Dive Summary:
- Following the recent hospitalization of a University of Tennessee at Knoxville student with a near-lethal dose of alcohol following an alleged alcohol enema, experts are trying to alleviate concerns that the practice, known as "butt-chugging," may be the next campus binge drinking trend.
- The alleged incident has prompted nationwide discussion over the practice, which was popularized by a scene in one of the "Jackass" movies, but experts say it isn't any more alarming than other binge-drinking behaviors and that they're more worried the massive media attention will only encourage its spread.
- The experts add, however, that the practice is rare--so much so that the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says the practice is rarely tracked--and not an immediate issue in need of being addressed by most universities.
From the article:
First, there was vodka eyeballing. Then, there was Four Loko. Now, maybe, there is "butt-chugging." A University of Tennessee at Knoxville student was recently hospitalized with a blood alcohol level of 0.4, dangerously close to what is considered a lethal dose. The student, a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, which has since been suspended from Tennessee until at least 2015, also had injuries that made doctors suspect possible assault, until a fraternity brother said the student have been given an "alcohol enema." ...