This study explored the behavior of bystanders at parties who use markers to draw on intoxicated college students who show symptoms of alcohol poisoning, rather than helping those students. Half (50%) of the study’s 111 students reported being at a party where an intoxicated college student was drawn on with markers while passed out. The most common sign of alcohol poisoning observed was that the person could not be roused (63%). The most common location of drawings was the face (89%) and common items drawn were genitals (59%) and profanity (45%). The personal and legal ramifications of this is discussed

NC DOCKS at Appalachian State University

Seitz, Christopher

English

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Archived version from NCDOCKS Institutional Repository http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/asu/ Students At Risk Of Being Marked On By Peers Due To Alcohol Poisoning: An Exploratory StudyBy: Christopher M. Seitz, Muhsin Michael Orsini, and Martin P. DavorenAbstractThis study explored the behavior of bystanders at parties who use markers to draw on intoxicated college students who show symptoms of alcohol poisoning, rather than helping those students. Half (50%) of the study’s 111 students reported being at a party where an intoxicated college student was drawn on with markers while passed out. The most common sign of alcohol poisoning observed was that the person could not be roused (63%). The most common location of drawings was the face (89%) and common items drawn were genitals (59%) and profanity (45%). The personal and legal ramifications of this is discussed.Seitz, Christopher M.; Orsini, Muhsin Michael; Davoren, Martin P. 2017 STUDENTS AT RISK OF BEING MARKED ON BY PEERS DUE TO ALCOHOL POISONING: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY. The Free Library (September, 22), https://www.thefreelibrary.com. Publisher version of record available at: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/STUDENTS+AT+RISK+OF+BEING+MARKED+ON+BY+PEERS+DUE+TO+ALCOHOL...-a0536388692Corresponding author: Christopher M. Seitz, DrPH, MPH, Assistant Professor, Appalachian State Univer-sity, Department of Health & Exercise Science , Holmes Convocation Center , 111 Rivers Street, PO Box 32071, Boone, NC 28608, seitzcm@appstate.eduINTRODUCTIONBinge drinking among college students is a major public health concern that can result in a variety of negative health problems, including alcohol poisoning. Various national surveys sug-gest that roughly 30% of college students binge drink (American College Health Association, 2016; Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, Schulen-berg, & Miech, 2016). This is alarming, as an overwhelming amount of literature indicates that binge drinking is strongly associated with a variety of negative health issues, such as poor academic performance, assault (physical and sexual), unsafe sexual behaviors, suicide attempts, drunk driv-ing, property damage, and memory loss (Ham & Hope, 2003; White & Hingson, 2014). Perhaps the most concerning negative health issue associated with binge drinking is alcohol poisoning, which can lead to death. In 2008 alone, over 58,000 college-aged students were hospitalized for alcohol poisoning (White, Hingson, Pan, & Yi, 2011). Alcohol poisoning takes place when a large dose alcohol is consumed, which can depress the nerves responsible for in-voluntary movement, such as breathing, and lead to death (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2015). The warning signs of alcohol poisoning include: mental confusion, stupor, coma, not being able to be roused, vomiting, sei-zures, slow breathing (less than eight breaths per minute), irregular breathing (10 or more seconds between breaths), and signs of hypothermia (e.g., low body temperature, bluish skin color, paleness) (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alco-holism, 2015). Regardless of alcohol poisoning’s conse-quences and telltale signs, the peer-reviewed lit-erature and anecdotal evidence suggest that in-toxicated college students who show symptoms of alcohol poisoning are subject to being drawn on by bystanders with markers and pens as a hu-morous prank, rather than being helped. To the authors’ knowledge, the only peer-reviewed pub-lication mentioning this behavior is Workman’s (2001) qualitative study exploring the meaning of college drinking. In his study, fraternity members briefly describe using permanent markers to draw on the faces of intoxicated party-goers who are unresponsive (Workman, 2001). Non peer-reviewed publications also de-scribe this behavior. News articles from 2004 and 2007 describe the alcohol poisonings and tragic deaths of fraternity members at two different colleges. As they were dying from alcohol poi-soning, their friends used markers to draw slurs and profane sexual content all over their bodies (e.g., face, torso, and extremities) (ABC 7 News Denver, 2004; CBS News, 2007). This same type of behavior