Susan Murphy-Milano...

Just returned home from comforting and assisting my girlfriend who is preparing for the wake and funeral of her 22 year old son and my Godson. We learned from the coroner that Michael died from alcohol poisioning. His body was discovered by a college roomate late Sunday evening. The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday. The town where the parents live is a fairly small tight knit community of about 35,000. And Michael's parents are wealthy and do a lot to enhance health education for grade school children who are without medical and dental benefits. Today I learned that they decided not to tell anyone, but,close family and friends how their son died. In their moment of pain I have honored their wishes, but I am troubled by their decision. I feel others would benefit from understanding and knowing the affects of alcohol poisioning and binge drinking so I have decided in Michael's memory to post it on the blog. Know that Michael had his whole life ahead of him. He was on the Dean's list, the football team and he was being groomed upon graduation from college to take follow in his family's foot steps and take over the business that began four generations ago. Here's some important information.

Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts.

Alcohol affects your body. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases, including cancer.

Alcohol affects your self-control. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system, lowers your inhibitions, and impairs your judgment. Drinking can lead to risky behaviors, such as driving when you shouldn’t, or having unprotected sex.

Alcohol can kill you. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time or very rapidly can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to coma or even death. Driving and drinking also can be deadly. In 2004,31 percent of drivers age 15 to 21who died in traffic accidents had been drinking alcohol.

Alcohol can hurt you--even if you're not the one drinking. If you're around people who are drinking, you have an increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence. At the very least, you may have to deal with people who are sick, out of control, or unable to take care of themselves.

Binge drinking is a popular sport on college campus and frat parties.

Know the law. It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under age 21.

Get the facts. One drink can make you fail a breath test. In some States, people under age 21 can lose their driver's license, be subject to a heavy fine, or have their car permanently taken away.

Stay informed. "Binge" drinking means having five or more drinks on one occasion. Studies show that more than 35 percent of adults with an alcohol problem developed symptoms--such as binge drinking--by age 19.

Know the risks. Alcohol is a drug. Mixing it with any other drug can be extremely dangerous. Alcohol and acetaminophen--a common ingredient in OTC pain and fever reducers--can damage your liver. Alcohol mixed with other drugs can cause nausea, vomiting, fainting, heart problems, and difficulty breathing. Mixing alcohol and drugs also can lead to coma and death.

Keep your edge. Alcohol is a depressant, or downer, because it reduces brain activity. If you are depressed before you start drinking, alcohol can make you feel worse.

Look around you. Most teens aren't drinking alcohol. Research shows that 71 percent of people 12-20 haven't had a drink in the past month.

How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:

Getting drunk on a regular basis
Lying about how much alcohol he or she is using
Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun
Having frequent hangovers
Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal
Having "blackouts"--forgetting what he or she did while drinking
What can you do to help someone who has a drinking problem? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help.

For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.