BODY
NEED HELP? If you (or someone you know) need help and advice about drinking, smoking or drug taking, contact your Student Health Services, GP or local addictions team, or get in touch with one of these free confidential services for advice… ■ Drinkline: 0300 123 1110 ■ nhs.uk/smokefree ■ drinkaware.co.uk ■ talktofrank.com
SMOKING ‘Smoking kills’. There’s a reason why the government makes advertisers print this on cigarette packets: smoking will damage your health. And the earlier you start, the more damage you’ll do. A smoker who starts at 15 years old is three times more likely to die of cancer than a person who starts smoking in their mid-20s. Lung capacity decreases when you smoke, which means that every bit of exercise can become a chore – bad news, as regular exercise is essential for your health and mind. After years of sustained smoking, the lungs can develop irreversible breathing disorders. However cool some may think smoking looks, the years added to an appearance are sure to cause regret – that’s if the stained teeth, dull skin and bad breath don’t put you off first. Is it worth it?
We kn it’s illega ow behind th l to be get car if you e wheel of a but did y ’re high or drunk , ou driving c realise that you an r the morn still be affected ing after a h night? So eavy , yourself always ask : Are you to drive? safe
VAPING Those enormous plumes of cherry-scented smoke? Yep, that’s an e-cigarette. Largely deemed less toxic than cigarettes, vapes have become more common over the last few years. The jury’s out on whether they’re safe long-term, but the consensus is that they’re likely to be less harmful than cigarettes. Although it is legal to vape indoors, some venues have chosen to ban it inside.
over you, so experimenting becomes tempting. Here’s what you need to know…
DRUGS Many of us may have had one (or five!) too many on the odd night out, but alcohol addiction – where you need to drink – is far more serious and may be caused by a psychological or physical dependency. If you, or someone you know, exhibits the following symptoms, you need to get help immediately: ■ Worrying about when your next drink will be and struggling to stop when you start ■ Feeling compelled to buy or find alcohol and drink ■ Suffering from withdrawal symptoms – such as shaking, sweating and sickness – that stop when you drink again
The biggest issue with illegal drugs, legal highs and performance enhancers is that you can never be sure exactly what you’re taking. Most legal highs have been found to contain chemicals that aren’t for human consumption, which in some cases can lead to death. Like being drunk, being high can have a negative impact on both your body and mind – and can place you in a vulnerable position. A drug addiction can have long-term consequences on your education, physical and mental health, relationships, career and finances. If you’re worried or unsure about the
35
consequences, just say no. The law surrounding drug use, possession and dealing is complex - but basically it’s illegal to possess or supply class A, B and C drugs (that covers most things). Also, remember that…
THE LAW ■ Possessing cannabis can mean a warning or £90 fine ■ Laws introduced in April 2016 made it illegal to produce or supply any form of ‘legal’ highs