is also shown in social media. For ex-ample, the website www.passedoutphotos.com is dedicated to sharing and hosting photographs of intoxicated people that have been manipulated by others (e.g., drawn on with markers, wrapped in plastic, stripped of clothing). In addition, the smartphone application “Drunk Sharpie Attack” allows someone to take a photograph of a per-son and use a digital pen to draw content on the photograph, simulating the action of drawing on an intoxicating, unresponsive person (Mac Users Guide, 2010).Given the importance of alcohol poisoning and the dearth of relevant peer-reviewed research regarding those at risk of alcohol poisoning being drawn on by bystanders, it is critical to explore Students at risk of being marked on by peers due to alcohol poisoning: An exploratory studyChristopher M. Seitz, DrPH, MPH Muhsin Michael Orsini, EdDMartin P. Davoren, PhDAbstract: This study explored the behavior of bystanders at parties who use markers to draw on intoxicated college students who show symptoms of alcohol poisoning, rather than helping those students. Half (50%) of the study’s 111 students reported being at a party where an intoxicated college student was drawn on with markers while passed out. The most common sign of alcohol poisoning observed was that the person could not be roused (63%). The most common location of drawings was the face (89%) and common items drawn were genitals (59%) and profanity (45%). The personal and legal ramifications of this is discussed.Keywords: alcohol, college, university, studentsthe prevalence and characteristics of this behavior among college students. By gaining more knowl-edge on this subject, campus health professionals can begin to learn how to prevent it from hap-pening in the future. As such, we conducted an exploratory study among college students to de-termine how often this behavior takes place, how often intoxicated students being drawn on are at risk of alcohol poisoning, and the characteristics of the content that is drawn on students’ bodies.METHODSParticipants were enrolled in a general education course titled “Drugs and Society” at a large, public university in the Northwest/Midwest region of the United States. Although the course was required for all Community Health majors, it was open to students of all majors as an elective. A total of 180 students were invited to participate in this research study, of which 111 (62%) agreed to complete an anonymous paper and pencil ques-tionnaire. Most participants identified themselves as female (78%) and ranged in age from 18 to 22 or more years (M = 20.0, SD = 1.46), as shown in Table 1. This research study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the host institution. Participants were invited to complete the ques-tionnaire during a regular class meeting, with no consequences for agreeing or declining to partici-pate (Appendix 1).After reporting demographic information, partici-pants responded to multiple items regarding the frequency of observing intoxicated college stu-dents who were drawn on by peers with markers or pens. In addition, participants reported signs of alcohol poisoning and the location and content of what was drawn on the intoxicated student during their last observation. This information was gath-ered by inviting participants to draw what they observed on a silhouette form of a human body on the questionnaire (Appendix 1). Descriptive statistics were used to summa-rize demographic information, frequencies of ob-servations, and the signs of alcohol poisoning. The location and content of what was drawn on the silhouette was categorized into different themes. Contingency table analysis using the Chi-square statistic was used to determine if the observations were independent of sex. An independent sample t-test was used to determine if the observations were independent of age.RESULTSAbout half of the participants (n = 57, 51%) reported they had been at a party where an intoxicated college student was drawn on with markers or pens while sleeping or passed out. These participants observed the behavior 1 to 10 times during their time at college (M = 3.0, SD = 2.17, Mdn = 2). During the current semester, these participants observed the behavior 1 to 2 times (M = 0.63,SD = 0.73). The most common signs of alcohol poisoning observed by partici-pants were: person cannot be roused, mental con-fusion, stupor, and vomiting (Table 2). The most common locations of drawings on intoxicated college students were the face and arms (Table 3). Five themes emerged from the content of drawings on intoxicated college stu-dents: (1) Genitals (which were almost exclusively male genitals), (2) Profanity, (3) Scribbles (i.e., random markings), (4) Images (e.g., mustaches, eyebrows, tear drops, heart shapes), and (5) Words other than profanity. The most common content of drawings were Genitals, Profanity, and Images (Table 4). Contingency table analysis indicated that the frequency of observing an intoxicated