousand people face death due to alcohol.

– There is a considerable loss in productivity that the workforce faces at large. Estimates go up to $100 billion per year. Work accidents, absenteeism, low performance while on the job are specific ways in which the overall productivity is reduced.

– About 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of injuries at the workplace are caused due to drinking in some way or another.

– Alcohol abuse is involved in 50 percent of driving fatalities and someone is killed in an alcohol related accident every 30 minutes in the United States.

– Lactating, breast feeding or pregnant women who drink actually feed alcohol to their babies who are unable to burn the alcohol in the way an adult liver can. Genetic disorders and other defects are more probable among babies born of drinking mothers. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are common due to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

– 3/4ths of all domestic abuse incidents involve the consumption of alcohol by the abuser.

Knowing when you are moving from a casual drinker to one that is actively looking for alcohol almost all the time is essential. If you feel that you child or spouse is drinking more than what is considered okay, use the alcohol test to check out the number of times he or she is drinking. In the long run it may be one of the best things you can do for a person.

– Anne Hamilton

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Why You Should Alcohol Test Your Employees

January 20th, 2010  

It has been estimated that about 70 percent of substance abusers hold jobs. This includes the 18 million alcohol abusers that have been estimated in the United States. Coming to work under the influence of alcohol can cause various concerns and issues. Among them are risks of an accident, reduced productivity, higher levels of health insurance costs and therefore lesser profits and unsafe conditions for everyone.

An alcohol test can help in finding out those who have been abusing alcohol or have come to work under the influence. It has been seen that alcohol abusers like other substance users are more prone to miss work and are also at a much higher risk of being involved in a job accident. This risk obviously is far greater in jobs that require extremely high levels of concentration.

Workplaces that require physical work like driving or managing large equipment, in other words any work that requires the reflexes to be at their best, can benefit from on-site alcohol testing. Since alcohol consumption causes blurred vision and coordination issues, these tasks become difficult for those under the influence. Transportation companies, construction companies, factories, heavy equipment handling companies and others should definitely include alcohol testing as a regular practice to ensure job safety.

Not only are alcohol tests necessary for the job safety of the employees, they also keep the employers away from complicated law suits that tend to follow incidents. It may not be practical to have a laboratory come in and conduct testing every now and then, but the breath analyzer alcohol test is an extremely convenient and accurate one that can get around this problem and literally be used every day.

Educational institutions are also using the alcohol test to ensure that there are no students that come to the campus under the influence of alcohol. This is a necessary measure that is being taken to ensure that proper discipline is maintained in the premises of the school. Hooliganism and unacceptable behavior can be avoided by using the 0.02 percent breath alcohol test.  As a matter of fact, the University of Minnesota, for example, requires season-ticket holding students guilty of previous alcohol offenses to take an alcohol test before they enter the stadium (see the full article at the blog Alcohol Testing).

Small businesses that cannot afford to hire a laboratory for these alcohol tests on a regular basis can ensure that their workplace is devoid of alcoholics. While those with desk jobs may not be at such a high risk of accidents on the job, the short term effects of alcohol can lead to low productivity and bad judgment. Alcohol induced fatigue, insomnia and lack of judgment and false confidence can cause some really wrong decisions to be made.

The home alcohol test is also something that educational institutions and corporate offices can use to ensure that the employees are clean and not under the influence of alcohol when they report. These alcohol tests are simple and can give results in a matter of seconds.

The 0.02 percent breath analyzer is a great piece of zero-tolerance equipment that can detect alcohol that has been consumed in the past hours. It is also a convenient thing to use to decide whether it is safe to drive or not rather than calculating the number and type of drinks consumed before getting behind the wheel.

Such alcohol tests not only provide a great way to pick out alcohol abuse at the workplace, they are a significant help in deterring teenagers from indulging in alcohol too.

– Anne Hamilton

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Alcohol Test to Control Drunk Driving

December 29th, 2009  

The holiday season is considered to be one of the most hectic times for police and traffic departments due to the significant increase in impaired or drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 1000 people in America who are killed across the country in highway crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year. Despite the various campaigns that have been run by parents, social workers, activists and police departments, alcohol abuse and drunk driving do not seem to reduce among teenagers and adults. While there are some who are aware of the dangerous consequences and abstain from driving when drunk, guards seem generally down during the festive season between Thanksgiving and New Year.

