Drugs and Alcohol Advice

Alcohol, drugs and sex often seem to go together and whilst it may seem like a good idea at the time, being drunk and having sex or being stoned and having sex can make you more vulnerable. You might find yourself being sick from drinking too much alcohol; if you're taking a contraceptive pill this could make the pill less effective which puts you more at risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Being drunk or stoned increases your risk of being treated exploitatively or being talked into doing something you later regret, you're also more likely to have unprotected sex and then have to deal with the risk of STI infection...maybe not such a great idea after all?

If you are using drugs or drinking alcohol here are some things to think about to make your experiences safer.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the UK and although fewer young people now report drinking, those who do often binge drink or drink more than ever.
Binge drinking is drinking more units of alcohol than are recommended for safer drinking. Units can seem confusing so download a unit calculator for under-18s and start measuring the alcoholic content of the drinks you've been drinking. Click here for a units calculator.

National safer drinking guidance recommends that young people under 15 do not drink alcohol. However if you are going to drink, here are some ways to do it and keep yourself safe:

If you are 15 to 17 don't drink every week and definitely no more than one day per week.
Drink lower strength drinks and drink water in between drinks.
Know what you're drinking, don't mix drinks and try not to leave them unattended.
Take your time, sip your drink rather than knocking it back and make sure you've eaten something.
Make sure you have a plan for getting home safely at the start of the night. If you're with friends try to take it in turns to have one of you not drinking and watching out for the others.
When you've finished partying take a break from drinking - set aside an alcohol-free period every now and then.

If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking phone Drinkline 0800 917 8282. Get more information about alcohol from www.drinkaware.co.uk

Cannabis

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK and is a class B drug. If you are caught with Cannabis, the police will take action and you can be arrested even if it is the first time you're caught. If you're under 17, the police are allowed to tell your parents or carers you've been caught. Find out more about the law and Cannabis, click here.

Cannabis affects different people in different ways depending on:

how much you take
what type of cannabis you take
how experienced you are in using the drug
your own mental state.

The immediate effects of cannabis are short term:

Users will normally experience a period of euphoria commonly called a 'high' or buzz. This is the effect most people who take the drug want;
You may suffer from short-term memory loss and reduced attention span after taking cannabis;
Be aware that the less desirable effects of taking the drug can sometimes feel overwhelming. Increased anxiety, paranoia, and panic attacks are some of the unwanted effects you may experience.

You can assess your own cannabis use and its impact on your life plus get ideas about how to make changes if you want to from http://www.knowcannabis.org.uk/

For more information about cannabis and all other drugs see http://www.talktofrank.com/ Call 0800 776600 or send a text to 82111

For more information about sex and drugs see:
http://www.thesite.org/travelandfreetime/goingout/safety/sexondrugs