college student being drawn on by peers in the current se-mester was not independent of sex, χ2 (1, n = 111) = 2.01, p = 0.045. Specifically, male participants reported observing the behavior more frequently in the current semester than females (M = 0.94, 0.49; SD = 0.83, 0.64 respectively), as shown in Table 5. An analysis of variance indicated that the frequency of observing an intoxicated college stu-dent being drawn on by peers in the current semes-ter was not independent of age, F(4, 56) = 5.70, p < 0.001 (two-tailed). Specifically, participants of less than legal drinking age (20 years or less) re-ported observing the behavior more frequently in the current semester than others (M = 0.88, 0.26; SD = 0.78, 0.45 respectively), as shown in Table 6. Table 1. Age and sex of participantsAge Female Male Total18 12 9 2119 21 6 2720 18 4 2221 12 1 1322 or older 24 4 28Total 87 24 111 Table 2. Frequency of observed signs of alcohol poisoningSign n %Person cannot be roused 35 63Mental confusion 30 54Stupor 30 54Vomiting 18 32Hypothermia 1 2Irregular breathing 1 2Coma 0 0Seizures 0 0Slow breathing 0 0None of the above 2 4Total 117 100Table 3. Locations of drawings on intoxicated studentsLocation n %Face 50 89Arm 25 45Chest 10 18Leg 6 11Back 3 5Total 94 100Table 4. Content of drawings on intoxicated studentsContent n %Genitals 33 59Profanity 25 45Image 18 32Scribble 10 18Word/s 10 18Total 96 100DISCUSSIONThis study aimed to explore characteristics of students at risk of alcohol poisoning who are drawn on from a convenience sample of students at a large university. It found that this behavior was common with half of the participants report-ing that they had been at a party where an intoxi-cated college student was drawn on with markers or pens while sleeping or passed out.The health and legal ramifications are sub-stantial for drawing on intoxicated college students who show symptoms of alcohol poisoning. First, students who are intoxicated may be at risk of al-cohol poisoning and death (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2015) and should be helped, rather than drawn on by bystanders. Second, family members and friends may experi-ence despair not only from the loss of a loved one who died from alcohol poisoning, but also from seeing profanity drawn on their dead body (ABC 7 News Denver, 2004; CBS News, 2007). Third, those who draw on students exhibiting symptoms of alcohol poisoning could face legal issues, such as battery or assault, and could have long-term consequences on an individual student’s career prospects and personal life. The findings from this exploratory study suggest that bystander educational training may be necessary to address this health issue at col-leges. This study’s findings reflects that of previous research, suggesting that colleges educate students about the warning signs of alcohol poisoning and provide a road map for students to implement in the emergency of someone exhibiting signs of poi-soning, as many students do not know the warn-ing signs and are less likely to help others if they do not view the signs of poisoning as an emer-gency (Haas & Flores, 2012; Krieger, Serrano, & Neighbors, 2017; Oster Aaland, Lewis, Neighbors, Vangsness, & Larimer, 2009). This research in-dicates that educational efforts should not only include recognition of poisoning and how to medically intervene, but should also include the unethical legalities of drawing on an unresponsive person. College students are at a point of signifi-cant transition. Surrounded by peers, many of whom are living away from home for the first time, university students experience freedom from parental control. In developing their identity, peer friendships are vital. They provide socialization opportunities for the individual. Alcohol is part of the university culture, present at many social functions and part of many social interactions. In fact, students view their university experience as an opportunity to drink excessively before assum-ing the responsibilities of adulthood (Borsari & Carey, 2006).  Students often occupy a culture of unrealistic optimism, failing to recognize the re-ality in their lived experience (Clarke, Lovegrove, Williams, & Machperson, 2000). By educating a campus community about the dangers of alcohol poisoning and how to respond as a bystander, col-leges can help students be informed, responsible members of a community and provide guidance for students as they navigate the transitions in-volved with being at college.  