It is common knowledge that house parties are here to stay. At North Dakota State, it is just another part of every weekend. For years, students have been finding places to gather and blow off steam from classes that week.
NDSU is one of many dry campuses across the United States, but that doesn’t mean the students don’t drink. According to the 2014 North Dakota Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Survey that was completed by 570 students from multiple ethnic backgrounds, all colleges and all undergraduate classes, results show that about 82.8 percent of those students reported consumption of alcohol over the past year. Sixty-seven percent of those students were under the age of 21 and stated that they had consumed alcohol within 30 days prior to the survey.
Movies portray college as one giant party with little regard for the potentially harmful results other than not remembering pieces of the night before. We grew up seeing college in this way. We knew that there would be more studying and that the actual purpose of attending college is to get a better education and a degree. With society’s portrayal of drinking and college activities, we often overlook the safety precautions that should be acknowledged when partying.
When attending drug and alcohol presentations on campus, we are often told that more students choose not to drink compared to those that do. Alcohol consumption is widely present on university campuses, and it is important to understand how to enjoy responsibly.
You don’t need alcohol to have fun, but it’s likely that it will be present if you attend a party this weekend. If you choose to drink, it is important to do so safely.
It is important to know your limit when consuming alcohol. Parties are fun, I mean that is the whole point after all, but it is easy to get caught up in the atmosphere and drink too much or too fast without realizing it. For your safety, understanding when your body is telling you to stop is vital in keeping yourself safe.
A common phrase heard at parties is something along the lines of if you’re going to drink, then you might as well get drunk. The difference between getting drunk and blacking out could be knowing when you need to stop taking shots even if they are free.
Not only should you understand when you need to stop drinking for the night and just ride out your buzz, but you should also know that it doesn’t make you lame to mix in a glass of water or two. After all, you’re going to be the one with less of a hangover the next day and more memories from the night before.
In order to enjoy your evening without having to risk your safety you need not only be aware of your own body and what you can handle, but you also need to be aware of the people around you. Never take a drink from a stranger.
I contacted someone who has experienced being drugged from a drink. Riley Cooper, a senior in marketing, told me about her story, which started as just a normal night out on the town with some friends.
“There was one night where all three of my roommates and myself woke up sick, but had only one drink while we were out,” Cooper said. “Two of us went to the doctor later that day because we were blacking out during the middle of the day and found out we had been drugged the night before. We were just extremely lucky that we made it home.”
Be aware of ‘date rape’ drugs and other potential intoxicants that can be dissolved in drinks. It is better to be safe than sorry when out amongst thousands of strangers.
Attending parties is a great way to relax and socialize, but it is so important that you don’t ignore the signs of danger and keep yourself safe when enjoying your time out. Have a good time this weekend, but remember there is a week after Homecoming and your whole life after that. Be safe my fellow Bison.