Question (October 10, 2009): I was drinking last night and think I was drugged (but not raped). Is there anyway to know for sure?
Answer (October 13, 2009): I understand that the feeling of blacking out and the idea of possibly being drugged is extremely scary. To know for certain, there are tests that can be taken at the hospital. According to E-How®, following these steps can help you determine if you were drugged for sure:
Step 1: Try to think of the last thing you remember. Ask anyone you were with if they remember you becoming dramatically sleepy or otherwise impaired. Write down as much as you and your friends can recall about the situation using timelines and indicators of levels of intoxication.
Step 2: Call the GW Sexual Assault Crisis Consultation (SACC) Team at 202-994-SACC or visit their website at www.gwired.gwu.edu/saccteam. You can also call the national version known as the Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) at 1-800-656-HOPE. Their team members will direct you to local assistance quickly.
Step 3: The medical staff at the hospital the SACC Team or RAINN recommends will take a urine sample. Though some date rape drugs can leave the urinary tract in as little as 6 hours, others take 36 to 72 hours to leave the urine or bloodstream. This test is the only way to know for sure whether there was a drug in your system.
Step 4: Have your notes with you when you talk to the police. These details will be important for the police to find the perpetrator and aid the district attorney in prosecuting the crime.
It is important to also recognize that alcohol is the number one date rape drug as consuming alcohol can cause blackouts. Without a test to confirm the presence of any drug other than alcohol, it will not be possible to know for sure if you were drugged.
Citation:
"How to Know If You've Been the Victim of a Date Rape Drug | eHow.com." EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. http://www.ehow.com/how_2033930_victim-rape-drug.html
Question (October 5, 2009): what is the college policy regarding alcohol possession and consumption
Answer (October 13, 2009): The University has several policies surrounding alcohol including Alcoholic Beverage Consumption and Distribution (ABCD) Policy and the “Code of Student Conduct.” Some key points found in both of these documents include the following:
The University’s alcohol policy mirrors federal and/or local law, in that an individual under the age of 21 can not possess or use alcohol and that an individual can not be intoxicated regardless of age, either on or off campus. It is a violation of law and University policy to misrepresent your age or identification to gain access to alcohol. The University prohibits kegs on campus as well as the common-source containers such as punch bowls. Drinking contests or games are prohibited. Students who provide alcohol to minors will be held accountable according to the “Code” and potentially arrested. Please keep in mind that these are just a few of the violations listed in the “Code.”
For a more in depth look at the Alcoholic Beverage Consumption and Distribution (ABCD) policy, please read the policy which can be found online at: ABCD Policy. The “Code of Student Conduct” can be found online at: Code of Student Conduct.
Events with alcohol must be registered through our office and forms to do so can be found on our website at: Registration Forms.
Question (October 4, 2009): If I get an alcohol violation at GW is that something that carries over on my transcript? Meaning will future employers see this?
Answer (October 13, 2009): According to the Student Judicial Services (SJS) website, the files of students found in violation of any prohibited conduct through SJS, including alcohol violations, will be retained as a disciplinary record until graduation. According to the “Code” transcript notations will be made whenever a student is expelled or suspended. Disciplinary records may be reported to third parties in accordance with University regulations and law. According to the “Code of Student Conduct”, disciplinary records may be removed…upon written request of the individual no sooner than one year after the finding of fact in the case. Requests are not automatically granted but are reviewed based upon criteria listed in the “Code.”
This means that if you are applying to graduate school, law school, an internship, a government job or something similar, it is possible that GW could be contacted for a background check in regards to your disciplinary record. If Student Judicial Services is contacted, they may disclose the information in your disciplinary record. Students may apply for an Administrative Expungement of their disciplinary record by submitting this online form. Records maintained by the University Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department are not covered under the University’s Administrative Expungement policy.
If you have any more questions regarding disciplinary records, please contact the Office of Student Judicial Services at sjs@gwu.edu or (202) 994-6757. Thanks!”
Question (September 28, 2009): How does UPD determine whether or not to transport a student to the hospital for intoxication, and if they decide the student does not require medical attention how do they determine whether to charge the student with a violation of the university’s alcohol consumption policy when the student has not violated any other university policy?