Here are some tips that can help you stop drunk driving around you during the holiday season.

– Have a word with your teenagers and explain to them that drinking and driving shall not be tolerated. Make sure that you purchase an alcohol test that can be used at home and convey the message loud and clear to them.

– If you are hosting a party, then you should set the rules about alcohol abuse and driving when drunk upfront. If you feel that most of your guests are likely to drink through the night, make some provision for sleepovers.

– The other thing to do is to designate drivers in your group. You’ll probably have more than one party this holiday season and you can always take turns among your group of friends.

– If you are a worried about the safety of your friends, you could also carry a small alcohol test with you that can be used on the spot to determine whether someone is fit for driving or not. The alcohol tests that you can buy over the counter or online are non-invasive and easy to use. While some alcohol tests are breath analyzers, other may require a saliva sample.

– If you want to help in keeping the roads safe for yourself and your loved ones, call in the local law enforcement authorities and let them know where a dangerous car that you’ve spotted was headed. Drunk driving is not only harmful for those driving the car but also for innocent pedestrians and other vehicle drivers on the road.

– If you feel that someone is about to drive home and you feel that they are drunk try and convince them to take some form of local/public transport. Use an easy to use alcohol drug test like a breath analyzer to help prove to them that they are not fit for driving.

Many lives can be saved if we are only careful about the kind of danger that happens on the roads when people drink and drive. This kind of alcohol abuse can only stop if we are conscious and aware of the devastation such incidents can cause in the lives of people. The use of alcohol tests to ascertain drunk drivers should be encouraged so that the law can be upheld and enforced properly.

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Alcohol Testing – Why Is It Done?

December 10th, 2009  

The increase in the amount of alcohol testing conducted in this country is something that should have probably happened much earlier. The government agencies are facing up to the fact that alcohol abuse can result in various harmful situations. Since it is possible to avoid such accidents from occurring, a stricter control is being levied on people who drink and abuse the freedom that has been granted to them. Alcohol testing can be done in various ways. The various affordable options include the famous breathalyzer-like breath alcohol test and also a saliva based test.

The effect of high levels of alcohol in the blood has been studied in various laboratory experiments. Other empirical studies have also been conducted to understand how alcohol can affect judgment and action. For example, it is known that a large proportion of highway fatalities occur due to a “drinking and driving” situation. The government legislators and organizations like MADD therefore feel that implementing rules with random alcohol tests can help in reducing irresponsible behavior on the road leading to a safer environment for many innocent people.

Some organizations are now beginning to conduct random alcohol tests at the workplace to ensure that the work environment is safe, sophisticated and sober too. It has been seen that such random alcohol tests that can be done using home alcohol test kits can reduce employee theft, on job injuries, turnover, sexual harassment and violence at the workplace. In addition to this there is also an increase that can be observed in the overall productivity levels.

Each of the alcohol tests attempt to arrive at the level of alcohol in the blood. The most common acceptable measure is BAC or Blood Alcohol Concentration. This is the amount of alcohol in the blood as a percentage of the total blood composition. A BAC of 0.09 indicates that there are 9 parts of alcohol per 10,000 parts of blood. Most state laws specify BAC levels in terms of grams per 100 milliliters of blood. The specific BAC levels that have been defined as permissible are covered under state jurisdiction and therefore differ, but it is a criminal offense in every state in the US to operate a vehicle with a BAC of greater than 0.08.

It is important to note here that an alcohol drug test can only confirm that alcohol abuse has taken place. It does not confirm that the individual being tested is an alcoholic or anything like that. Therefore while the test can be accurately described as an alcohol abuse test, it is surely not a test that can confirm alcoholism or addiction. To illustrate, drinking heavily during a birthday party and then driving home can cause a positive result on a breath alcohol test. However, the test result does not indicate a pattern of abuse.

Regular alcohol tests and random and surprise testing conducted in schools and colleges can keep children and teenagers under check making it difficult for them to illegally procure alcohol and consume it, especially during school hours. Not only are alcohol tests providing a safe environment for all concerned, they are also helping our youngsters lead a better life.

–Anne Hamilton

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