Amanda Jax, 21, Alcohol Poisoning

Ms. Jax was a resident of Mayer, Minnesota and had been a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  She was scheduled to enroll in the nursing program there in 2008.

The night of October 29th, 2007,  she returned to Mankato to celebrate her 21st birthday with friends.

During the evening and into the early morning, Jax "apparently became quite intoxicated" and was taken to a friend's off-campus apartment, the police news release said.

When friends found her to be unresponsive in the morning, they called 911.

As always, my deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Sources:
Star Tribune: Binge Drinking is An Ongoing Problem in State
Facebook: Amanda Jax Memorial Group

Jax, a former nursing student at Mankato, was in town to celebrate turning 21 on Monday. She had been a pre-nursing student at the university between 2005 and this summer and had been accepted into the nursing program next spring, a university spokesman said.

During the evening and into the early morning, Jax "apparently became quite intoxicated" and was taken to a friend's off-campus apartment, the police news release said.

When friends found her to be unresponsive in the morning, they called 911.

Following her death, a page on the Facebook social networking site was created online as "a place for everyone to share their memories of our Amanda, Ajax, or also known as Ajacket."

One person posted, "It's hard to believe our journey together is over ... I have known you since elementary school [there are so many memories] you were one of my best friends."

Another wrote: "She was one of the best roommates I've ever had. She was extremely caring, a free spirit, and yes, but she also had a serious side. I remember Amanda when we were 9 and our glasses were the big round kind and feeling shy about them. ... Our first college years she was always the one to quiz us on our homework, or go that extra mile to make sure our grades were higher. ... Rest in Peace, cheesecake."

University President Richard Davenport, in a news release, extended the "campus community's deepest condolences" to Jax's family and friends.

Family members declined to talk about Jax, but Lieu remembered her as "a very friendly young woman, who came in every day with a happy face. She had a good way with customers."

A few months ago, she returned home to Mayer, but visited Lieu at his Great Wall restaurant last week. "She dropped by to say hi, and was so happy she would be celebrating her 21st birthday," he said.

State crime records show that Jax, while enrolled at Mankato and still too young to legally drink, was twice convicted of drunken driving; once in 2005 in Hennepin County and in 2006 in McLeod County.

About 1,400 students a year suffer drinking-related deaths, with fewer than 300 of those from alcohol poisoning or choking in their sleep, a 2002 federal study showed.

In 2005, a "Maverick Health" university newsletter lamented "21st birthday celebrations [that] include birthday rituals that can lead to serious consequences and, in some instances, death."

The newsletter article went on to explain a state law enacted that year that outlawed the "power hour" -- an at times deadly ritual in which a person turning 21 enters a bar at midnight on his or her birthday to binge drink. The law bans anyone from consuming alcohol until 8 a.m. on their birthday. It was not immediately known how soon in the day Jax began drinking.

"Other 21st birthday rituals," the article continued, "like drinking 21 shots or doing a pub crawl for 21 drinks, are nearly impossible to make illegal through legislation but have the potential for the same serious consequences" as the power hour.

Update:

The Mankato city attorney's office is looking at whether charges should be filed against one or more bars in connection to the case of a 21-year-old woman who died after a night of heavy drinking.

Amanda Jax was found dead in a friend's apartment on October 30th after going out the night before to celebrate her 21st birthday with friends.  Her last known stop was Sidelines Bar & Grill in Mankato.

An autopsy revealed Jax had a blood alcohol level of .46, more than five times the legal driving limit in Minnesota.

Assistant city attorney Chris Cain says they will look at whether bartenders served Jax when she was "obviously intoxicated", or showing obvious signs of drunkenness such as slurred speech, red eyes, or poor balance.  If that's the case, bartenders could face a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

The bars, themselves, could also have their liquor licenses suspended and be shut down temporarily.

Attorneys will need to re-trace Jax's steps from October 29th to determine if other bars and bartenders also served her while intoxicated.