Answer (October 13, 2009): Thank you for your question. For information regarding the University Police Department’s procedures related to incidents where students are under the influence of alcohol or other substances, you should contact Ms. Dolores Stafford, Chief, University Police Department, at dolores@upd.gwu.edu.
The University has several policies related to alcohol, including but not limited to, the “Code of Student Conduct,” CADE’s “Alcohol Beverage Consumption and Distribution Policy” and GW Housing Programs’ “Residential Community Conduct Guidelines and Administrative Policies.” We encourage all students to become familiar with the University’s alcohol policies which are available for review online at: http://gwired.gwu.edu/sjs. The University’s alcohol policy mirrors federal and/or local law, in that an individual under the age of 21 can not possess or use alcohol and that an individual can not be intoxicated regardless of age, either on or off campus.
The Office of Student Judicial Services (SJS) is the part of the University that determines whether or not to charge a student with a violation of the “Code of Student Conduct.” SJS makes this decision based upon several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the offense, the extent of any damage, injury or harm resulting from it, and whether or not a student has any previous administrative or judicial history. Students who violate the University’s alcohol policy should be prepared to accept the consequences of their decision. Students found in violation of an alcohol violation at a Disciplinary Conference or University Hearing Board are at a minimum placed on Disciplinary Probation, are required to complete an alcohol education assignment or alcohol assessment, and pay a fine. Some students Lose their Housing or are Suspended or Expelled for serious or repeat violations.
Question (September 9, 2009): What effect does alcohol have on the blood?
Answer (October 2, 2009): Alcohol is absorbed directly into the blood, diluting the water in your bloodstream and creating dehydration. When traveling through the blood, alcohol finds its way to every organ. It especially affects organs with a high demand for water, such as the brain. It also thickens the blood, reducing circulation and can change the shape of blood cells.
Since alcohol is absorbed into the blood, we can calculate how much alcohol has been consumed by measuring one’s blood alcohol content (BAC). There are many factors that impact your BAC such as weight, body mass index, gender, speed of consumption, type of alcohol, type of mixers, food consumption, if sick, tired or on medication, just to name a few. Stop by CADE in the Thurston Hall to get your own personalized BAC Resource Card based on your weight and gender. Click here to check out a generic BAC chart.
Some people mention tolerance as an indicator of varying BAC levels. By definition, tolerance refers to the need for increasing amounts of a drug to feel the same effects. However; there are numerous kinds of tolerance involved within the body that are produced by different mechanisms.
Metabolic tolerance results from a more rapid elimination of alcohol from the body. It is associated with a specific group of enzymes that metabolize alcohol in the body and are triggered after chronic drinking. A person who drinks frequently and more heavily will have a higher metabolic tolerance and thus a lower BAC than someone with a lower tolerance who has consumed the same number of drinks in the same time due to the quicker rate at which alcohol is metabolized and eliminated from the blood.
This is different from functional tolerance that occurs when the brain and body adapt to compensate for the disruption caused by alcohol. Chronic heavy drinkers will display functional tolerance when they show few obvious signs of intoxication even at high levels of BAC, which in others would be incapacitating or even fatal.
There are numerous reactions occurring within the body when one is consuming alcohol. The brain and body adapt to the toxin being introduced to the system in amazing ways but numerous life-threatening diseases can arise after chronic use. Increased tolerance is one way the body adapts to chronic use and is an indicator of a developing problem and possibly dependency.
Question (September 14, 2009): Is vodka better than other spirits?
Answer (September 15, 2009): I’m not sure I quite understand your question but I will do my best to answer it as it pertains to proof and caloric content.
Alcoholic Proof is the measure of the alcohol content by volume (acbv) in a given drink. Proof is twice the percentage of acbv. So a drink that was 5% alcohol would be 10 proof.
Vodka (Smirnoff) - 80 Proof
Whiskey (Jack Daniels) – 80 proof
Rum (Captain Morgan) – 70 proof
Tequila (Jose Cuervo) – 80 proof
Caloric content of alcohol is based on a serving of one standard shot which is 1.5 ounces of alcohol.
