Dear Dr. Jeff: Is it true that alcohol reduces the effectiveness of birth control pills? ?A.P.
Dear A.P.: Nope. Alcohol does not reduce the contraceptive effectiveness of birth control pills (other than possibly making it easier to forget to take them?or, if you get sick, from keeping them down). Birth control pills, on the other hand, probably somewhat increase the effects of alcohol.
Dear Dr. Jeff: I was helping a certain very drunk somebody the other night so they wouldn't fall into the toilet, and I was thinking that people should really be better informed about how to care for their inebriated friends, roommates, partners, and themselves. ?W.D.
Dear W.D.: I think you're right about that.
Friends who've had too much to drink need to be cared for. The kind of care depends on how much they've had to drink, how much you've had to drink, and what else you all may have been doing besides drinking (using other substances, for instance, or taking over-the-counter or prescription medications.)
The obvious and most important first thing to do is to make sure that your friends don't have any more to drink. Sit them down in a quiet place, and try to assess their condition.
Your friends' reflexes and coordination are probably quite impaired, so walking around may not be a great idea. Make sure they're kept warm. High blood alcohol levels can actually lower their body temperature, even if they feel warm.
If your friends are thirsty, willing, and able to drink a little water on their own, that's probably fine. Alcohol's a diuretic after all, and heavy drinking causes dehydration. Re-hydration won't make your friends sober up any faster, but it may help them feel better the next day. Avoid coffee. It's a diuretic as well, and may further irritate an already irritated stomach. It won't sober them up either, but it may keep them from sleeping later on.
Eating's probably not a great idea, at least in any quantity. It could make your friends feel sicker and more likely to vomit. Eating food while drinking, on the other hand, might have been part of a healthier drinking strategy, insofar as it might have slowed down the absorption of alcohol.
Here's a tricky part. If your friends start to feel sick and need to get to a bathroom, the safe (and noble) thing to do is to go with them. Their balance and coordination will be off, and they might slip and fall. They'll need steadying in the bathroom, they may need help cleaning up, and they'll definitely need help getting safely back.
If your friends need to lie down, get them onto their side, and get some pillows wedged behind their back and front to prevent them from rolling over. Vomiting while lying flat on your back can lead to choking. Vomiting while lying flat on your stomach can be very dangerous as well, if you're so weak or drunk that you can't lift your face out of the way.
How can you tell if your friends are alcohol poisoned?
-If they're asleep, but can't be woken up.
-If they're breathing less than 12 times a minute (less than once every 5 seconds) or if their breathing stops for longer than 10 seconds.
-If their skin is cold, pale and clammy, or their lips bluish in color.
All of these are signs of acute alcohol poisoning, and anyone in this condition needs to be evaluated and treated in a hospital emergency room urgently.
Remember: no one has ever been kicked out of Bowdoin for just being intoxicated. Don't ever be afraid to get help. If you are in doubt about someone's condition, always err on the side of caution and get your friends the help they may need before it's too late. Call Security, a proctor or R.A., or an ambulance.
Be well! And look after each other!
Jeff Benson, MD
Dudley Coe Health Center