Documentary ‘Haze’ Promotes Alcohol Safety

Clips of the documentary HAZE, shown as a part of Love Your Body Week last Thursday, encouraged students to make the simple phone call that could determine the outcome of a life or death situation.

The documentary was shown in hopes to increase awareness in regards to alcohol related issues and emphasize another way that students can learn to love their body.

The film showed how students, in dangerous alcohol-related circumstances, are the determining factors in deciding whether a situation turns fatal for another student. The film showed that in typical college party settings, the role of student peers becomes crucial. The event brought about awareness that it is up students to make that phone call for help on behalf of someone who is heavily intoxicated.

Through student reflections, the film narrated the dangers of waiting too long to make that phone call: There is a significant decrease in the opportunity to reverse permanent brain or liver damage that has already been done should a student wait too long. However, the film showed that students have the power to take control of the issue, get help, and possibly save a life.

"You never know when your friend is close to that lethal dose. If someone is passed out, call for help because they could be on the verge of that lethal dose and you wouldn't even know," said Thomas Nary, director of University Health Services.

The event emphasized that it is not within students' discretion to decide whether a friend who is intoxicated will be fine if they drink some water or simply just "sleep it off."

The event showed that that decision should be saved for medical professionals, as students do not truly know another students' alcohol level because alcohol affects everyone differently. The effects can differ by gender, body mass, as well as the rate of consumption and time frame during which the alcohol was consumed, presenters said. Therefore, trained professionals should be the only ones who can accurately determine these judgment calls on a case-to-case basis.

"It does happen, and it does happen here," Nary said of the culture of underage drinking present on college campuses.

The event also educated students on the new help-seeking policy at Boston College, which states that no repercussions or disciplinary actions will be taken against a student calling for help for an intoxicated friend.