Vodka (Smirnoff) – 97 Calories
Whiskey (Jack Daniels) – 98 Calories
Rum (Captain Morgan) – 87 Calories
Tequila (Jose Cuervo) – 97 Calories
As you can see all the drinks are roughly similar in terms of proof and caloric content, with rum having a slightly lower number for both.
Question (September 4, 2009): Does mixing alcohol with carbonated/caffeinated drinks speed up the effects?
Answer (September 9, 2009): This is a question that we get all the time so thank you for bringing it up. Drinks that are carbonated or caffeinated can increase the speed at which your body absorbs alcohol as they tend to irritate the lining of the stomach which increases the rate of absorption. Also, the caloric content in the stomach slows the release of its contents into the small intestine. This means that diet sodas, which contain artificial sweeteners, when used as mixers are released much quicker into the small intestine than their calorie rich counterparts. Therefore; one night you could drink 80 proof vodka and cranberry juice and not feel it as quickly as the next night when you drink 80 proof rum and diet coke.
There are many other factors that could impact your blood alcohol content (BAC) and can speed up the effects of alcohol. These can include: body mass index, weight, gender, tolerance, speed of consumption, stomach contents, being tired, sick or on medication, just to name a few. All of these factors can impact the effect alcohol can have on your body. Stop by the CADE office to pick up a personalized BAC card which can help you stay in the safe zone when consuming alcohol.
Question: (February 16, 2009): What is GW Policy for maintaining alcohol violations records?
Answer: (February 16, 2009): The Office of Student Judicial Services (SJS) maintains records associated with all types of University policy violations, including but not limited to, alcohol violations. Under Article 39 of the “Code of Student Conduct” it indicates that “The files of students found in violation of any prohibited conduct will be retained as a disciplinary record until their graduation.” Students can request to review their disciplinary history by submitting a Judicial Record Request from the SJS website (http://gwired.gwu.edu/osjs/).
As indicated in the “Code of Student Conduct,” a student may request to have their disciplinary record be removed, upon written request of the student, no sooner than one year after the finding of fact for the case. These requests are reviewed by the Associate Dean of Students or their designee. Student wishing to petition the University to have their disciplinary records be removed must submit an Expungement Request from the SJS website. It is important to note that an expungement request is not automatically granted by the University and will be considered based upon such factors as the current demeanor of the student, the student’s conduct subsequent to the violation, and the nature of the violation, including the severity of any other student’s damage, injury or harm.
Question: (February 13, 2009): What are some of those other factors that could impact your level of drunkenness? Are you referring to gender and weight?
Answer: (February 13, 2009): Yes, gender and weight are two common examples of factors that impact someone’s blood alcohol content (BAC). Women produce less of the alcohol metabolizing enzymes in the body which means it takes a woman longer to break down the alcohol than it would a man of the same size. When discussing weight, it is important to think of body mass index rather than weight alone. Not only heavier but more muscular individuals have more blood to dilute the alcohol, resulting in lower blood alcohol content levels.
Some other factors include what is in your stomach. If you drink on an empty stomach, there is nothing there to slow the rate of absorption and can lead to a higher BAC level. Lack of sleep can cause a higher BAC since your liver does not work as well when you are tired. If you are sick you might be dehydrated which adds to the effects of alcohol. Mixing alcohol with other drugs can have dangerous impacts of the effects alcohol has on the body and I don’t just mean illegal drugs. Doctor prescribed or over the counter medications must be used carefully when combined with alcohol. Every person is different and will react to alcohol differently. It is important to know yourself and your limits.
Question: (February 12, 2009): My friend and I usually drink vodka and cranberry juice but last night we drank rum and cokes and we both felt more drunk than usual. Are vodka and rum that different?
Answer: (February 12, 2009): Great question! Actually comparing rum and vodka is difficult since it depends on the brand and type. You should check the proof which is located on the bottle. Proof refers to the amount of alcohol in the liquor; for example, 100 proof liquor contains 50% alcohol, 40 proof liquor contains 20% alcohol and so on. (You can compare this to regular beer which has approximately 4-6% alcohol) Proof might have played a part in the rapid effect of the alcohol but the mixers you used might have played a part too.
Drinks that are carbonated or caffeinated can increase the speed at which your body absorbs alcohol. Carbonated or caffeinated drinks tend to irritate the lining of the stomach and increase the rate of absorption. Also, the caloric content in the stomach slows the release of its contents into the small intestine. This means that diet sodas, which contain artificial sweeteners, when used as mixers are released much quicker into the small intestine than their calorie rich counterparts. Therefore; one night you could drink 80 proof vodka with cranberry juice and not feel it as much as the next night when you drink 80 proof rum and diet coke.
There are many other factors that could impact your level of drunkenness but the difference in mixers alone could have caused the more drunk feeling you and your friend experienced.
Question: (February 9, 2009): I heard that you get drunker faster when you drink through straw - is this true?
Answer: (February 9, 2009): The feelings associated with being intoxicated are based on your BAC or Blood Alcohol Content. BAC levels are based on how much of your blood is actually alcohol! The higher the BAC level, the more intoxicated a person feels, for better or worse. Drinking through a straw compared to other methods of drinking does not change your BAC level, unless you suck through a straw faster than you chug!! Drinks that usually have straws are often fruity or mask the taste of alcohol. This might cause someone to drink it faster and therefore heighten their BAC level quickly.
Also, a recent study found that it isn’t how you get the booze from glass to mouth that affects your buzz; it’s the type of glass you’re drinking from. A Cornell University study found that people—even experienced bartenders—consistently pour 20 to 30 percent more alcohol into short, stout tumblers than into tall, skinny highball glasses. “They focus on the height of what they are pouring at the expense of width,” says study author Brian Wansink, Ph.D., author of Mindless Eating. The size of the glass might be related to the types of drinks that usually have straws as well. So it isn’t always that you feel drunk more quickly when drinking through a straw simply due to the straw but your bartender might be putting more alcohol into your drink.
Remember to maintain a happy buzz and not go overboard. Drinking fast will cause a spike in your BAC level and could give way to negative feelings or consequences such as nausea, vomiting, blacking out, and passing out or worse
.
Question: (January 21, 2009): I'm trying to quit drinking alcohol but my withdrawal sysmptoms include irritability - what can I do to lessen my symptom?
Answer (January 26, 2009): First of all, congratulations for deciding to stop drinking! Regardless of how much you were drinking, quitting is a big commitment to make to yourself, and one that will surely bring results well worth the effort.
The more heavily a person had been drinking, the more likely they are to develop symptoms when they stop. Withdrawal symptoms can include insomnia, fatigue, cravings, and mood instability, all of which can last from three to twelve months. The severity of symptoms is the most acute for the first week or two, and lessens as time goes on. So although it is tough now, it will pass!
It sounds like irritability and mood instability are the main problems you are encountering, and this may be due to a few different reasons. A typical symptom of both chronic drinking and the early stages of withdrawal is a disrupted sleep cycle. Lack of sleep or lack of deep REM sleep can make us all irritable. If you are sleeping fine, the cause of the irritability might be dehydration. Alcohol dehydrates the body. During the early period of sobriety it might help you to drink lots of water. Eating nourishing food, getting enough (but not excessive) sleep, and treating your body well in other ways like exercising or meditating can help your body better deal with and recover from withdrawal symptoms. Talking about the difficulty you are encountering with people you trust can also help make the process easier on you and your friends who might be concerned about your wellbeing.
Quitting drinking can be a tough process and if you feel you need help dealing with quitting drinking, you might want to seek out therapy or a support group. You can schedule an appointment with the University Counseling Center at http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/. You can find a local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings on their website or you can go onto Facebook and search for the group at GW called Straightedge Non-anonymous. You can always stop by our office in Thurston Suite 117 for more information and referrals as well. Good luck!!
Sources: www.goaskalice.columbia.edu, www.nida.nih.gov, www.factsontap.org
