Citation

Misch DA. J. Stud. Aff. Res. Pract. 2011; 48(2): 165-178.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Berkeley Electronic Press)

DOI

10.2202/1949-6605.6152

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Reliance on college student peer assessment of the signs of alcohol poisoning to prevent overdose deaths is, in most instances, an impossible dream, one that is both misleading and dangerous insofar as it fosters a false sense of security and enhances the perception of personal invulnerability. Although teaching the signs of alcohol poisoning should certainly continue, college students must understand that moderate and responsible drinking is the only reliable way to avoid death from alcohol poisoning. In 2005 there were 1,825 alcohol-related unintentional injury deaths (e.g., vehicular accidents, falls, drowning, burns, suffocation, and gunshot wounds) among college students from 18 to 24 years of age. Of these, 468 college students died from alcohol-related, nontraffic injuries. Unfortunately, there is no good estimate of the number of college students who die each year of alcohol poisoning (i.e., overdose) per se, in contradistinction to the other alcohol-related deaths noted above. Reliance on college student peer assessment of the signs of alcohol poisoning to prevent overdose deaths is, in most instances, an impossible dream, one that is both misleading and dangerous insofar as it fosters a false sense of security and enhances the perception of personal invulnerability. Although teaching the signs of alcohol poisoning should certainly continue, college students must understand that moderate and responsible drinking is the only reliable way to avoid death from alcohol poisoning.

Language: en