Staying Safe
If you are going to use drugs or alcohol please remember:
- Don’t use alone, make sure that there is someone who is able to get help should you need it
- Try and eat before drinking alcohol
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks
- Don’t mix drugs and alcohol
- Try and use in a safe environment, away from busy roads and water (such as near a canal-side)
- Always carry condoms. Drugs and alcohol reduce your inhibitions and you may choose to do things you wouldn’t normally do, such as having unprotected sex. Be prepared
- If you snort substances always use your own snorting equipment. You risk catching viruses such as Hepatitis and HIV when you share with others
- If you inject, never share any needles or equipment
- If you smoke cannabis don’t hold in the smoke. You won’t get more ‘stoned’, but you will cause more damage to your throat and lungs
If someone has a bad reaction to something they have drunk or taken
- Keep calm
- If they are scared and tense, encourage them to sit somewhere quiet and take long deep breaths
- If they’re too hot, encourage them to move to somewhere cooler, remove any excess clothing and suggest they sip a non alcoholic drink, such as water (no more than one pint in an hour)
- If they are drowsy or unconscious, place them in the recovery position, stay with them and call an ambulance
If in doubt always seek help.
Information provided by Young Addaction
