Drugs and Health
Some drugs are legal if used by people above a certain age, such as tobacco and alcohol.
Younger people should not take them because of health risks.
Some drugs are taken to treat illnesses, or keep you healthy. These are provided by medical professionals like doctors or nurses.
There are also illegal drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy. They are illegal because using them is dangerous to your health.
Some people take drugs for recreation (fun) even though it is illegal. This can cause serious health, emotional and social problems.
Find out more: smoking, alcohol and safer drinking, preventing illness, not feeling well
Not taking drugs
Many people of chose not to take drugs. This includes young people. Taking drugs is illegal, and can damage your health, mental health, or both. Drugs also make it harder to cope with things like relationships, jobs, doing chores and paying bills, and school.
People use lots of reasons to avoid drugs:
- Religious reasons
- Training for sports, keeping fit
- Health problems or medication
- Family history of drug or alcohol problems
- School or work tomorrow
- Healthy lifestyle
- Allergies or sensitivities
- Don't have time or money to spare
- Not their scene
If you decide not to take drugs, that's your decision, and you should expect other people to respect that.
Taking drugs
People take drugs for many different reasons. They might be pressured into taking drugs by friends, family or partners, or take drugs as an attempt to escape difficulty and pain in their life. But many people take drugs just because they can, or because they are curious.
A person who takes an illegal drug runs risks:
- Prosecution and a criminal record Taking drugs is illegal.
- Immediate health risk Different risks for every drug, but bad reactions include madness (speed), sudden death (solvents) and brain damage (e).
- Taking the wrong thing or taking too much Drugs vary in strength, and may be contaminated with other substances. The person you get them from may lie about what they are, or not know what they are.
- Accidents or dangerous behaviour Most drugs lower your inhibitions, some make you very confused, leaving you vulnerable to attack, sexual assault, fights and accidents.
- Mental distress Though drugs are taken to feel good, many can also make you feel unhappy, panicked or distressed. These feelings can be very strong.
These problems do not happen to everyone, or every time drugs are taken. But there is always a risk when a person takes drugs.
Drugs information resources: The Funked Up Book of Drugs, Common Effects of Drugs Info Sheet
Who is at risk ?
Some people seem to be more at risk from drugs than others, but it is hard to predict who will be more vulnerable. You can suffer a bad reaction to drugs even if:
- You are happy and healthy
- You are used to taking drugs
- You've taken the same drug before
People who take illegal drugs regularly are taking these risks all the time. Over time, the chances of all these bad things happening increases, and the amount of drugs you take is also likely to increase.
You are also likely to suffer long-term health effects, dependency (getting addicted) and changes in your behaviour and lifestyle (problems at home or college, losing the support of friends and family). Drugs are both expensive and illegal which can lead to problems with money, housing and the law.
Continued drug-use makes all these problems harder to solve.
Get support locally
If you're worried about your drug use, there is support available to help you stop. You can talk to:
- Your GP
- Youth, Community or Social workers
- Your Connexions adviser
Oxfordshire DAAT provides community support for 10-18 year olds with complex and serious substance drug and/or alcohol issues in Oxfordshire. Their providers work with young people to effect change around their substance misuse, whilst also addressing related issues and risks. They can also help you if you are affected by someone else's substance misuse.
- Access and contact workers at www.oxfordshiredaat.org (external link)
Experience : getting off cannabis with the help of a T2 drugs worker
My worker helped me to get off the drugs and back onto the straight and narrow. He listened to me and got into my head; but in a good way, he would say something that would touch me and make me think about my life so that I would give an honest response. Over the next 5 months I took on board what was said to me and made an effort to change some of the smaller things in my life. Now I have changed my lifestyle, I can sleep better, I take on board encouragement, my self esteem has improved and I don't live in fear or feel paranoid anymore. The best thing is that I don't feel the need to smoke anymore and this is a really positive change now I am far more in control of my life. – C, age 19 [read the rest of C's story]
Links
These websites will help you find health advice and services:
- Talk to Frank.com
Government drugs education site, helpline - Young Addaction
Oxfordshire's drugs and alcohol action team - D-World
Drugscope's website for young people
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