Do you think everyone takes drugs or drinks alcohol? The majority of people don’t. Some young people exaggerate what they’ve really done or say they have tried it when they haven’t.
There are at least 18 types of drugs out there, most are illegal, all are highly additive. It’s not just your physical health they damage - some drugs can cause mental health problems such as making you paranoid, memory loss, and loss of self–control.
Alcohol and cigarettes might not be illegal to adults but if you are under 18 they are illegal to buy, and it is illegal for someone 18 or over to buy them for you. Too much alcohol can put you in dangerous situations, causing you to do things you wouldn’t usually, such as have unwanted or unprotected sex or act in a way you might regret. You can get serious health problems from drinking too much – young people have died from drinking too much alcohol.
Smoking is one of the most addictive habits you can have. Each cigarette contains almost 4,000 chemicals including acetone (used for nail varnish remover) and arsenic (a killer poison) as well as nicotine which is designed to make you addicted to it. At around £7.00 for a packet of 20, it’s an expensive habit to have. Smoking can lead to cancer and having limbs removed from your body. It can make your teeth yellow and fall out – very attractive!
The law on drugs changes all the time. For a list of drug types and information on drugs go to the FRANK website. Or if you’re worried about yourself or someone else taking drugs contact your School Nurse.
