I don't react like most people do to alcohol. On a scale of 1 to 10 I don't actually feel drunk until I reach a 7, and I don't act drunk until I hit a 9. It sort of creeps up on me, and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to write about the different stages of inebriation, how they affect my ability to give consent, my ability to remember, and how I act during these stages. I act very much in control and sober up to the point where I'm about to black out, which makes it difficult if not impossible for my friends to keep an eye on me when I'm drinking. I've also had problems in the past with acting incredibly lucid while still being more or less asleep, and this has created problems. I realize too that emotional and other kinds of physical stress alter my state of consciousness. So, here is my scale from 1 to 10 on states of altered consciousness. The ones italicized are the most important and most commonly used ones for when I've been drinking.
1. Fully functional. Not hindered in any way, will remember things normally, and able to give consent.
2. Slightly distracted. May be thinking about something else.
3. Not focused. Thinking or occupied by something else.
4. Feeling buzzed. Feels physically different but no change in inhibitions or demeanor. Able to give consent and remember.
5. Groggy. Just woke up from a nap or getting done with heavy emotional lifting. Memory and consent are fine but rattled and/or unfocused.
6. Borderline. Very emotionally or physically upset. Starting to lose memory and consent.
7. Drunk. Able to give some consent and remember some things. Acts normal and shows few if any signs of inebriation.
8. Not present. Little to no consent, only remembers flashes of actions or conversations, though seems entirely coherent. Includes falling asleep.9. Seems intoxicated. Staggers, tells embarrassing stories, and generally loses all inhibitions. Not able to consent and remembers only a little. Includes waking up from being asleep.
10. Completely blacked out. Absolutely no consent, will remember next to nothing, though still able to respond and make requests. Includes being dead asleep.
So what can I do to ensure that I have a fun and safe time while drinking? I need to always remember to eat before or while I'm drinking, and I must be sure that I drink plenty of water. Otherwise, I can become intoxicated much faster than I would normally. Also, I can drink slowly so that I don't suddenly go from a four to a seven without expecting it. Finally, I can let the people around me know where I'm at. I can tell them that if I can't look them in the eye, I'm not giving consent, which is true for when I'm asleep but seemingly carrying on a conversation as well. My friends and I know the 1 to 10 scale, but I can talk to them about what that means for me personally. Most importantly, I can simply keep my friends up to date with a quick check-in so that they know from me where I'm at.
Expectations for 03/21/10: Have Boston buffer finished and uploaded. Do three webcam sessions. Be packed for PAX. Finish calendar and tank projects. Submit to Beautiful Agony.
