Summer fun, alcohol can be disastrous combination.

Byline: STRAIGHT STUFF By Jerry Gjesvold For The Register-Guard

Oregon is rightfully known as a great place for outdoor activities - and it's never better than in the summer. Whether it's for a long weekend or their annual vacation, Oregonians head outside for fun and relaxation.

For many people, alcohol will be part of the fun. For them, it's almost a summer tradition to combine drinking with operating fast machinery. Some who would never drink and drive polish off a six-pack and take the handlebars of a Jet Ski or ATV, or the wheel of a powerful boat.

We see this thinking pattern at Serenity Lane all the time. People get into trouble because they connect a change of scenery and freedom from regular responsibilities with excess food, alcohol and other compulsive behaviors. When we're on vacation, most of us are more susceptible to overindulging - especially if we already tend to overdo or we've become overstressed from day-to-day routines.

But the laws of Oregon don't change just because we're on vacation. In fact, during the summer months, the number of law enforcement personnel patrolling highways, waterways and recreational areas is significantly increased. Almost all of us know that driving while intoxicated is a very serious, potentially expensive and dangerous risk to take. And more of us than ever are aware that boating under the influence is equally so. These behaviors carry serious legal consequences.

Given our desire to relax our usual controls this time of year, it's ironic that from a health point of view, summer is a time to be more careful with our consumption, not less. Alcohol is one of the most dehydrating substances that human beings can ingest - and other drugs, such as Ecstasy, are as well. This is one reason serious athletes such as marathoners don't drink alcohol the night before a race.

In the summer, we get thirsty more quickly than usual. When our drinks contain alcohol, we end up being even more dehydrated as a result, so we consume even more. As we become more intoxicated, controlling the amount we drink becomes that much more difficult.

It's also important to remember that the combination of heat and physical exertion intensifies the effects of alcohol - at a time when we might already be tempted to allow ourselves to "cut loose." The usual amount we drink will affect us more than we're used to. This heightens the risk of injury. Our judgment is impaired, so we can't actually estimate distances accurately and we're more likely to take risks. It's well known, for example, that the combination of alcohol and cold Pacific Northwest waters is risky even for experienced swimmers. This year, that misjudgment will cost some people their lives.

You might be thinking to yourself, "I wouldn't have nearly as much fun if I wasn't drinking." You might find yourself wondering who would join you for activities if you didn't serve alcohol. In either case, it can be useful to ask seriously why that is.

In a time of fun and recreation, none of us wants to be reminded of how dangerous the combination of alcohol and summer activities can be. But if we forget, things can and will happen that are bad enough that we'd wish we were only getting an expensive citation or trip to jail. Hopefully, that's a sobering thought.

Opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer. As Serenity Lane's statewide coordinator of employer services, Jerry Gjesvold helps companies create and manage their drug-free workplace programs. More information is available at www.serenitylane.org.