Topic Overview
The overuse of alcohol or other drugs is called a substance use problem. One of the signs of a substance use problem is that you keep using alcohol or drugs even though you know it's causing problems in your life. Another sign is that you have a strong need or craving to drink or use drugs.
Using alcohol or drugs can affect your health, work, school, and relationships. It can change how well you make decisions, how well you think, and how quickly you can react. And it can make it hard for you to control your actions. In young people, using alcohol or drugs can affect their general health, physical growth, and emotional and social development.
If you think you may have a problem with alcohol or drugs, take a short quiz to evaluate your symptoms:
Alcohol
You may have an alcohol problem if drinking alcohol affects your health or daily activities. You may be dependent on alcohol if you physically or emotionally need alcohol to get you through your day.
Symptoms of an alcohol problem include personality changes, blackouts, drinking more to get the same effect, and denial of the problem. If you have an alcohol problem, you may gulp or sneak drinks, drink alone or early in the morning, and have the shakes. You may also have family, school, or work problems or get in trouble with the law because of drinking.
The use of alcohol with medicines or illegal drugs may increase the effects of each.
Alcohol use patterns vary. Some people drink and may be intoxicated every day. Other people drink large amounts of alcohol at specific times, such as on the weekend. It is common for someone with an alcohol or drug problem to call in sick for work on Monday or Friday. He or she may complain of having a virus or the flu. Others may be sober for long periods and then go on a drinking binge that lasts for weeks or months.
People who are dependent on alcohol may have withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating and feeling sick to their stomach, feeling shaky, and feeling anxious. In rare cases, severe symptoms of withdrawal can occur such as delirium tremens, or DTs. Treatment for withdrawal from alcohol requires medical care.
Drugs
People who have a drug problem may use a number of substances. They may use drugs—such as cannabis (marijuana), methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, or other "street drugs." Or they may misuse legal prescription and non-prescription drugs. Some people use drugs to get a "high" or to relieve stress and emotional problems. Many people use more than one substance at a time.
Club drugs, like ecstasy (MDMA), and date rape drugs, such as gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), and ketamine, are often used at all-night dances, raves, or trances. These drugs can be dangerous, especially in overdose or when combined with other drugs or alcohol. Inhalants like nitrous oxide may also be used at these clubs.
Drugs come in different forms and can be used in different ways. They can be smoked, snorted, inhaled, taken as pills, put in liquids or food, put in the rectum or the vagina, or injected with a needle.
Prescription medicines that may be misused include opioids (morphine and codeine), diazepam (Valium), hydromorphone, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and oxycodone (OxyNEO).
Some non-prescription medicines, such as cold medicines that have dextromethorphan as an ingredient, are being misused as a way to get high. What effects these drugs may have on your health depend on the type, strength, and amount of these drugs you use and whether you take them with illegal drugs or alcohol. The use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines with alcohol or illegal drugs may increase the effects of each substance. Glue, shoe polish, cleaning fluids, and aerosols are common household products with ingredients that are also being used to get high.
Signs of a drug problem depend on the drug you use and how that drug affects you. Not all drugs affect people the same way. One of the signs that your drug use may be becoming a problem is that you take more of a drug over longer periods of time and need more of the drug to feel "high." Another sign is that you spend a lot of time trying to get the drug, and you give up other activities to do this. When you have a drug problem, you or others may notice some changes in your behaviour. You may be moody, have problems sleeping, or pay less attention to how you dress or look. Or you may lie, steal, or hide things from people and act sneaky.
You may have a drug problem if your drug use affects your health or daily activities. You may be dependent on drugs if you physically or emotionally need drugs to get you through your day. You may not be aware that you have become dependent on a drug until you try to stop taking it. People who are dependent on drugs may have withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating and feeling sick to their stomach, feeling shaky, and feeling anxious.
Drug problems in older people may go unnoticed, since the signs may be similar to those of aging. Older adults often take medicines, such as sleep medicines and painkillers, that can lead to a drug problem.
Health risks of alcohol and drug use
When you use alcohol or drugs, you may be putting your health and safety at risk.
Alcohol or drug use can:
- Make car crashes more likely. If you drink and drive, or if you drive while you are high, you can easily hurt yourself or others.
- Lead to unprotected sex and/or sexual assault. This can lead to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
- Increase the risk of overdose, injury, and death.
- Cause you to do things you wouldn't usually do. You may say things that hurt your friends. Or you may do something illegal that could result in paying a large fine or going to jail, like being arrested for driving while intoxicated.
- Affect your work or schoolwork. It can cause you to lose your job or drop out of school.
- Change how you feel about your life. It can lead to depression and suicide.
- Cause mood swings and affect your sleep and your ability to think, learn, reason, remember, and solve problems.
- Harm many organs and systems in the body, such as the liver, pancreas, heart, brain, and nervous system.
- Contribute to the development of some cancers, such as cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast.
- Cause high blood pressure, stomach problems, or sexual problems.
- Cause harm to a developing baby (fetus) if alcohol or drugs are used during pregnancy.
Recognizing a problem
Alcohol
Alcohol is part of many people's lives and may have a place in cultural and family traditions. So it can sometimes be hard to know when you begin to drink too much.
You're at risk of drinking too much if you are:
- A man who has more than 3 standard drinks a day on most days, or more than 15 drinks a week.
- A woman who has more than 2 standard drinks a day on most days, or more than 10 drinks a week.
If you think you might have an alcohol problem, take a short quiz to evaluate your symptoms:
Drugs
You may not feel that using drugs can become a problem. Maybe you feel that you're a casual user because you use drugs only now and then. But drug use can quickly become a habit and start to affect your life.
