When drinking brings pain

Some people just won't stop drinking when they reach the pleasure zone. They go right on drinking until they hit the pain zone.\nA body recognizes the pleasure zone. It can metabolize about one drink's worth --a 12 ounce beer, a 4 ounce glass of wine, a 10 ounce wine cooler or a shot, 1 ounce of 80 proof liquor -- in an hour. Drinking at this rate may keep students in the pleasure zone. They have slowed down their drinking, alternated drinks with non-alcoholic beverages, eaten food while drinking, avoided drinking games and avoided mixing alcohol with other drugs.\nThis is the person who can enjoy the party, feel self assured even when not drinking and feel great the next day.\nSo when do students slip into the pain zone? They do so by drinking a lot in a short amount of time, or just drinking a lot, period … and all too often experience problems as a result of their drinking. The problems are things that we all know about and we certainly see at the IU Health Center including sexually transmitted infections, injuries, unintended pregnancies, rape and the legal, emotional problems, academic stress and regrets associated with these consequences. \nLots of students see themselves as social drinkers not problem drinkers. Their social life is drinking, and drinking is the social activity. \nSocial drinkers should be able to think about their drinking habits. They should be able to think about how they feel the day after they drink and about what their friends have said about their drinking personality and behavior. It is a good idea to try not drinking for a weekend and spend the time with friends who don't binge drink. They are in the majority. \nThere is a new Alcohol Assessment survey that can be found at www.indiana.edu/~health. \nThis is a survey specially designed for college students. It's free. It's anonymous. It is a learning experience just taking the assessment. Other resources on campus include (CaPS) Counseling and Psychological Services, the IU Health Center (855-5711), and the Alcohol-Drug Information Center (855-5414).