Alcohol & Other Drugs

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) now on campus: AA meetings take place on Thursdays @ 8:15pm at the Pratt Brooklyn campus; contact Jernee Montoya (jmontoya@pratt.edu) for location & questions regarding the meeting.

Health & Counseling Services offers non-judgmental, confidential assistance to students regarding their use of alcohol and other drugs. If you or someone you know is struggling with the use of alcohol or other drugs, please contact our office at 718-399-4542 to schedule an appointment with Jernee Montoya, Coordinator of Clinical AOD services. If you want to stop using, or, if you want to cut down on your use, assistance is available.

How Do I Know if I'm Drinking Too Much?

Below is a list of some common consequences of excessive drinking. If you have had 1 or more of these experiences, then you may be suffering from an alcohol problem.

• Missing class or being late for class due to drinking 
• Sending drunk text messages/emails to an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
• Unwanted/unplanned hook-up with someone
• Engaging in unprotected sex
• Drinking to overcome anxiety in social situations
• Cravings for alcohol
• Black-outs or memory loss
• Drinking alone to deal with your feelings/stress
• Vomiting
• Hurting yourself (i.e. cutting, burning self with a cigarette)
• Alcohol poisoning that requires stomach being pumped at hospital
• Disciplinary/legal consequences

Alcohol Poisoning

Drinking too much alcohol, too quickly, can be dangerous and lethal. In large quantities, alcohol can shut down brain functioning, leading to death. BACs (Blood Alcohol Concentrations) of 0.30 or more can be fatal.

How do you know if someone is suffering from alcohol poisoning? Here are signs to look for:

• Person passes out and cannot be awakened
• Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin
• Slow or irregular breathing
• Person has vomited while passed out

What should I do if I think someone has alcohol poisoning?

• Call 911. Do not leave the person alone.
• Never put the person to bed to sleep it off.
• Turn the person on his or her side (to reduce the chance that the person will choke on his/her vomit).
• If you are on campus, call Campus Security at 718-636-3540 or contact your RA. Do not let your fear of getting someone in trouble for drinking prevent you from reaching out for help; remember, an angry friend is better than a dead friend. 

How Can I Reduce Harm?

It is illegal to drink alcohol in New York state if you are under 21 years of age. If you choose to drink, your style of drinking can determine your level of risk.

Here are some tips that may reduce your chance for harm:

• Avoid drinking games (it's harder to keep track of how much you drink, and you are more likely to raise your BAC to a dangerous level in a short period of time).
• Limit yourself to 1 drink per hour (standard size drink), and alternate with non-alcoholic beverages.
• Eat before you drink.
• Avoid drinks that mix alcohol with caffeine/other stimulants (i.e. Red Bull cocktail, Four Loko, etc.). The energizing effects of the stimulants in these drinks can mask your awareness of how intoxicated you are, and you can make the mistake of drinking more than your body can handle.
• Avoid pre-gaming. This can result in drinking more than you expect or want to because you will already be buzzed when you get to your destination, and your inhibitions/judgment will be impaired.

Helpful Websites

• www.smartrecovery.org - an alternative to AA/NA
• www.nycypaa.org - young adults AA
• www.sober24.com
• www.b4udrink.org - find out your BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) based on your gender, weight, food intake, pace of drinking, choice of drinks
• www.collegebingedrinking.net
• www.drugrehablocator.com
• www.bma-wellness.com - an unofficial guide for understanding AA meetings
• timetogethelp.drugfree.org - parent's toll-free helpline is staffed by clinical social workers with practical experience in substance abuse prevention and treatment
• www.nyintergroup.org - AA meeting lists & information
• newyorkna.org - NA meeting lists & information
• www.healthinfotranslations.org (약물 남용 및 의존) - health information regarding substance use & dependence (in Korean - 한국어)
• www.healthinfotranslations.org (物质滥用或依赖) - health information regarding substance use & dependence (in Chinese - 简体中文)
• www.healthinfotranslations.org - health information regarding substance use & dependence (in Japanese - 日本語)

For more information, you can contact Jernee Montoya LCSW, CASAC, Coordinator of Clinical AOD Services at jmontoya@pratt.edu. Email address is for non-emergency correspondence only.