…and I passed out until the next day. What’s going on?

Alcohol can mess up judgement, perception and behavior. It’s a depressant, so it can make you very sleepy. It’s possible that one beer was too much for your body so you fell asleep easily. Another possibility is that your beer had something else besides alcohol in it. There are some drugs that dissolve in drinks and make the drinker pass out causing memory loss. These drugs are often referred to as “date rape” drugs. They can be used in sexual assault, because they make the drinker weak, confused and often unable to defend themselves against unwanted attention & sex. Memory loss and passing out can be signs that you were drugged against your will.

If this sounds like it happend to you, talk to someone you trust and to a professional. You won’t be judged, or get in trouble for drinking and you’ll get help if you need it. Call Teen Clinic at 303.442.5160. Call MESA (Moving to End Sexual Assault) on their 24-hour hotline: 303.443.7300. Both lines are confidential and they can help you talk through your concerns. You can also call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE or use their anonymous online hotline at www.rainn.org.