Alcohol (or ‘booze’) is found in beer, lager, cider, wine, spirits, liqueurs and alcopops. In the UK it is illegal to drink or buy alcohol until you are 18.If you do drink on a regular basis, you should at least make an effort to understand what it can do to your body.
What happens if I drink alcohol?
Alcohol is a drug, which means it affects your mood and it can become addictive. Many people drink alcohol because it makes them feel more confident and happy. However, it can also make you aggressive, forgetful and clumsy, as well as not being in control of your actions - it can also provide you with a false sense of confidence. You can’t think straight when you’re drunk so you are also putting your safety at risk. You may do something really stupid, or allow someone else to take advantage of your drunken state because you are not in control.
Is it bad for my body?
There are guidelines as to how much you should drink when you are an adult. If you stick to these guidelines, then it is less likely that you will damage your health. However, you should still be aware that alcohol abuse can contribute to a number of health problems including:
- high blood pressure, increasing the risk of strokes and heart disease
- hepatitis, cirrhosis
- inflamed stomach
- links to some forms of Cancer
- brain damage
Binge drinking
As a teenager, you may have heard of the term ‘binge’ drinking. This is when you drink loads of alcohol in the space of a few hours. The effects of binge drinking can be very serious, especially to young people. You can become unconscious and suffer from alcohol poisoning. This will result in you being hospitalised and having your stomach pumped, which isn’t a pleasant experience. In the longer term it can also damage your vital organs especially your liver.
Smoking
Just as you have to be over 18 to drink in the UK, you must be over 18 to buy and smoke cigarettes and tobacco.
Cigarettes contain a drug called nicotine which is highly addictive. The health risks from smoking include lung disease, heart disease and cancer.
Smoking not only harms the person doing it, but it also affects the health of people around them. This is called ‘passive smoking’. If your parent’s smoke in front of you, you are just as at risk of being exposed to smoking related diseases.
Find out more about smoking on the young adults section of this website, and details of how to quit.
Illegal drugs
These include drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, heroin, and cocaine, amongst others. To find out about the damage illegal drugs can cause, as well as the implications if you are found in possession of illegal drugs, visit the young adults section of this website.
If you are worried about a friend or family member and think they may have a drink or drug problem, you can contact an organisation such as Childline who will give you confidential advice and help.
Working with young people in Knowsley
Knowsley’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team ensures that the appropriate support and advice is available to young people in Knowsley who are at risk of substance related harm. With a range of partners, they will:
- deliver substance misuse education through youth work and through Healthy Schools to young people in Knowsley
- provide accurate information and respond to the needs of young people for advice concerning substance misuse
- support vulnerable young people within the community to live healthy lives and reach their potential
The Drug and Alcohol Action Team can be contacted directly on 443 3872.
The following services specifically work with young people:
- Healthy Schools 443 5683
- Youth and Play Services (including Drug and Alcohol Intervention Team)443 3032/443 5323
- Youth Offending Services 443 3074/443 3799
- Young People Specialist Nurses 546 8369
- Children Looked After 443 3369
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health 489 6137
