MENTAL HEALTH

Drugs & Alcohol

Why It Matters: Staying Away from Drugs and Alcohol

Growing up means making big choices - and not all of them are easy. One of the most important choices you can make is to steer clear of drugs and alcohol. They might seem like a way to fit in, escape, or have fun, but the truth is, they can seriously affect your health, your future, and your relationships.

This isn’t about lecturing - it’s about looking out for yourself. Saying no to drugs and alcohol isn’t a weakness. It’s a sign of strength, confidence, and self-respect. Whether you're chasing a dream, building something great, or just trying to figure things out, staying clear-headed will help you get there.

This section gives you the facts, the risks, and the tools to make your own informed decisions - because your life, your goals, and your happiness are worth protecting.

UNDERSTAING THE DANGERS

Drugs

Using drugs can have both immediate and long-term effects. These effects may vary from person to person.

Some immediate and long term effects of drugs include:

Feelings of Paranoia
Having to use more to get the same effect
Anxiety
Difficulties with memory and attention
Getting the munchies
Losing interest
Problems with your mental health
Depression
Not able to cope
Legal problems
Panic attacks

While there is a lot of concern about illegal drugs, the most harm and the greatest risk to young people comes from using legal drugs such as alcohol, cigarettes and inappropriate use of medicines, over the counter and/or prescription. People use many different kinds of drugs.

These drugs may be legal or illegal, helpful or harmful. Every drug has side-effects and risks, but some drugs have more risks than others, especially illegal drugs.

Using drugs can become a problem depending on a number of factors:

What drug is used
Who is using the drug (especially their mood and personality)
Why they are using the drug
Where and how they are using the drug

See our helplines below for assistance with answering the above questions.

ALCOHOL IS OUR FAVOURITE DRUG

Alcohol

It is not uncommon to drink occasionally; however, you may have a problem with your alcohol use if you are:

Getting into hassle at school, work or home
Feeling hungover most mornings
Drinking to escape problems
Feeling edgy for no apparent reason
Drinking to numb how you feel
Drinking alone
Thinking about drinking most days
Drinking to get drunk
Drinking more to get the same effect that you used to get

Alcohol: Don’t bottle it, tackle it.

Alcohol is our favourite drug. Most of us use it for enjoyment, but sometimes drinking can be a problem. Fights, arguments, money troubles, family upsets, casual sex and crisis pregnancies are often a result of having had too much to drink.

Alcohol can be the cause of hospital admissions for physical illnesses and accidents. It is also important to remember that alcohol has the potential to be addictive. Alcohol can make you do thinks you would not normally do.

Taking control and staying within low-risk drinking limits. For drinking to be considered 2low risk”, the Department of Health and Children currently advises: try to cut down to low risk drinking levels by suing the Standard Drinking Guide in Ireland. A standard drink is 10 grams of pure alcohol.

Adult women should drink less than 11 standard drinks per week
Adult men should drink less than 17 standard drinks per week.

These are low risk weekly limits, which should be spread over the week and not saved for a single drinking occasion i.e. binge drinking.

These guidelines do not apply to people who are ill, run down, on medication or to children. It is not advisable for women to consume alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive.