It s not like I get wasted every weekend, but if I drink, I pretty much drink to get drunk.

Transcription

1 It s not like I get wasted every weekend, but if I drink, I pretty much drink to get drunk. You might think drinking, smoking, and other drug use are rites of passage for students. But there can be some pretty serious negative consequences to consider even for occasional users A (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

2 What s a party without beer pong or flip cup? Drinking games keep the party going, and it s cheaper than going out to a club or bar. Drinking games can get you into trouble fast. So can any situation where it s easy to drink faster than your body feels the effects. Binge drinking downing five or more alcoholic drinks in a row for men or four drinks for women puts you at greater risk for everything from assaults and injuries to death from alcohol poisoning. If you choose to participate anyway, switch out every other alcoholic drink with soda, juice, or water and aim for hour-long breaks between alcoholic drinks B (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

3 I could stop drinking tomorrow if I thought I had a problem. But I don t. I just want to have a good time. Alcohol and other drugs affect people in different ways. The thing to keep in mind is whether drinking or drugs might be playing too big a part in your life. If your use has led you to miss class or work, black out, or have legal problems, or if you re using more lately to feel the effects or your parents or grandparents have had issues with alcohol or drug abuse, you might want to get a handle on your situation by contacting your school s counseling center. Not ready for that? Try keeping track of your use for a month or check out aboutmydrinking.org C (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

4 Seriously. Study drugs are the only thing that got me through organic chem last semester. Students are using prescription meds more and more to stay awake and focused while cramming for tests. But using these stimulants without a medical diagnosis or a valid prescription can be dangerous. For one thing, stimulants can speed up your blood pressure and heart rate and cause racing thoughts and hallucinations. And for another, these meds can be highly addictive. What might start out as a study aid can easily become a dangerous crutch D (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

5 My roommate was convinced he was having a heart attack. Turns out it was a panic attack from pot. Next to alcohol, marijuana has been the most used and abused drug by students your age for generations. There s an overall perception that it s pretty harmless. But anyone who s had an all-out, marijuana-induced panic attack might beg to differ. Anxiety and panic reactions are among the most common negative side effects of marijuana use. Much like alcohol, marijuana affects people in different ways. For some, marijuana has the effect of calming the nerves. For others, the opposite reaction occurs E (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

6 How dangerous can OxyContin be? My friend is recovering from having her wisdom teeth pulled, and she has leftovers from her prescription. Why not try? How dangerous? Very. Opioid painkillers are highly addictive and potentially fatal. Although doctors prescribe opioids to help patients with injuries or chronic pain, these drugs can lead you down a risky road, even if taken properly. More and more, people who become addicted to painkillers are turning to heroin when pills are no longer available. In fact, one person dies every 16 minutes in the United States from causes related to opioid use F (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

7 She was passed out so drunk she didn t know who I was. I wanted to get her help. But then I d be busted for drinking. I m only 19. Alcohol and other drug use can have serious potentially fatal consequences. Signs of alcohol overdose include unconsciousness, irregular breathing, blue-tinged skin, and seizures. What if medical attention is needed for a friend and it s up to you to get help? Yes, there could be personal repercussions to consider, like having the police called or parents notified or your school informed. Some schools have Good Samaritan rules that provide amnesty to students who seek help in a medical emergency. But if your school doesn t have that rule, your friend s life could still be in the balance. What s most important? G (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

8 I know cigarettes are bad for you, but I don t plan on smoking forever. Unfortunately, more than 85 percent of those who try to quit on their own relapse, most within a week. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, and recent research suggests nicotine exposure may also prime the brain to become addicted to other substances H (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

9 It s not like I get wasted every weekend, but if I drink, I pretty much drink to get drunk. You might think drinking, smoking, and other drug use are rites of passage for students. But there can be some pretty serious negative consequences to consider even for occasional users A (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

10 What s a party without beer pong or flip cup? Drinking games keep the party going, and it s cheaper than going out to a club or bar. Drinking games can get you into trouble fast. So can any situation where it s easy to drink faster than your body feels the effects. Binge drinking downing five or more alcoholic drinks in a row for men or four drinks for women puts you at greater risk for everything from assaults and injuries to death from alcohol poisoning. If you choose to participate anyway, switch out every other alcoholic drink with soda, juice, or water and aim for hour-long breaks between alcoholic drinks B (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

11 I could stop drinking tomorrow if I thought I had a problem. But I don t. I just want to have a good time. Alcohol and other drugs affect people in different ways. The thing to keep in mind is whether drinking or drugs might be playing too big a part in your life. If your use has led you to miss class or work, black out, or have legal problems, or if you re using more lately to feel the effects or your parents or grandparents have had issues with alcohol or drug abuse, you might want to get a handle on your situation by contacting your school s counseling center. Not ready for that? Try keeping track of your use for a month or check out aboutmydrinking.org C (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

12 Seriously. Study drugs are the only thing that got me through organic chem last semester. Students are using prescription meds more and more to stay awake and focused while cramming for tests. But using these stimulants without a medical diagnosis or a valid prescription can be dangerous. For one thing, stimulants can speed up your blood pressure and heart rate and cause racing thoughts and hallucinations. And for another, these meds can be highly addictive. What might start out as a study aid can easily become a dangerous crutch D (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

13 My roommate was convinced he was having a heart attack. Turns out it was a panic attack from pot. Next to alcohol, marijuana has been the most used and abused drug by students your age for generations. There s an overall perception that it s pretty harmless. But anyone who s had an all-out, marijuana-induced panic attack might beg to differ. Anxiety and panic reactions are among the most common negative side effects of marijuana use. Much like alcohol, marijuana affects people in different ways. For some, marijuana has the effect of calming the nerves. For others, the opposite reaction occurs E (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

14 How dangerous can OxyContin be? My friend is recovering from having her wisdom teeth pulled, and she has leftovers from her prescription. Why not try? How dangerous? Very. Opioid painkillers are highly addictive and potentially fatal. Although doctors prescribe opioids to help patients with injuries or chronic pain, these drugs can lead you down a risky road, even if taken properly. More and more, people who become addicted to painkillers are turning to heroin when pills are no longer available. In fact, one person dies every 16 minutes in the United States from causes related to opioid use F (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

15 She was passed out so drunk she didn t know who I was. I wanted to get her help. But then I d be busted for drinking. I m only 19. Alcohol and other drug use can have serious potentially fatal consequences. Signs of alcohol overdose include unconsciousness, irregular breathing, blue-tinged skin, and seizures. What if medical attention is needed for a friend and it s up to you to get help? Yes, there could be personal repercussions to consider, like having the police called or parents notified or your school informed. Some schools have Good Samaritan rules that provide amnesty to students who seek help in a medical emergency. But if your school doesn t have that rule, your friend s life could still be in the balance. What s most important? G (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

16 I know cigarettes are bad for you, but I don t plan on smoking forever. Unfortunately, more than 85 percent of those who try to quit on their own relapse, most within a week. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, and recent research suggests nicotine exposure may also prime the brain to become addicted to other substances H (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

17 I wouldn t know where to turn or who to trust for real and dramafree answers to the questions I have about drinking and drugs. Most high schools, colleges, and universities have counseling centers and health services where you will find confidential expert help and answers. Your school can also recommend other trustworthy resources and services. Your college offers MyStudentBody.com as a free service to students. This program helps reduce the risks associated with drinking, drug use, and sexual violence and provides information on where you can go for help on your campus. Reliable sources for information about alcohol and other drug use and abuse include: hazeldenbettyford.org or toll-free abovetheinfluence.com mystudentbody.com Your school s crisis line: I (7-15) 2015 Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation