Party Like A Smarty: 5 Tips To Stay Safe

By Walbert Castillo on September 17, 2014

The fact of the matter is most college students will say they live by the motto “work hard, play hard.”

Approximately 73 percent of college students drink occasionally, according to a Young Adults article. No matter which college or university you visit, you are always going to have students who are fond of drinking and partying.

Let’s touch basis on other statistics that have been provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Image via: http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/

–Death: 1,825 college students die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries.

–Assault: More than 690,000 students are assaulted by another student that has been drinking.

–Sexual Abuse: More than 97,000 students are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

–Injury: 599,000 students receive unintentional injuries while under the influence of alcohol.

Although the party scene may seem safe for others, these statistics exemplify the dangers students face when going out. Here is a list for you to follow in order to stay safe and party like a smarty.

1. Go with your friends.

No matter where you go, traveling alone can never be safe. Surround yourself with a group of friends you trust. That way you won’t have to worry about anyone approaching you or taking advantage of you while heading over to the party.

In the event your friend excessively consumes alcohol, make sure you keep an eye on him/her. From running out to the streets and falling down on the cement, you can never predict what a drunken person can do. Be sure to help out a buddy in need.

If you absolutely need to go somewhere and you’re faced with the option of being alone, make sure to tell someone where you’re going and if you arrived safely.

2. Just stay away from alcohol.  

Same Facts states that according to pharmacists, “alcohol is not just a drug but the archetypal drug: the drug most widely used and the drug that causes the most addiction, disease and violence.” There are a lot of disease related health problems that sprout out of long term drinking.

In addition, Alcohol Screening mentions that “more than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related diseases.” Several of these diseases include: heart disease, cancer and pancreatitis.

The only way to prevent these diseases from occurring is to simply stay away from alcohol. In the long run, it will damage your liver, increase your chances of cancer and ruin most of your bodily functions.

Remember, you don’t need to drink alcohol to have fun.

Image via: giphy.com

3. Never Leave Your Cup Unattended.

Always pay attention to your cup.

Chances are people will try to add more to your drink or add a substance with any chance he/she might get. A way to prevent this is to hold the cup from the top so the back of your hand acts as a barrier to prevent any “spiking” from occurring.

According to Casapalmera, substances that are typically added to drinks are GHB (similar to ecstasy), Ketamine (anesthetic drug) and Rohypynol (the “date-rape drug”).

People will tend to check the amount of alcohol in your cup to see if you need any more. If you are getting past the point where you cannot drink any more, keep your cup full and pretend to drink out of it.

4. Survival Mode: Food and Water.

Eating hearty food beforehand and staying hydrated can decrease the chances of receiving a hangover the next morning. Let’s face it–hangovers are not fun. They cause headaches the next day for long periods of time and are difficult to relieve.

Because alcohol is a diuretic, which causes you to urinate more, you can easily become dehydrated. Drinking water throughout the night and before you go to bed can relieve you of a hangover the next morning. Another way to prevent hangovers is to eat hearty foods.

Listed here are foods the Huffington Post suggests to eat before partying:

–Pickles – Replaces the body with lost electrolytes from drinking alcohol

–Almonds – Rumored to be a hangover antidote

–Pear Cactus – Relieves you from getting hangovers the next morning

–Hummus – replaces the Vitamin B lost from alcohol

–Eggs – A cysteine-rich food that breaks down toxins in alcohol

–Milk – Slows down the absorption of alcohol

–Asparagus – Assists in metabolizing alcohol and protects liver cells

5. Designated Driver Status.

Designated drivers do not drink. If a friend of yours owns a car and is going to the same party that you are going to, please be sure to assign him/her as designated driver.

It is always vital to have a designated driver in the event of a party because it ensures everyone’s safety by the end of the night. If there is no designated driver around, the safer route would be to call a taxi to pick you up at your location.

Image via: http://www.kierstenduncan.ca

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