The city attorney's office is expected to get the case on Tuesday.  It will likely take them a few weeks to determine whether to file charges. 

 

In 2004, at least nineteen people of college age  died of alcohol toxicity (alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose).

"There's no place  that's actually keeping data on alcohol deaths"--Thomas Kunstman MD

In all cases, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heartbeat and the gag reflex that prevents choking. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops drinking, the heart keeps beating, and the alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the system. The victim may experience the following:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, unable to rouse the person
• No response to pinching the skin
• Vomiting while sleeping or unresponsive
• Seizures
• Slowed breathing  (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

Alcohol Poisoning Requires Immediate Medical Attention

Alcohol Poisoning Cannot Be Reversed By:

• Drinking black coffee
• Taking a cold bath or shower
• Walking it off

The victim must have immediate medical attention.
Call 911, stay with the victim to prevent him choking on vomit, and tell emergency personnel how much alcohol the victim drank.

These Children Died of Alcohol Overdose, So Their Parents Started Foundations:

Taylor Webster's memorial foundation.  Taylor died of alcohol  poisoning at age 19-- Now his family and friends are working  to get the message out, telling their stories and providing  information on alcohol poisoning and the signs and symtoms  of alcohol poisoning in hopes that lives will be saved.

Bradley McCue's memorial foundation.  On November 5, 1998  Bradley turned 21. . He celebrated  his birthday in a way that has become increasingly popular, drinking "his  age in shots". That amount of alcohol was lethal and he died  that night of alcohol poisoning.

Samantha Spady's memorial foundation. A 19-year old student at Colorado State University, Spady died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004, "an unintentional tragedy."  The Spadys say the SAM [Student Alcohol Management] Spady Foundation will develop peer-to-peer counseling and other services meant to reduce the risk of alcohol abuse.

Gordie Bailey's memorial foundation.   The mission of the Gordie Foundation is to provide today’s youth with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, and through education and promotion of self worth prevent alcohol poisoning, binge drinking and hazing.

Comments

[Bill]

Twice convicted of drunk driving before 21? What happened to court-ordered in-patient substance abuse treatment on the second offense?

[Butch Rider]

All I can remember from the news report, was a hung-over looking friends who looked bewildered and expressed how sadly Amanda would be missed. I ask what were these so-called "friends" doing to prevent her from drinking to a .46 alchohol level. They were quick to put tributes on a Facebook page instead of taking any responsibility.
What does this say about that generation?

The fact is I suspect many of those same "friends" bought her one of the drinks to push her past the normal limits, and then wondered the next day what happened.
The intelligence level here is alarming but more-so the fact that no-one has stepped forward to take the responsibility for her death. Sure Amanda had to have some, but when a person is past .2 on the alchohol level all bets are off, thus where were her "friends"?
I hope every young person nearing the same situation can learn from this tragic lesson.

[Amanda]

I think the responsibility lies on Amanda. People may buy you drinks, but not force them down your throat. If you are thinking clear enough to put a glass to your mouth, you know what you are drinking. I feel bad for the people being charged, I think it's bogus. Parents should help their children when they have a drinking problem.

[Laura]

If we are going to blame Amanda's friends, maybe we need to ask what part her parent's had in the situation. Did they counsel her about the dangers of drinking? Did they call her at some point that night to see if she was coherent? I don't mean to be cruel but if you are going to start the blame game...maybe everyone should play a part.

My daughter recently turned 21 and I had several serious discussions with her and her friends who were accompanying her that night about not over doing it. I also called her at 2 in the morning to see how she sounded and if she hadn't answered I would have been calling her friends to see what was up.

[Cristi]

The fact that Amanda's mother is suing the bar and her daugther's friends makes me so sick. I understand that it must be very difficult to lose a child, but placing blame on everyone who was within spitting distance from Amanda that night is not going to bring her daughter back. I would bet everything I own that if Amanda were able to speak today, she would BEG her mother not to place blame on her friends. Losing a friend isn't easy, and I'm sure they feel awful about what happened.

