# Severe Ethanol Poisoning Among United States College Fraternity Pledges

**Authors:** Todd S Ing, Armen Sam, Hon-Lok Tang, Keith K Lau

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58650 · Cureus · 2024-04-20

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how hazing in college fraternities often leads to severe alcohol poisoning among pledges, highlighting the need for education and effective treatments like hemodialysis.

## Contribution

The paper emphasizes the effectiveness of hemodialysis in treating severe ethanol poisoning from hazing.

## Key findings

- Hazing rituals often result in extremely high serum ethanol levels in pledges.
- Hemodialysis is an effective treatment for severe ethanol poisoning.
- Education about hazing harms is crucial to prevent severe ethanol poisoning.

## Abstract

Hazing is a longstanding tradition in university and college fraternities. This practice often uses alcohol as a penalty during hazing rituals, resulting in severe ethanol poisoning and even death among pledges. Typically, the serum ethanol levels in these poisoned students are extremely high. Preventing severe ethanol poisoning is crucial, and can be achieved through education about the harms of these hazing activities. Hemodialysis is an effective treatment for severe ethanol poisoning as it removes the excess alcohol in a timely manner.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** ethanol (PubChem CID 702)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** Ethanol Poisoning (MESH:D000437), death (MESH:D003643)

## Full text

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## References

29 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11032146/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11032146