Five Alcohol Safety Tips

September 2, 2022
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For many college students heading back to school means new roommates, classes, fall sports, all-nighters, hanging out with friends, and parties. While most of these activities might seem harmless, fun, and even expected of a college student, excessive alcohol use can pose many safety risks, especially for women.

 

We know you're excited to see your friends, blow off some steam and have a good time. But we also know that going out without a plan can turn what was meant to be a fun evening into a nightmare. 

 

Did you know that…

  • At least 50% of student sexual assaults involve alcohol.
  • Approximately 90% of rapes perpetrated by an acquaintance involve alcohol.
  • About 43% of sexual assault events involve alcohol use by the victim; 69% involve alcohol use by the perpetrator. 1

 

At Collage, we care about you and want to provide you with helpful information about alcohol consumption and its risks to your sexual and emotional health. So, here are five safety tips that can help keep you and your friends out of risky situations that involve alcohol and sex.

 

1. Avoid Excessive Alcohol.

Low-risk drinking is thinking about your limit before getting to the party. Limiting alcoholic beverages to one drink per hour is recommended, a maximum of three for gals and four for guys for the entire evening. Alternating drinking with food and water is also a good option. 

 

High-risk drinking can lead to excessive alcohol consumption. Common high-risk drinking activities are drinking games, chugging, doing shots, and mixing drinks with drugs or energy drinks. 2

 

2. Have a Group.

Ever heard of the old saying, 'there's safety in numbers?' Going to a party with a group of friends to act as lookouts for each other is a great idea! A way to keep safe within your group is to have a code word that will help tip off your friends if you feel like you are in an unsafe situation. Then, if anyone says or texts the code word, try to help get that friend out of the problem.

 

3. Choose Safe Areas.

The safest option at a party is to stay with your group at all times. Avoid isolation or putting yourself in situations where you can't be heard or seen. If you do need to leave your group, take a friend with you and make sure that you communicate with your group about where you're going and when you think you'll be back.


4. Be Protective of your Drink.

If you choose to drink at a party, keep it with you at all times. Never allow someone to refill your glass or get you a new drink. It's too easy to have something slipped into your drink when you're not looking. 56% of women and 44% of men said they've unknowingly had their drinks spiked. Out of this surveyed group, 52% said they had their first drink spiked during college. 3


If you did leave your drink unattended or accepted a drink from somebody else, pay attention to your body for the effects of a possible spike. Some signs of having your drink mixed with a drug can include extreme drowsiness, compromised cognitive/physical abilities, nausea, difficulty concentrating, and blurred vision.


5. Trust Your Instincts.

If you feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or worried for any reason while on a date or at a party, don't ignore those feelings. Get somewhere safe and find someone you trust. Sometimes acting on intuition can feel awkward, embarrassing, and even stupid. Never let those feelings stop you from seeking safety. You and your safety are more important than anyone's embarrassment or inconvenience. 

If you need help…

If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve been sexually assaulted, contact Campus Police or the Local Police immediately. 

 


If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, Family Advocacy Network is a great resource in Kearney as is Willow Rising in Grand Island. If you think you may be pregnant and you want someone to talk to, please contact us. We want to be there for you.

September 30, 2026
If you took the first abortion pill, it’s possible to start wishing you hadn’t. The regret may have hit you immediately, or it might have taken a few hours to realize that you want to continue the pregnancy. Either way, there may still be something you can do: abortion pill reversal (APR) may be an option. The first drug used in the abortion pill regimen is usually mifepristone. If you have taken mifepristone but now want to continue your pregnancy, call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network at 1-877-558-0333 right away. Their Helpline is available 24/7 and can connect you with a medical provider who can administer APR. If You Have Only Taken the First Pill Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone. Progesterone helps maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. When this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining thins, and the pregnancy ends. The second drug in the abortion pill regimen is misoprostol , which causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Abortion pill reversal involves giving progesterone after mifepristone in an effort to allow the pregnancy to continue. Don’t Wait for Symptoms Before Calling You may wonder whether you should wait before deciding what to do. But if you want to try to continue the pregnancy, call first.  It’s critical to start the protocol as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours of taking mifepristone. However, you should still call even when more time has passed; it may not be too late. A medical provider can determine whether APR may still be appropriate. Does Reversal Always Work? Abortion pill reversal cannot guarantee that the pregnancy will continue. One published study reported ongoing pregnancy rates of approximately 64% to 68% with certain progesterone regimens, but individual outcomes vary. The important thing is to get medical guidance quickly rather than trying to determine your chances on your own. What if You Already Took Misoprostol? If you have already taken misoprostol, contact a healthcare professional promptly and explain exactly what you took and when. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms that concern you or believe you may be experiencing a medical emergency. Make the Call Now Changing your mind after taking mifepristone can be frightening, especially when you’re unsure whether there is still time to act. You don’t need to figure that out yourself. Call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network at 1-877-558-0333 as soon as possible and tell them when you took mifepristone. They can explain whether abortion pill reversal may still be an option and connect you with an appropriate provider. You can also contact Collage if you need someone to speak with while you work through your next steps. We’re here to help you. *Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services. **All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
September 7, 2026
Seeing another positive pregnancy test after having had a past abortion may bring up memories or emotions from that experience. If you already know you don’t want another abortion, you may be wondering what other choices you have and whether either feels realistic for your life right now. You have time to learn about your options and the available support. Collage is here to give you a place to discuss your circumstances so you can decide what’s right for you. Schedule a no-cost appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy and what your next steps could look like. And read on to learn more about your pregnancy options besides abortion. Consider What Parenting Would Require You may want to parent but have concerns about whether you can make it work. Finances, housing, childcare, your relationship, work, or school can all influence how possible this option feels right now. Before deciding that those challenges make parenting unrealistic, it can help to identify your biggest concerns individually. Some of those concerns may have solutions you haven’t considered yet. Think about the support you already have, along with what you would need during pregnancy and after your baby arrives. Knowing where the gaps are can make it easier to find resources rather than trying to solve everything at once. Learn More About Adoption If you don’t want another abortion but aren’t ready to parent, adoption is another option. Today, a woman making an adoption plan can have a significant role in deciding what that plan looks like. Depending on the type of adoption, you may be able to choose an adoptive family and decide what level of contact you would like after placement. Open, semi-open, and closed adoption offer different levels of communication and privacy. Speaking with a licensed adoption professional can help you understand these differences, your rights, and what the process would involve before you make any commitments. Discuss Your Options in a Confidential Space Having had an abortion before does not mean you have to make the same pregnancy decision again. Your feelings, circumstances, priorities, or perspective may be different this time. If you know you don’t want another abortion, start by learning what parenting and adoption could realistically look like in your current situation. Collage provides a place to talk about your pregnancy and the concerns influencing your decision. We can also connect you with adoption agencies and community organizations that provide the support you’re seeking. Reaching out doesn’t lock you into a specific decision. Schedule a no-cost appointment with Collage today to get your questions answered and explore the options available to you. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.
August 11, 2026
If your girlfriend is facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering the abortion pill, you're probably wondering about costs and whether insurance will cover it.
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