If you think you might have a drug problem, take a short quiz to evaluate your symptoms:
Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor.
Home Treatment
Keep in mind that most people who drink alcohol or use drugs don't develop a substance use problem. Many people who want to cut back on or stop using alcohol or drugs are able to do so on their own. But others may need help.
If you're worried about your health and want to cut back on or stop using alcohol or drugs, ask your family, friends, or doctor for help. Or you could join a support group such as LifeRing, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Your family members might want to attend a support group such as Al-Anon, Alateen, or Nar-Anon.
In some provinces, there are telephone helplines you can call for support and to find out what resources are available in your area that can help you manage your alcohol or drug problem.
- Alberta: Addiction Helpline, 1-866-332-2322 (toll-free)
- British Columbia: Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service, 1-800-663-1441 (toll-free)
- Saskatchewan: See the Directory of Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services online at www.health.gov.sk.ca/treatment-services-directory for a phone number in your area.
- Other provinces: Call your local telephone information line or check the phone book to find out if there is a helpline you can call in your area.
If you're still finding it hard to cut back on or stop drinking or using drugs on your own, or if these support services don't help, you may need medical help. This is especially important if you have withdrawal symptoms when you try to cut back on or stop using alcohol or drugs. Symptoms of withdrawal may include sweating and feeling sick to your stomach, feeling shaky, and feeling anxious.
Talk with your doctor about whether you need treatment for your alcohol or drug problem. In many cases, treatment may focus on helping you reduce your alcohol or drug use to levels that are less harmful rather than stopping completely. You and your doctor can decide what treatment approach is best for you.
Have a healthy lifestyle
When you drink alcohol or use drugs, you often get away from some of the basics of good health. This is also true for young people who use these substances.
Here are some things you can do to stay healthy:
- Be active. Try to get 30 minutes of activity or more on most days of the week. Being active not only helps you stay healthy and strong but can also help you better deal with stress and anxiety. And it gives you something to do instead of using alcohol or drugs.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep is important for your physical and emotional health. Sleep may help you stay healthy by keeping your immune system strong. Getting enough sleep can help your mood and make you feel less stressed.
- Eat a balanced diet. This helps your body deal with tension and stress. Whole grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and protein foods are part of a healthy diet.
- Find things to do instead of using alcohol or drugs, such as sports or volunteer work.
- Meditate. It helps you feel calm and can give you a clearer awareness about your life.
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if your alcohol or drug use becomes more frequent or worse.
Prevention
It's important to remember that drinking alcohol or using drugs can affect your health and isn't risk-free. This is especially true for young people who use alcohol or drugs, because these substances can affect their general health, physical growth, and emotional and social development. The risk of harm from using alcohol or drugs increases with each drink that you have or drug that you use, how often and for how long you drink or use drugs, the type and strength of any drug used, and the method of use.
Although there is no amount of alcohol or drug use that is safe, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of serious health problems and injuries caused by alcohol or drug use.
Ways to reduce harm from substance use
Reducing harm from any substance
- Avoid risky situations and activities. Don't drink or get high and drive, and don't get in a car with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs.
- Make a plan to get home safely. For example, choose a designated driver, have money to pay for a taxi or bus fare, or call a loved one for a safe ride home.
- Don't take over-the-counter or prescription medicines that interact with alcohol. And don't take these medicines with illegal drugs or other harmful substances.
- Don't use alcohol or drugs if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. These substances can increase your baby's chance of being born with a birth defect or fetal alcohol syndrome.
- Don't mix alcohol with illegal drugs or other harmful substances.
- Don't use alcohol or drugs to try to make yourself feel better. Using alcohol or drugs may make your problems worse and may cause you to do things that you normally wouldn't do, like hurt yourself or others.
- Be aware at all times of your surroundings and the people around you.
- Limit how much you use alcohol or other substances. The more you use, the greater the risk of getting sick, hurt, or in trouble.
Reducing harm from alcohol
- Have a meal or a snack with a drink. Don't drink on an empty stomach.
- Drink slowly. Don't have more than 2 standard drinks in any 3-hour period.
- Have a glass of water or other non-alcoholic, caffeine-free beverage (such as a soft drink or fruit juice) between drinks.
Reducing harm from drugs
- Ask your pharmacist or doctor whether any of your current medicines can cause dependence.
- Be especially aware of pain medicines (such as opioids), tranquilizers, sedatives, and sleeping pills. Follow the instructions carefully, and do not take more than the recommended dose.
- Make sure that your doctors are aware of medicines prescribed by another doctor. Use only one pharmacy when getting your prescriptions filled.
- Don't share needles, syringes, and other equipment (such as cookers, cotton, cocaine spoons, or eyedroppers) with others if you use drugs. Be aware of who you get your supplies from. Be sure the supplies haven't been used before. If you use dirty needles or equipment, you can get hepatitis, HIV, or other serious infections.
- Be aware of who you get your drugs from. Drugs can vary greatly in strength depending on who you get them from.
- Be aware of how a drug might affect you, especially if you stopped using the drug and then started using again. You may not be able to handle the same amount of the drug as you could before.
- Don't leave your beverage unattended or accept a drink from an open container.
- Create a safe environment. If you use drugs, make sure you do it in a place where other people are around so you can get help if you need it.
Helping someone who is using alcohol or drugs
If you know someone who puts himself or herself in situations where risky drinking or drug use is going to occur (such as at a bar or party), here are some things you can do to help reduce that person's risk of harm. You can:
- Take the person's car keys so he or she won't drive after drinking or while high on drugs.
- Remove sharp objects and glassware from dance and party locations so the person won't hurt himself or herself or others.
- Provide water so the person doesn't get dehydrated.
