Substance use

You might be curious about drugs and alcohol, so it’s important you know the risks to make informed decisions. If you ever find yourself or a friend in a situation with drugs and alcohol where things don’t feel quite right, don’t hesitate to speak up. There is always support available and it is never too late to make a different choice.

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Substance use

You might be curious about drugs and alcohol, so it’s important you know the risks to make informed decisions. If you ever find yourself or a friend in a situation with drugs and alcohol where things don’t feel quite right, don’t hesitate to speak up. There is always support available and it is never too late to make a different choice.

Substance use: The risks

It is important to make informed decisions before choosing to take drugs or drink alcohol. These are some of the risks involved:

  • They can make you feel relaxed, you may find it easier to talk to people. You may experience a rapid heart rate, paranoia, drowsiness, a low-mood or anxiety. As the effects wear off you may feel worse, spaced out, paranoid, on edge or anxious.
  • Taking drugs can have a long-term impact on both your mental and physical health. It can lead to you developing anxiety or depression. Some long-term physical health problems include lung cancer, heart disease, liver damage and kidney failure.
  • If the police find you in possession of illegal drugs, they could take action. This could be a warning, arrest, formal caution or conviction.
A young person looking at a smartphone

Drugs: Keeping safe

If you choose to take drugs it is essential know how to do this safely. Learning how to mitigate any immediate risks to yourself or others can make all the difference in keeping yourself and others safe.

These are some things to think of:

  • Remember to check in with yourself, drugs can have a negative effect on your mental health. Know what headspace you’re in, and think about the impact this might have
  • Start slow, you do not know how you will react to a drug, wait to see the effects
  • Think about where you are when taking drugs, make sure you are with people you trust. In case you get lost always have your phone charged so you can be in contact with one another.
  • Mixing substances can be very dangerous and increases the risk of negative side effects. Use one at a time as each drug has its own side effect, together their outcome is unknown.
  • Tell someone what you have taken – if something goes wrong it is important the people with you know what you’ve taken so medical professionals know the best way to help you.

To make sure you and your friends are safe it is essential you know the signs of a potential overdose.

If you need to call for help for a suspected overdose you must be honest and share what the person has taken so the doctors can help them.

They can include:

  • Pale or clammy face
  • Seizures
  • Confusion and drowsiness
  • A temperature
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Being unresponsive but awake
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Slow or erratic pulse

Recognising a problem

It is difficult to recognise whether you or a friend has a problem with drugs or alcohol. It can get gradually worse over time, but you can look out for these things:

  • Feeling the need to take more, because you are used to the effects of the drug
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. This can include feeling sick, anxious and shaky.
  • Feeling shame when you use substances, and choosing to do them alone
  • Feeling like you ‘need’ it to cope, even if you don’t want it

If you are concerned about your drug or alcohol use, talk to someone you trust. If it is impacting your daily life speak to a trusted and they help you find support.

It might be scary at first but getting help is the first step. Quitting might seem impossible but with the right support you can live a happy life without drugs or alcohol.

Resources

Aquarius Is a drug and alcohol service or young people aged 10 to 25, offering 1:1 advice and group support. They accept referrals from, and you can refer yourself.

Change Grow Live offer 1:1 support for alcohol problems, harm reduction advice for drugs, and can help you with a recovery plan. They operate in Northampton, Wellingborough, Corby, and Kettering. You can get support by completing their referrals form or you make a start by chatting using their webchat service.

Frank: provides lots of information about the effects of different drugs and a confidential advice service.  

Young Minds: provide mental health resources and education for parents and young people. The offer a parents helpline which is open Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.

The Mix: is a support service for young people offering advice on a lot of topics from beak-ups, county lines to mental health. For those aged 11-24 they provide free counselling online.

  • You can contact their crisis messenger 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by texting THEMIX to 85258