Alcohol
Alcohol
Alcohol & the teenage brain
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Alcohol can disrupt important development in the brain. Teenage drinking can result in significant changes in certain parts of the brain & the regions most affected are responsible for learning, memory & decision making.
The earlier a young person starts drinking, the greater their risk of becoming dependent on alcohol.
A person is 4x more likely to become dependent on alcohol if they start drinking before the age of 15 as opposed to those who wait until the legal drinking age.
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How can it affect you?
Alcohol use can harm young persons mental health. Rates of depression and anxiety in young people are significantly higher when they are drinking to harmful or dependent levels.
Drinking alcohol can cause young people to make poor decisions or lead them into harmful situations including:• Getting in trouble with the law
• Using other drugs
• STI’s or unplanned pregnancies
• Accidents or injuries
• Victim of Assaults or other crimes
• Unwanted sexual activity
Side Effects of Alcohol
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There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries risk.
Alcohol affects everyone differently, based on:
• The amount taken
• A person’s size, weight and health
• Whether the person is used to taking it
• Whether other drugs are taken around the same time -
Some side effects of drinking alcohol include:
Slurred speech
Vision impairment
Lack of coordination
Extreme shifts in mood
Memory lapses
Slowed breathing
Nausea/Vomiting
Alcohol Poisoning
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The long-term side effects associated with heavy drinking are:
Cardiovascular diseases
Liver disease
Respiratory infections
Cancer
Nerve Damage
Ulcers
Mixing Alcohol with other substances
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Alcohol + Antibiotics
There are many different types of antibiotics, each of which will interact with alcohol differently. It is very important to consult with a physician and carefully read all labels. The biggest risk to mixing alcohol and antibiotics is liver damage, as both are metabolized in the liver. Other common reactions including nausea, dizziness, vomiting, tiredness, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath. Additionally, many antibiotics will not work effectively in the body if you consume alcohol while taking them.
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Alcohol + Antihistamines
Alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of antihistamines if the body chooses to metabolize the alcohol before the antihistamine. Alcohol may cause more severe side effects when mixed with certain antihistamines.
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Alcohol + Cocaine
There is a widespread myth that cocaine and alcohol cancel each other out, but that is far from the truth. Alcohol and cocaine combine in the body to form a third substance, Cocaethylene. Cocaethylene causes the highest level of cardiovascular activity of any drug, which puts extreme pressure and stress on the heart and often leads to cardiac arrest and death.
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Alcohol + Energy Drinks/Caffeine
These drinks trick your body into thinking it is less tired and intoxicated than it truly is, leading to greater, and potentially dangerous, levels of alcohol consumption. These drinks also dehydrate the body, increasing the risk of alcohol poisoning and the severity of hangovers. Those who drink alcohol with caffeine are more than twice as likely to be injured, require medical attention, or accept a ride from an intoxicated driver than those who drank alcohol without caffeine.
The effects of using Alcohol with other drugs including over-the-counter or prescribed medications can be unpredictable and dangerous.
Mixing your drinkings will not make you more drunk but it will increase the likelihood of vomiting.
