Alcohol and Addiction Prevention Project: “Drunk Goggles” Simulate the Effects of Being Drunk

The subtitle of the alcohol prevention project made it clear what it was all about: “Drunk as a skunk—you’re better off without it.” Don’t just drink because everyone else is—and certainly don’t overdo it: To raise awareness about responsible and moderate alcohol consumption and to highlight the dangers of abuse, the “Alcohol and Addiction” project for 8th graders, led by Nicole Hohm and Heike Rabben-Martin, was launched.

 

Workshop with Dr. Birgit Wollenberg, M.D.

Since this topic is part of the State Medical Association’s program, participants once again received first-hand medical information. Dr. Birgit Wollenberg, who has been director of the Public Health Department for two years, led the workshop at the Steinmühle for the fourth time. She discussed the effects of alcohol, the damage it can cause with excessive and prolonged use, the long-term health consequences of getting completely drunk, and the risks of addiction. The goal is to promote a “healthy” approach to alcohol through moderate consumption within one’s own limits, as well as the ability to simply say “no” and not give in to peer pressure to drink along with others.

Using so-called “drunk goggles,” which are designed to simulate a blood alcohol concentration of 1.3 per mille, all participants were able to get a sense of what it’s like to drive while under the influence and have to handle everyday tasks in that state, such as picking up objects.