ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Drug or alcohol dependencies are not the result of a character flaw or weakness – they are illnesses, against which we all need to help.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol-related harm is responsible for almost 3,000 deaths every year in Australia.
Alcohol is the most widely used and abused recreational drug in Australia. For many drinking is seen as an integral part of Australia’s social culture, but if not consumed responsibly and with an understanding of the short and long term effects, alcohol can be as bad for your health as any other drug.
4 Australians aged under 25 die due to alcohol-related injuries in an average week.
When going through a tough time there is often a tendency to drink more. Alcohol, however, is more than just a crutch, and won’t help you get through other issues or pressures in your life. Drinking at a risky level (more than 4 standard drinks in a day) can have many long lasting negative effects on a man’s health, including cancer (of the mouth, throat and liver), brain injuries (including loss of memory, confusion and hallucinations), and even death.
Some of the signs that drinking has become a problem are:
- Finding yourself thinking about drinking more often than not
- Having to drink more to feel the alcohol's effects
- Trouble concentrating,
- Feeling on edge
- Not being able to stop when you want to
- Problems at work like being late, causing accidents or missing days due to drinking
- Starts to affect you financially
- Leads to being arrested for violence, drink-driving or public drunkenness
Drinking can affect people differently, so there is no amount of alcohol that can be said to be safe for everyone. You need to take responsibility before drinking and make sure that you know your limits.
Responsible drinking can greatly reduce the risk of immediate injury or long-term health problems. A few simple things to keep in mind include:
- Eat prior to drinking and while drinking
- Stay hydrated by drinking water
- Don’t mix alcohol with other drugs, including prescription medication
- Don’t do rounds
- Know your limits
- Don’t binge drink
Alcohol can be especially harmful if:
- It is taken with other drugs or medication
- Under the age 18, with children under the age of 15 at the greatest risk
- Engaging in risk taking activities like swimming or rock climbing
- Consumed to excess
- Driving or using machinery
- Feeling depressed or anxious
- Consumed by people with existing health problems
It is important to remember that the health impacts of too much alcohol are both short term and long term. Drink responsibly.
If you're under 25 and think drinking could be a problem for yourself or someone you know, or are looking for more information on alcohol abuse, go to. www.headspace.org.au
DRUGS
Drug use and particularly drug dependency can be devastating. It can affect personal relationships, ability to study and work, mental health and quality of life. For men who use drugs, learning about the potential effects and looking at why it is that men do use drugs, could save their lifestyle and their life.
Whether it be cannabis, ice (Crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride), Speed (amphetamine sulphate), Ecstasy (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA), or otherwise, drugs have effects ranging from the deterioration of mental health to physical ailments like increased risk of cancer and ultimately death. While they may be marketed as one thing, they are often manufactured in backyard labs, and can contain other more dangerous drugs and toxins. Speed, for example, often contains less than 5% amphetamine sulphate, the rest made up of substances like toilet cleaner and talcum powder.
Why take drugs?
People can take drugs as a form of recreation, or as a way to try and cope with things they can’t deal with in their lives. This shows risks associated with drug use often aren’t properly understood. In the long term, drug use will increase your problems, and decrease your ability to deal with them. Commonly reported mental illnesses linked to drug use include anxiety, depression, paranoia, panic attacks, and psychosis.
Help getting off drugs
Drugs often become central to your life without you realizing it, affecting your personal relationships, ability to study and work, mental health and quality of life. If you are worried about drug use, or would like more information, go to www.drugs.health.gov.au
