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The Rice Thresher
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Lizzie Taishoff Wiess College senior. If you had told me the voices in my head had gotten together to form a drum circle, I would have believed you. I was curled up on a beach chair, sitting on the deck of a friend's beach house, bandana tied over my hair and my stuffed bear clutched under one arm, praying for the world to end. It wasn't a bad break-up or a fight with friends. Thanks to an unfortunate encounter with half a bottle of tequila, it was the worst hangover of my life. I vaguely remember telling my friend to stop moving the deck because it was making my head hurt. I don't remember much of the night before. This drinking episode sounds like a story of youthful experimentation from freshman year. The problem is that it's not. It happened during spring break one year ago when I really should have known better. Since high school, I have been deluged by information about alcohol and it's effect on the body. I even teach a class on the responsible service of alcohol. How then could I be so careless when it came to my own health and safety? We're in college. We're young. And we somehow think we're invincible and the rules of the outside world can't touch us. I find this way of thinking disappointing and dangerous, and I think we're better than that. Since that morning last spring, my drinking habits have undergone a dramatic overhaul. I still drink, but I've learned more about what moderation means. What has surprised me in the last year is what I've noticed about those people who drink around me. Far fewer of my fellow students than I had expected drink heavily. In fact, there is parity on this campus in terms of students who choose not to drink and those who do. What scares me, however, are not the people who have two or three drinks in an evening, but those who lose count - every weekend. Often called binge drinking, this pattern is the most dangerous. When I got that hangover I was binging - drinking as much as I could in a short period of time to get as drunk as possible. In the process I probably killed a few thousand brain and liver cells. Drinking in moderation - meaning two drinks per hour instead of eight - does not seem to impact the body negatively. In fact, some studies indicate that people with heart trouble may benefit from small amounts of red wine. The key is small amounts. Excessive consumption of alcohol kills brain and liver cells and damages your nervous system. It took me three years to learn my limits when it came to alcohol. I drink less now, but I find that I enjoy myself much more. The next morning, I remember how much fun I had without enduring a construction zone between my ears. We scoff at people who stress moderation. Yet, I wonder how much of our spring breaks many of us remember this year. I hope it's more than I remember of mine last year. The week coming up is yet another awareness week - Alcohol Awareness Week. And, as sick as I am of being aware, I think this one is important to recognize. March 22 is National Alcohol Screening Day, which means there will be places on campus with information about alcohol, how it affects you and what moderation is all about. Educate yourself about alcohol and its effects on your body, and encourage your friends to do the same. College is a time to have fun, explore new ideas and push our own boundaries. It's not a time to be stupid and risk the health and safety of ourselves and those around us. Remember? Lizzie Taishoff is a Wiess College senior.
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