Most people will drink alcohol or try drugs at some point in their lives. It might be something you do around friends to be sociable or to cope with difficult feelings.
At first it may seem like fun but substance use can start to take over your life and give you far more problems than it solves.
A few drinks with friends can be a good laugh but having lots of alcohol on a regular basis has massive downsides - and we're not just talking hangovers and empty wallets! Drinking too much can have serious effects on both your physical and mental health.
That's why it's important to understand how units work and the effects that alcohol can have on your body and mind.
One unit of alcohol is around 10ml of pure alcohol. It takes the average adult around an hour to process a unit, so it'll be 60 minutes before the alcohol has left your bloodstream.
So what does one unit look like?
And how much should you be drinking?
If you're feeling anxious or depressed, drinking alcohol or taking drugs might temporarily relieve your negative thoughts and feelings but in the long term, substance use often magnifies the problem, creates new issues and generally makes life much more complicated. You might also find yourself consuming higher quantities of drugs or alcohol on a more regular basis.
Substances can also change or reduce certain chemicals in the brain, sometimes leading to symptoms of depression, schizophrenia and anxiety. These side effects can give you the urge to take more drugs in order to feel better and block out negative symptoms. Before you know it, you're in a vicious cycle that can be really difficult to escape.
When you're out drinking, make sure you're with somebody you know and trust
If you need help with substance misuse, we recommend getting in touch with Aquarius or Change Grow Live, who will give you confidential advice and support.
Aquarius
youngpeople@aquarius.org.uk
0121 622 7780
236 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7S1
Over 18s - Change Grow Live
birmingham.info@cgl.org.uk
You can also see our support services page for more information about these organisations.
Access Centre Number - 0300 300 0099
Postal Address - 5th Floor, 1 Printing House Street, Birmingham, B4 6DF
Access Centre operating hours - Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm
