Monday, March 16, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 7
BEak HEALTHY
Volume 12, Number 2, Spring 1998 health news for students from Watkins Health Center Student Health Services/Division of Student Affairs/The University of Kansas
You've heard of Rohypnol What's GHB?
GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is yet another date rape drug that acts as a depressant on the central nervous system. Effects can be felt within 15minutes of ingestion and may cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, respiratory depression, unconsciousness, coma, and death. Similar to Rohypnol, GHB may cause "anterograde amnesia," (memory loss) after ingestion.
GHB was tested for potential medical uses, but was never approved by the FDA. It was also promoted for body building, although the effectiveness was never documented. The FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop using GHB due to harmful effects.
GHB is usually made in a clear liquid form that is colorless and odorless However, to disguise the salty taste it is often mixed in a sweet liqueur and promoted as a special potion or an energy drink.
Take necessary precautions:
1. Refuse drinks offered by anyone you don't know.
2. Be alert. Your drink should never be left unattended!
3. If you realize your drink has been left unattended, get rid of it.
4. Don't take a drink from a punch bowl or from a container that has been passed around.
5. Don't drink anything that has an unusual taste or appearance (e.g., salty taste, excessive foam, unexplained residue.
What to do if you think you've been drugged:
1. Get to a safe place and get help immediately.
3. Take the container you drank from (and any remaining beverage) to authorities fortesting.
2. Ask a friend to take you to a medical facility immediately.
For more information, call the Department of Health Promotion and Education, 864-9570.
Classes, Work, Roommates = I HAVE STRESS
Stress is a normal part of everyone's life, including the life of college students. We need challenges to motivate us... but prolonged stress can be harmful.
Stress usually is not the result of a single event. It is cumulative and often begins with barely noticeable events or changes. College students report a number of life events and experiences that add stress to their lives such as finals, work, roommate issues, and homesickness.
These are four steps one can take to help manage stress:
1. Identify your "stressors." What makes you feel "stressed out?" Students usually suffer from frustration and overload due to time management issues. Plan and manage time carefully to make the most of your day.
2. Use your favorite relaxation technique for relief of stressors. Listen to music, rest for a few minutes, get a back rub, or take up yoga. Try to relax mentally and emotionally.
3. Think positively and recognize when to seek support from others. Take one thing and one day at a time. Also, don't try to escape the problem by dulling your senses with alcohol, drugs, or other excesses. This does not make the problem go away!
4. Be as fit and healthy as possible.Have proper nutrition, exercise,and get enough sleep.The healthier you are,the better able you are to cope with stress.
If you have difficulty dealing with stressors in your life, professional counseling is available at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) in Watkins Health Center. Contact CAPS at 864-2277.
Brain power? How alcohol makes you lose it
How does alcohol affect the brain? Your brain acts as a sponge. As alcohol is dropped off, it soaks into...and affects five different sections of the brain.
different sections of the brain.
The following chart is a general illustration of how many drinks* in a four hour period of time it would take for a 125-pound female and a 175-pound male to reach different levels of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and to affect the different levels of the brain.
Number of Drinks BAC Level of the brain affected
125 lb. female 175 lb. male
1 2 .05 Judgment Center
Your perceptions, abilities, and attitudes are affected. You're starting to feel pretty "cool."
3 4 .08- Motor Ability
You've reached the legal level of intoxication for 21 year olds in Kansas at .08.* Your muscles, speech, and response time are affected. You now slur your words, talk loudly, and begin to stagger.
5 8 .20 Emotions and Feelings
The volume button on your emotions is turned up. Whatever emotion you were feeling prior to drinking will now be enhanced. You may go from happy to hyper, or from sad to depressed.
6 10 .25 Memory/Blackout
Your body attempts to protect itself by either vomiting (to remove the "toxic" levels of alcohol from your system), or by passing out (to stop you from putting more alcohol in your body).
Blackouts also occur at this this level, creating alcohol-related amnesia.
8-10 12-14 .30- Involuntary Muscles
Since alcohol is a depressant, the lungs and heart may shut down leading to death.
*A "drink" is equivalent to 12 oz. of beer, 4 oz. of wine, and 11/2oz. of spirits.
**The legal intoxication for those under 21 is .02.
Play Your Cards Right... Have a Safe Spring Break
Safe Spring Break Week March 16—20
Monday: Casino tables and the Roll-Over Machine in front of Wescoe Hall. Also, look for the Wrecked Car on Stauffer-Flint lawn.
Tuesday: Casino tables at Wescoe
Thursday: Kids Bike Safety at Stouffer Place
Stop by for free giveaways and play the tables! Everyone can be a winner!!!
For more information regarding Safe Break activities contact Deb Howes in the Department of Health Promotion and Education at 864-9570.