Alcohol • Short term effects include: Distorted vision, hearing and coordination Altered emotions Although a moderate consumption of alcohol has some beneficial effects, the harmful effects of drinking excessive alcohol far outweigh the beneficial ones. More Info and where to get Help Bad breath Hangovers • Impaired judgement, which can lead to accidents and other risky behaviour e.g. unsafe sex and drug abuse Long term effects include: Primary Prevention & Teen Support Services and Community Teams (Drugs, Alcohol & Gambling): 23885110 Detox Out-Patients: 23885300 Cardiovascular problems and obesity Detox In-Patients Dar LImpenn: 21220408 Liver disease Kommunita' Santa Marija: 21244528 Brain damage Cancer of the mouth and oesophagus Community Support Organisations: Sedqa helpline: 179 Red Cross: 21222645 Infertility Anxiety, Depression and other psychiatric problems (including suicidal ideas) Marriage breakdown, loss of work, social isolation and poverty • Drinking 1-2 units of alcohol a day may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke Drug Squad: 21243333 Caritas: 21233933 Oasi: 21563333 EAD and MMSA website • ec.europa.eu/ead • www.mmsa.org,mt Depressants Drug Addiction • Drugs cause the release of DOPAMINE in the brain which gives the pleasurable feelings associated with drugs, but it also causes addiction through a process of tolerance: Types of Drugs There are 3 main types of drugs. • • • Withdrawal symptoms – the symptoms one feels when an addict does not take his drug for a long time. These can include anxiety, pain, depression, restlessness... Generally a person will start to feel worse and worse, hit a plateau, and then the symptoms begin to dissipate. Babies can be born addicted, if the mother uses drugs during pregnancy. This is because Molecules are small enough to cross the placenta. Such babies suffer from withdrawal symptoms, just as any other drug abuser does. Babies are often born with abnormalities and not just withdrawal symptoms. For instance Tetracycline (type of antibiotic) may cause cataracts and bone abnormalities, Cannabis and LSD may cause Growth problems etc... • Depressants slow down your body breathing, heart rate and thoughts. • Heroin is a depressant. It is a white narcotic powder derived from the opium poppy. It is usually injected or smoked. It is extremely addictive and can leave scars called tracts. Irresponsible sharing of needles can spread HIV, Hepatitis B/C. Hallucinogens • Hallucinogens affect your mind and senses, so you may see and hear different things. • LSD is a hallucinogen. It is odourless colourless and tasteless and is put onto a piece of paper to be licked or swallowed. • Marijuana is a stimulant, depressant and hallucinogen at the same time. It is the most widely used illegal drug. It causes sensations of heat or cold, mouth dryness, increased heart rate, reddening of the eye... Stimulants • Stimulants speed up your body - heart rate, breathing and thoughts. They can kill the user instantly, as well as cause suffocation, choking on one’s own vomit, or a heart attack. • Stimulant drugs include Ecstasy, Cocaine and crack and Methamphetamine. Ecstasy is also referred to as ‘designer drug’ because it is created for the purpose of making its users feel high. It is often swallowed in the form of pills