BOO! Oh, goodness! Is it that time of year again already? That’s right, folks! Halloween is almost upon us and with that comes Halloweekend! This is my and my friends’ favorite weekend of the Fall semester. Whether it’s dressing up, going out to party or just binge eating candy, it’s always a fun time of the year. But with fun can also come some scary situations, like those Halloween movies that start off as a prank and then turn rather…dark. Halloween can include a whole spectrum of activities, and some of those activities could range from staying sober to drinking and dancing. No matter your personal relationship with substances, it’s never a bad idea to carry some harm reduction strategies with you. Who knows? It might come in handy. So let’s do a quick reminder on how you can keep both your friends and yourself safe on All Hallows’ Eve.
Know Your C.U.P.S.
Let’s do a quick refresher on the signs of alcohol poisoning. There’s an easy-to-remember acronym to keep in mind that consists of four uppercase letters and a smaller, quieter, yet still equally important one.
C Stands for… Cold and Clammy Skin
Yes, Syracuse is a cold city, but if you or your friends were partaking in the consumption of alcoholic beverages, feeling cold could be a symptom of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol is like hot apple cider, but only because it gives you the feeling of being warm despite the opposite actually occurring. As your liver metabolizes the drug, your core body temperature is steadily lowering, which in turn results in the feeling of cold and clammy skin. This can be hard to notice, especially if you’ve been standing outside in the cold waiting to catch a trolley, so keep a wary eye out.
U Stands for… Unresponsive
Usually, people think the “U” stands for “unconscious,” which could definitely be a sign of alcohol poisoning, but if you wave your hands in front of a friend’s face and they keep staring straight ahead, now that’s being unresponsive, not necessarily unconscious. You don’t have to shake them and rattle them around, but if your friend is looking directly through you as if you’re a ghost this Halloween… that’s definitely some cause for concern.
P Stands for… Puking
Throwing up is your body’s way of telling you to stop in an extremely physical and grotesque way. As it expels the alcohol from your system, vomiting can also cause both rotting and corrosion to your teeth. Think of it (“it” being alcohol, not puking) like candy—it can be great in moderation, but definitely not frequently, and even more so not in vast amounts.
S Stands for… Slurred Speech/Slowed Breathing/Seizures
Slowed breathing can be a sign that someone’s heart rate is slower than it should be. And when it comes to seizures…just call 911. Everyone’s body works differently, but just call 911 to be safe. Slurring words can make it awfully hard to understand someone. This can be particularly dangerous when it comes to consent, too. While an individual under the influence cannot legally give consent, there is an even larger risk of misunderstanding someone if their words are not clear, especially when there is a chance that the other person could be intoxicated as well. Either way, that aspect of shared understanding is immediately lost. (Got Consent? Be SU.R.E.)
(Silent) E Stands for… Erratic Behavior
Have you or a friend ever drank and you couldn’t even recognize one another? Were you all acting differently? Maybe more aggressive than usual, or even a lot more wacky? When alcohol affects your brain, the first area it affects is your frontal lobe, which controls your personality, your ability to make sound decisions and your ability to control impulsions. When you drink this is all toned down…and you can become someone even you don’t fully know.
Now you know the signs. If you see someone showing these signs of alcohol poisoning, call for help—911 or 315.443.2224.
Reducing Harm Via Harm Reduction Strategies
I swear I hate watching scary movies, especially those low-budget slashers, because I always think, “What are they doing?” They have no common sense! I know it’s a movie, but still! Regardless, make sure you don’t end up feeling like you’re in your own bad horror movie by following some simple harm reduction tips.
First, have a (charged!) battery pack on you, or at least make sure your phone is fully charged before you go out. How can you call an Uber, or a Safety Escort Shuttle, or even call for help if your phone is dead? Along similar lines, definitely plan for a safe way home from wherever Halloweekend may take you so you don’t end up stranded and alone.
Second, stay with a friend. Look after each other and travel together or within a group.
Finally, don’t ever let someone coerce you into doing something you don’t want to do, whether that’s drinking, hooking up or even just going out to a party. It’s always important to notice coercion and peer pressure, and to only partake in activities that you are excited about.
This is supposed to be a fun week and weekend, and following these harm reduction strategies will definitely help with that!
Halloweekend will be fun regardless of how you spend it, whether that’s indoors or outdoors, rain or shine, but I hope this article has given you some tips on how to keep your Halloween fun from turning frightful. If you want to learn more about alcohol safety and harm reduction strategies, check out the Wellness Leadership Institute to register for workshops and acquire some more knowledge, before or after your Halloween celebrations. Finally, if you see any suspicious behavior on Halloween weekend, you can call the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 315.443.2224 to report it.
Happy Halloween, everyone!! Make sure you’re spooky, scary, sexy and, most importantly, safe.
Written By Wynter Chaverst ’23, College of Arts and Sciences, Be Wise Peer Educator