Tips for taking care of an intoxicated friend
By Veronica DeSantos, Campus Life Writer
May 18, 2007 | noon
It’s another Friday night in Athens. You are walking uptown to go get some Wendy’s when you run into the drunken people. Guys are yelling obscenities at girls in high heels who are trying to keep from falling down on the bricks by holding on to their friends. Then you see one throw up and think, “That would suck to have to take care of them.” But whether you like it or not, eventually you will have to play mom and take care of your own drunken friend.
The first step
“First as a friend, don’t leave that person alone,” says Sarah Paczak, a resident assistant from Dougan Hall on South Green. “I think if a person is drunk they should be with someone at all times.”
As an RA, Paczak has seen her fair share of drunken people, but asserts that she is not out to get anyone and just wants to make sure people are safe. RAs do have a duty to document a situation if it involves overt drunkenness, or if someone is harming themselves or others, but Paczak states that most RAs aren’t looking to get a resident in trouble. She also said that the biggest problem students have is that they don’t want to get their drunken friend in trouble by calling someone. “I’m not out to get people…I’m not a Nazi,” she said. “But you can’t be responsible for their health.”
Officer Mark E. Mathews, assistant chief of police for the Ohio University Police Department seems to agree with Paczak. He said that in order to help a friend best, one first must recognize that their friend is drunk.
“I think if you have been around friends and have drank with them before, you know their point [of drunkenness],” he said. “If you are drinking too and realize that they have reached that point, stop drinking yourself and help them along. Don’t leave them alone. Take care of each other.”
Mathews stated that after first recognizing the situation, a good friend should take away the alcohol and make sure that their friend doesn’t drink anymore. He also stated that a friend should get their drunken friend away from the party scene and somewhere where they can get food to help absorb the alcohol and take their mind off of wanting to be at a party.
“Food helps absorb the alcohol, but it doesn’t make you any less drunk,” he said. “You have to monitor people.”
What if my friend starts throwing up?
“Sometimes throwing up isn’t the worst thing,” said Mathews. “It gets rid of the alcohol.”
Both Mathews and Peczak emphasize that when a friend is throwing up, you should never let them lie on their back. “Lay them on their side with their chin pointed down,” said Peczak.
She also stated that it is important to keep a friend who is throwing up hydrated, and suggests giving them Tums if they can handle it to help coat their throat and ease the pain of throwing up the next morning. She suggests giving them things such as Popsicles and ginger ale to help keep their electrolytes up. She also stresses the fact that you want to keep your friend talking. Just letting them pass out could be bad because they could be blacking out.
“It’s like taking care of someone with a cold, except you want to keep them awake.”
Mathews echoes Peczak when saying that you should never leave a friend lying on their back. He also emphasized that a drunken friend who is throwing up must always be monitored and never left alone. He said that if you just left a friend alone passed out in a room, so many potentially bad things could happen to them.
”I once stopped a guy who was too drunk…then his friend came along and said he would take care of him and take him home, so I let them go,” he said. “Then later that night I found the drunken guy out on the streets again, and then found his friend drunk too. I unfortunately had to arrest them.”
Mathews went on to say that once the sober friend had taken the drunken friend home, he had just left his drunken friend in his room alone. Then once the drunken friend woke up from being passed out, he went back out on the streets. The sober friend, upon leaving the drunken friend alone, went out himself to party instead of taking care of his drunken friend.
“There is always another party [to go to],” said Mathews. “Taking care of a friend is more important than one more beer or one more shot.”
How do I know when I need to get help from an RA or the police?
“If a friend is throwing up and nothing but bile is coming up, if they are throwing up blood, or if they can’t walk on their own, you might need to call someone,” said Mathews.
Paczak agreed and said that if you are shaking a friend and hitting them and they are unresponsive then it is time to call someone. She also said that if they can’t answer simple questions, are throwing up while passed out, or are even starting a fight it might be time to call someone.
“Drunken people are gonna stumble and slur and say stupid things,” she said. “But when they start to sleep and throw up it’s a problem. Even if they aren’t throwing up but are starting a fight, get someone to help.”
She also emphasized that being drunk and loud isn’t necessarily a reason to get help, but it can draw unwanted attention.
When do authorities like police and RAs decide to step in?
“The law states that if we come in contact with a drunken person and if they are a threat to themselves or others, then we have to take them in,” said Mathews. “We will try to find a sober friend of theirs before taking them to jail, but you will most likely still get charged by Ohio University judiciaries.”
Both Mathews and Paczak affirm that the best way to not get in trouble is to not be overtly loud or draw attention to oneself. Also, having a friend who will help you stay calm and under control is always a plus.
“I’ve seen too many times where friends let friends do something bad because they think it’s funny,” said Mathews when discussing some antics that draw the attention of the police.
Mathews said that certain criteria can lead the police to arrest someone, such as a person who can’t walk or a person who is scuffed up and dirty because it is obvious that they have fallen. He also stated that walking on cars, walking in the middle of the street, or banging on things are good indicators that a person is drunk and might be stopped by the police.
Tips for ensuring a safe night
“Friends should always watch out for friends, but know who you can trust,” said Paczak. “Make sure you have a responsible friend you can trust to contact if you need help.”
Paczak also said that a person should know their own limit when drinking and try not to become the drunken friend that needs to be taken care of. She also realizes that it sometimes happens anyway and that a person should always have a plan for those “just in case” times.
“Even if you aren’t really drunk, never walk home alone,” said Paczak. “Call CAT Cab or campus security.”
Mathews also stated that even if a person is slightly intoxicated one should call the SAFE-T Patrol Team to help get home. He also said that it is best to find a sober friend to help. He suggests that friends have conversations beforehand about where they could meet in case they become split up during the night.
One of the most important things that both Paczak and Mathews restated is that a person should never, under any circumstances, leave a drunken friend alone.
Mathews stated that often friends get fed up with their friends and just leave them alone at a party while heavily intoxicated. But he said that this is not a good idea.
“Don’t leave a friend at a party if they don’t want to leave,” he said. “They can’t take care of themselves and don’t know what’s happening.”
Paczak and Mathews agree that if a friend is partying too much or becoming drunk too often then a good friend needs to talk to them about their partying habits. Mathews suggests that the best time to do this is not to yell at them when they are drunk, but to talk to them the next day once they have sobered up and are able to fully understand what is being said.
“Talk to a friend if their partying always seems to get out of hand,” said Paczak. “You don’t always want to be 'the mom.' You want to have fun, too.”
As both Mathews and Paczak stated, if you are ever in a situation where you or a friend is too drunk and you need outside help, don’t hesitate to call an RA or the police. They are here to help, and they only have the safety of students in mind.
If you wish to reach the OUPD you can call 740-593-1911.