Given the fact that it was Amanda's birthday, I'm sure others were buying her drinks. How can bartender monitor that?

I don't mean to be disrespectful to someone who is deceased. But she had two DUI's before she was even the legal drinking age. I saw parts of her myspace page on which she spoke of partying way too much, and even listed under the 'Heroes' section the following: "anyone that has carried me home from one of my drunken nights and got me safely in the bed haha! i love you guys (and you all know who u r!)"

Obviously this girl had a drinking problem. So if Jenny Haag wants to play the 'blame game' let's go. Did Jenny ever try an intervention? Did Jenny try putting her daughter in rehab? Is that the best Jenny could do at raising her daughter? Perhaps, if Jenny would have done a better job at teaching her daughter the dangers of binge drinking, she might still be alive!!!

Honestly I don't blame ANYONE for this accident. It was an accident. But my point about Ms. Jenny Haag is that if she wants to find someone to blame, she should start by looking in the damn mirror!!!!!

[Bill]

The part I love is that this girl had 2 DUI's before she even turned 21 and her mom is trying to tell us that her daughter didnt have a drinking problem...where was her mother on that? I'm sure when her mother was her age she drank and there probably were times she put her friends to bed knowing they were going to wake up. We all do, but how the hell can you charge these students (especially one that isnt even 21 for her death? Its sad that because the mother knows she didnt do everything she could have to prevent this from happening she puts the blame on a bunch of students that really had nothing to do with this.  What if the situation was reversed and her daughter had been contributing to one of there deaths how would she feel then?  This is a sad sad case and because of this poor girls mother no one can heal from it.  This girl was 21 years old, she's old enough to make her own descions, the sad part is maybe if her mom would have given her a little more info on drinking when she was young this would have been stoped so really who should be going to court for her death?

[shannen]

This unfortunate accident is noone but the young girls fault. I felt this before I read that she had been twice convicted of DUI. How many times, myself included, have drank to much, thrown up and laid down to sleep. Why would her friends have thought that night would be any different. These people are looking for someone to blame and excuse what has happrened!

[Lori]

My Deepest Sympathy goes out to her family. I can relate to the Mother. Even thro I have never lost a child to Alcohol Poisoning. But I have a 21yr & 17 daughters & 19yr son that I sure binge drinks from time to time and I'm forever telling them the dangers of binge drinking, but of course they think nothing will ever happen to them. I have had a couple of close call with my 17yr. And she will be turning 18 soon, I'm scared to death that she will continue to binge drink even more. And if something ever happens to her I will hold the person that supplied her with the alcohol responsible. I'm not sure if this was to happen to a child of mine that is of legal drinking age, What I would do. I don't feel you should blame the parents because they probably did try to teach their daughter about the dangers of alcohol. As parents you can only tell your children so many times, but you can't help if they don't take your warnings you have given them.

[Correy]

My heart is broken over this tragedy. While I don't necessarily agree with Jenny Haag's actions, as far as the legal actions brough tagainst Amanda's friends, you cannot know what you would do when put in an identical situation. Being a bartender, I am well aware of the legal ramifications that can occur when over-serving someone. Every establishment with a liquor license is required to have an annual "Liquor Awareness" meeting for any employee serving alcohol. So, this bartender that over- served Amanda was well aware of what could happen, and therefore, is deserving of the lawsuits, fines and possible jail time coming to him. Many bartenders do not take this part of their job seriously, I hope this tragedy opens eyes in many areas. I wish all involved, Amanda's family and friends, well and hope the healing process is possible.

[Me]

I am sorry for the family's loss. But when are people going to take responsibility for there own actions? The parent were aware that there daughter was going out and they were aware of the trouble she had been in before with alcohol! The parents should be blamed!! And should open there eyes to talk to teens about drinking and partying. Dont try to get money or blame out of someone else.