Protective behaviors are the actions that one takes to reduce negative health outcomes and decrease risk factors. We encourage everyone to be proactive and sensible in the steps they take to have a fun and safe night!
Alcohol
Before Going Out:
- Charge your cellphone.
- Identify a buddy for the duration of the night.
- Plan a safe ride home for you and your group (Designated Driver, Ride Share services, etc.)
- Grab a bite! Eat foods high in protein, electrolytes and other key nutrients.
- Planning on throwing a party?
Check out the hosting a party checklist! - Planning on attending a party?
Check out the going to a party checklist!
While Out:
- Abstain from drinking.
- Alternate non-alcoholic beverages with alcoholic beverages.
- Avoid drinking games.
- Check-in with your group regularly.
- Do not exceed more than 4 drinks the entire time.
- Hold each other accountable and let one another know when they’ve had enough.
- Keep track of how many drinks you’ve consumed.
- Pace your drinks to one or fewer per hour.
- Stick with only one kind of alcohol.
When the Party’s Over:
- Don’t let an intoxicated friend go home with a stranger. If you wouldn’t let them drive, don’t let them leave with a stranger.
- Check in to make sure everyone’s safe at home. If you can’t reach someone, get help.
- If someone at the party/bar/club behaved in a way that made you or someone else feel uncomfortable, talk about it and support others who bring up these issues.
Cannabis
As a reminder, while legal in the state of Michigan, the use, distribution, and possession of marijuana for medical or recreational use is prohibited on campus. See Drug Policy for more information.
Before:
- Check in with yourself. Take note of your emotional and physical state. Identifying your intention before consuming can help eliminate anxiety, fear or stress during your high.
- Remove stems, seeds and leaf (unless you are using leaf instead of tobacco).
- Wait till you’ve seen to all of your daily tasks before you start smoking.
- Make sure you are safe. If you don’t feel comfortable in your surroundings sober, you probably won’t high. If you don’t feel you are in a safe space emotionally or physcially, don’t consume.
- Plan your ride if you are going anywhere. Avoid driving while you are high.
During:
- Reduce or cut out tobacco as a mixing agent.
- Avoid inhaling to deeply or holding smoke in your lungs. It increases intake of tar without getting you any more high.
- Smoking bongs or water pipes filters out more THC than tar and you lose lots in side stream smoke.
- Don’t use a cigarette filter as it will filter out THC (reducing the effect) as well as tar and may lead you to smoking more or more deeply.
- Use a plain cardboard roach and avoid printed/plastic covered materials.
- If you have to smoke and are worried about cancer or lung disease, try a vaporizer which avoids combustion and reduces the release and deposition of tar and carcinogens.
After:
- Treat your paraphernalia with pride. Keep your pipes and bongs clean and avoid plastic bottles, pipes, etc. as can increase toxic fumes.
- Take tolerance breaks. Breaks help build back up the cannabinoid receptors and allows you to reevaluate consumption habits.
- Avoid driving while you are high. Reach out to a friend or a ride share service.