Tragedy at Acadia University: alcohol poisoning leads to death of first year student

The first-year student was found unresponsive just after midnight on Sept.6.

Emergency medical services arrived on scene and took him to a hospital in Kentville, N.S. Later, he was transferred to a hospital in Halifax where he was listed in critical condition and passed away.

Reports from Acadia University have stated that the student attended a party Monday evening
in one of the dorms where drinking games were being played. It is believed the student
consumed 40 ounces of an unknown hard liquor in about one hour.

The student was a freshman who had just arrived to the Wolfville, N.S. campus days earlier from his home in Alberta.

The University released a brief statement expressing condolences for friends and family. Ray
Ivany, President of Acadia University said, “This tragic accident is a reminder to all of us of how fragile life can be and how quickly future promise can be replaced by grief and sadness.”

Evidence shows the majority of alcohol related student deaths in North America are due to car accidents — but there are other risks.

Alcohol is a depressant that slows down many functions in the body, including respiration and the gag reflex, which prevents choking.

In excess, alcohol can also slow the body down to unconsciousness, and in severe cases stop the operation of the lungs and heart.

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photo: Wikimedia Commons