Stay Safe When Going Out

• Visualize and determine what kind of experience you want to have and consider all the safety steps you may need to take to stay safe. This might mean only drinking a set number of drinks, spending only a certain amount on drinks, not staying out past a certain time, or determining your response when offered drinks or other drugs. 
• Go out with trusted friends who will watch your back, hold you accountable, and get you home safely. You can use the Purdue Safe Walk Program for extra comfort traveling on campus. 
• Be aware of what is in your drink. Be cautious accepting open drinks from people you dont know. Have friends watch your drink if you need to step away. Ask if there are drink covers available for open drinks or glasses. 
• Eat food and drink water alongside having alcoholic beverages. If you're nervous about fitting in, but need a break from drinking, see if there is a non-alcoholic drink menu available. No one will be able to tell the difference. 
• Have a sober driver or use public transportation to get home. Remember, you can be given a ticket for operating scooters, bikes, and skateboards when intoxicated. 

Hosting a Safe Party

Make sure your guests arrive and leave safely by considering the following:

• Have a pre-set guest list.
• Check IDs at entry.
• Have designated, sober hosts to monitor the party. These hosts should have some level of authority to enable decisions to be made. 
• Make sure you control the access to alcohol. 
• Provide an inclusive enviornment where people are not judged for choosing to refrain from drinking.

Under the law, you can be held responsible if you furnish alcohol to a person who then causes injury to another if:

• the person who furnished the alcohol had actual knowledge that the intoxicated person was intoxicated at the time, or a minor, and
• the intoxication was a "proximate" or foreseeable cause of the injuries.

• The body's ability to interpret information, react, and make sober-minded decisions is hindered after consuming alcohol. 
• Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes an increased amount of water to be expelled from the body. It is important to remain hydrated if consuming alcohol. 
• While no one food will stop alcohol from being absorbed in the body, food can help regulate the speed at which alcohol enters the bloodstream. When choosing to drink, also choose to eat food or snacks. 
• Alcohol has been shown to impact Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is thought to be crucial to long-term memory formation. Drinking after learning new information could impact your ability to recall that information later on. 

• In the state of Indiana, if you're under 21 years of age, you can be arrested for possessing, consuming or transporting alcohol. It's a Class C misdemeanor. If you're intoxicated in a public place AND (1) breaching the peace, (2) harassing, annoying or alarming another person OR (3) endangering your life or the life of another person, you can be arrested for Public Intoxication, a Class B misdemeanor.
• University regulations generally prohibit the personal possession or use of alcoholic beverages in or on University property, regardless of the person's age.
• Purdue's Medical Amnesty Policy creates a pathway for requesting emergency help for cases of intoxication where the intoxicated student, as well as the student(s) seeking medical attention on the intoxicated student's behalf, will be exempt from Disciplinary Sanctions related to alcohol consumption.
• For a complete listing of university alcohol policy, see Purdue's alcohol and other drug policies.

Choosing to Call for Help

• Purdue's Medical Amnesty Policy creates a pathways for getting someone help when they need it. Under the policy, in cases of student intoxication and/or alcohol poisoning that occur on the West Lafayette campus, on the premises of a Recognized Student Organization or at a function sponsored by a Recognized Student Organization, the intoxicated student, as well as the student(s) seeking medical attention on the intoxicated student's behalf, will be exempt from Disciplinary Sanctions related to alcohol consumption.
• The following factors can help guide your decision to call for help, however, if you're in a situation that makes you question whether help should be called, call 911.
  • If the person is unresponsive or has trouble remaining conscious/awake
  • If the person has reduced/slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute)
  • If the person has irregular breathing (there is gap of ten seconds or more between breaths)
  • If the person's skin looks blue, grey, or pale

Talking with Others

• Avoid shaming someone's actions. 
• Realize substance use may be a form of coping. 
• Avoid labels such as "alcoholic."
• Express your concerns and be direct, but not overbearing or authoritative. 
• Listen to how they are feeling and offer understanding statements. 
• Use these tips provided by CAPS when talking to someone about their substance use.

Consider Yourself when Caring for Others

• Realize when a situation is out of your expertise and seek help.
• When offering support, don't burn yourself out.
• Never blame yourself for another's actions.
• Don't assume sole responsibility for another. Purdue is here to help. 
• You are not a bad friend for seeking care on behalf of someone else. 

Campus Resources and Support

• If you or someone you may know would benefit from support concerning alcohol or substance use, Purdue's Counseling and Psychological Services offers assessments and different support options. 
• You can submit a Student of Concern Report to request help for yourself or others. You can submit this request anonymously if you choose. You should always call 911 for medical emergencies.

• Be aware of what substance is in the vape you are using. 
• If choosing to vape, only use pods, e-liquids, and vapes that meet FDA regulations should be used. 
• Avoid mixing your own e-liquid, as it may introduce you to unintended chemicals once heated by the vape and inhaled. 
• Avoid sharing a vape with others to reduce the spread of diseases and germs.

• Nicotine is addictive and has withdrawal symptoms when deciding to quit. 
• Nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure and can lead to heart disease. 
• Nicotine can cause serval forms of cancer including mouth and lung cancer. 
• The walleyes produced by the liquid used in vapes can cause lung and cardiovascular disease. 

• Weekly vaping can end up costing around $1000 per year.  
  • That's over 120 Jimmy John sandwhichs!
  • Or enough to pay for most major streaming services for an entire year!