Alcohol & Other Drugs

In the United States a standard serving size for alcohol is 14 grams of pure alcohol, which equates to:

• 12 oz (354.88mL) of beer (typically 5% alcohol by volume)
• 5 oz (147.868mL) of wine (typically 12% alcohol by volume)
• 1.5oz (44.36mL) of liquor (typically 40% alcohol by volume)

Check out this diagram from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for examples of types of drinks and their standard serving size.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. This typically happens when men consume 5 or more drinks or women consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours.

How to combat binge drinking:

• Center your gathering around something other than alcohol (sporting event, birthday, games, food, etc.)
• Pacing and spacing drinks; sip your drink rather than chugging
• Alternate with non-alcoholic drink, water, electrolyte drink, juice, etc.
• Avoid drinking games and pre-gaming

Alcohol related offenses are each handled differently depending on the circumstances surrounding them. If you have questions about alcohol related code of conduct violations please contact our office at (585) 275-4085 or by email.

• Confusion
• Vomiting/Nausea
• Seizures
• Low body temperature
• Clammy skin
• Slow response
• Poor Coordination
• Slow/Irregular Breathing
• Unconsciousness

• Alternate between non-alcoholic drinks and alcoholic
• Sip don’t gulp
• Space and Pace your drinking
• Keep to one thing, no mixing alcohols
• Always eat before and while you consume
• Have a plan for the night
• Stay with a group
• Have a designated driver
• Never put someone to bed to “sleep it off”
• Avoid the pre-game and drinking games
• Know what’s in your drink

• BAC Calculator
• AUDIT: Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test: A questionnaire designed to help in the self-assessment of alcohol consumption and to identify implications for the person’s health and wellbeing, now and in the future.

• Increased Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Anxiety Attacks
• High or Low Blood Pressure
• Nausea
• Hallucinations
• Extreme Confusion

There are different effects that cannabis has on a person if they inhale or ingest it.

• Start slow!
• Know your source, going to a dispensary is safest because of state regulations
• Drink water
• Use with people you know and trust
• Don’t mix substances, stick to one thing
• Eat before and during use

Resources: The T-Break Guide, a guide to support you day by day in taking a successful break from cannabis use.  

Narcan, also known as Naloxone, is a life-saving medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdoses by competing with the opioid for space on the receptor.

For written information on how to use Narcan, visit this webpage from the MATTERS Network.

Currently Narcan is available in most AED machines on campus, as well as in a wall-mounted box in the lobby of the UHS building. We highly encourage students to take come grab a unit of Narcan to have in their dorm, car, backpack, etc. You never know when you may run into someone who needs it.

Test strips are used to help identify pills and powders that have been compromised with alternative drugs and fillers. It is important to test your substances for added drugs such as fentanyl or xylazine. It is important to note that testing, while effective, may not capture if every pill is negative or positive for these additives, which is why it is important to test before every use.

Fentanyl is a strong opioid that majorly contributes to the overdose crisis in the U.S. Prescription fentanyl is used in medicine to treat severe pain, under strict supervision by a medical professional. Illegally made fentanyl is often added to other illicit drugs to increase potency. This is extremely dangerous and increases the risk of an overdose.

Fentanyl can be added to drugs in powder, pill, or liquid forms. Not sure if your drugs contain fentanyl? Test it before consuming! Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can be used to drugs for the presence of fentanyl. Pick up free test strips in the vending machine in the UHS lobby or at the Alcohol and Other Drug Education (AOD) Office, located within the UHS Health Promotion Office on the 4th floor of UHS.

For written information on how to use Narcan and test strips, visit this webpage from the MATTERS Network.

Xylazine is a non-opioid tranquilizer linked to overdoses and deaths. Xylazine has been found in the illegal drug supply and its presence is increasing. It is especially dangerous when mixed with fentanyl. Since xylazine is not an opioid, Narcan will not reverse an overdose. Because of this, testing your drugs and seeking medical attention if needed is crucial.

Pick up free test strips in the vending machine in the UHS lobby or at the Alcohol and Other Drug Education (AOD) Office, located within the UHS Health Promotion Office on the 4th floor of UHS.

For written information on how to use Narcan and testing strips, visit this webpage from the MATTERS Network.

1. Students who seek medical attention for others related to consumption of alcohol or other drugs will not be charged with possession (unless with intent to distribute) or consumption of alcohol or other drugs in violation of the University of Rochester Alcohol and Other Drug Policy.
2. Students who receive medical attention related to the consumption of alcohol and/or other drugs in accordance with this policy will not be charged with violations of the University of Rochester Alcohol and Other Drug Policy (specifically, Standards 6 and 7 in the Standards of Student Conduct) provided that the student does the following:
   1. Meets with a University staff member to discuss the incident.
   2. Completes any educational sanctions assigned by that staff member to help the student make safer, more responsible decisions with alcohol and/or other drugs.
3. This policy addresses violations of the University of Rochester Standards of Student Conduct. It does not grant amnesty for criminal, civil, or legal consequences for violations of Federal, State, or Local Law.
4. This Policy applies only in situations where students or organizations actively seek medical assistance in connection with an alcohol and/or other drug-related medical emergency and does not apply to individuals experiencing an alcohol or drug-related medical emergency who are found by University employees (i.e., Department of Public Safety, faculty, administrative staff, Residential Life staff, including Resident Advisors).
5. Medical amnesty applies only to alcohol or other drug-related violations and does not apply to other conduct violations such as assault, property damage, endangering the health or safety of others, or distribution of illicit substances (or possession with intent to distribute). If other violations occur, then a student and/or student organization may face disciplinary charges for those violations. The use or abuse of alcohol or drugs is never considered a mitigating circumstance for any other violations of the Standards of Student Conduct.