This exploratory study has limitations. First, it reports on a small, convenient sample size. At the same time, however, it yields a unique in-Table 5. Frequency of observing an intoxicated student being drawn on by peers and the sex of the observerObservations Female Male Total0 23 6 291 13 6 192 3 5 8Total 39 17 56Table 6. Frequency of observing an intoxicated student being drawn on by peers and the age of the observerObservations 18 19 29 21 22 or older Total0 1 8 3 6 11 295 5 6 2 1 5 192 4 1 3 0 0 8Total 10 15 8 7 16 56sight into this commonplace phenomenon across the university system. Furthermore, it highlights areas for health promotion interventions with this vulnerable population. Second, results from this study are not generalizable. However, they are consistent with anecdotal evidence in the field and signal the prevalence of this behavior in a univer-sity student population. There is a need for further research, employing a larger sample size across dif-ferent institutions to investigate university student partygoers’ habits, behaviors and attitudes. ReferencesABC 7 News Denver. (2004, October 8). Frat broth-ers scrawled slurs all over CU student's body: Gordie Bailey's family considers suing. Retrieved from http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/frat-brothers-scrawled-slurs-all-over-cu-student-s-bodyAmerican College Health Association. (2016). American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II: Reference Group Executive Summary Spring 2016. Hanover, MD: American College Health Association.Borsari, B., & Carey, K.B. (2006). How the qual-ity of peer relationships influences college alcohol use. Drug and alcohol review, 25(4), 361-370.CBS News. (2007, January 10). Dead frat pledge's body defaced. Retrieved from http://www.cb-snews.com/news/dead-frat-pledges-body-defaced/Clarke, V.A., Lovegrove, H., Williams, A., & Mach-person, M. (2000). Unrealistic optimism and the health belief model. Journal of Behavioral Medi-cine, 23(4), 367-376.Ham, L. S., & Hope, D. A. (2003). College students and problematic drinking: A review of the litera-ture. Clinical Psychology Review, 23(5), 719-759.Haas, A., & Flores, S. (2012). College student awareness of signs of alcohol poisoning. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 56(3), 59-76.Johnston, L.D., O’Malley, P.M., Bachman, J.G., Schulenberg, J.E. & Miech, R.A. (2016). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2015: Volume II, College students and adults ages 19–55. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research, the University of Michigan.     Krieger, H., Serrano, S., & Neighbors, C. (2017). The role of self-efficacy for bystander helping be-haviors in risky alcohol situations. Journal of Col-lege Student Development, 58(3), 451-456.Mac Users Guide (2010). Drunk Sharp-ie ATTACK! iPhone App. Retrieved from http://www.macusersguide.com/reviews/iphone-app-review-drunk-sharpie/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alco-holism. (2015). A word about alcohol poison-ing. Retrieved from http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-poisoningOster Aaland, L., Lewis, M. A., Neighbors, C., Vang-sness, J., & Larimer, M. E. (2009). Alcohol poi-soning among college students turning 21: Do they recognize the symptoms and how do they help? Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, (s16), 122 130.White, A.M., Hingson, R.W., Pan, I.J., Yi, H.Y. (2011). Hospitalizations for alcohol and drug overdoses in young adults ages 18-24 in the United States, 1999-2008: Results from the Na-tionwide Inpatient Sample. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 72(5), 774–786.White, A., & Hingson, R. (2014). The burden of alcohol use: Excessive alcohol consumption and related consequences among college students. Al-cohol Research: Current Reviews, 35(2), 201-218.Workman, T.A. (2001). Finding the meanings of college drinking: An analysis of fraternity drinking stories. Health Communication, 13(4), 427-447.Appendix 1. Questionaiire.What is your sex?  Male  FemaleHow old are you?    18 19 20 21 22 or olderHave you ever been at a party where a drunk college student was drawn on with markers or pens while sleeping/passed out?Yes NoDuring your time as a college student, how many times have you witnessed a drunk college stu-dent being drawn on with markers or pens while they were sleeping/passed out?   _____ timesHow many times have you witnessed this during this semester?  _____ timesThe last time you witnessed a drunk college student being drawn on with markers/pens while they were sleeping/passed out, did the drunk person show any of the following signs? (Check all that apply)Mental confusionStupor (not thinking normally)ComaPerson cannot be roused (woken up)VomitingSeizuresSlow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute).Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths).Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, palenessNone of the aboveTo the best of your memory, please draw in detail what you saw the last time you witnessed a drunk college student being drawn on with markers/pens while they were sleeping/passed out:

Students At Risk Of Being Marked On By Peers Due To Alcohol Poisoning: An Exploratory Study

http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/asu/f/Seitz_Christopher_2017_Students At Risk.pdf

Students At Risk Of Being Marked On By Peers Due To Alcohol Poisoning: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro