For some students, drinking to excess is a “rite of passage” they associate with college. It’s an image we’ve all seen over and over: a group of friends, drinks in hand, having a wild night – it looks like so much fun.

Alcohol can be fun when it’s consumed responsibly. It’s up to you to keep informed about the short- and long-term effects of a night of partying.

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

HEAD

• Headaches

• Impaired judgment

• Unconsciousness

• Blackouts (memory lapses where the drinker cannot remember events that occurred while under the influence)

• Coma

• Slurred Speech

• Drowsiness

• Distorted vision

• Decreased perception and coordination

• Distorted hearing

LUNGS

• Breathing diffi culties

STOMACH

• Vomiting

• Upset stomach

• Diarrhea

BLOOD

• Anemia (Loss of red blood cells)

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

BRAIN & HEAD

• Nerve damage

• Vitamin B1 defi ciency, which can lead to a disorder characterized by amnesia, apathy and disorientation

• Permanent damage to the brain

• Cancer of the mouth and throat

HEART

• High blood pressure, stroke, and other heart-related diseases

• Increased family problems, broken relationships

BODY

• Injuries such as car crash, falls, burns and drowning

• Injuries such as firearm injuries, sexual assault and domestic violence

• Increased on-the-job injuries and loss of productivity

STATS & FACTS

• In 2011, 78 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and older had consumed alcohol (Health Canada)

• At ages 15 to 19, 52 per cent of males and 35 per cent of females reported consuming five or more alcoholic drinks on a single occasion in the previous year (Statistics Canada)

• In 2008, an estimated 24.1 per cent of males and 9.6 per cent of females reported heavy drinking – consuming five or more drinks on one occasion, 12 or more times over the past year (Statistics Canada)

• From 2000 to 2007, 47 per cent of all drivers 19 years of age or younger that died in traffic fatalities tested positive for alcohol and/or drugs (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse)

• In 2009, 16- to 25-year-olds constituted 13.7 per cent of the population but made up more than 30 per cent of the alcohol-related traffic deaths (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15 to 25 year olds, and alcohol is a factor in half of those crashes (MADD)