Drugs and alcohol

Recreational drugs (drugs that people take for non-medical purposes) fit into three main groups:

If you’re taking illegal drugs, remember it can lead to a criminal record. This can affect your future, like getting a job. And if you’re under 18, keep in mind it’s illegal to buy (or try to buy) alcohol, or to drink alcohol in places like restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs without an adult.

You can find out more on the Government’s website:

• Penalties for drug possession
• Alcohol and young people

It’s tough to notice when you have a problem with drugs and alcohol, because it can get worse slowly over time. But here are some things to look out for:

• feeling like you can’t cope without it, it controls you and you ‘need’ it, even if you don’t want to
• getting used to the drug, so you need to take more of it to feel the effects
• having withdrawal symptoms, like feeling sick, anxious or shaky, when you stop taking it
• injuries like bruises or cuts, but you don’t remember where they came from
• blackouts, confusion and difficulty remembering what happened while drinking or on drugs
• feeling ashamed and hiding when you use them, or doing it alone

If you’re stressing about your drug or alcohol use, there are people who can help you. Talk to someone you trust – friends, family, teachers or a counsellor.

If drugs or alcohol are messing with your daily life, see your GP. It might feel scary, but it’s the first step to getting help, and your doctor won’t judge you.

Quitting drugs or drinking alcohol might seem impossible, but with the right help, you can live a happy life without drugs or alcohol.

Sometimes we feel pressured to do things we don’t want to, just because everyone else is. That’s called peer pressure. It can make you feel scared, alone, and like you need to explain yourself otherwise people will make fun of you.

But remember, when it comes to drugs and alcohol, it’s your call and no one else’s. Saying no isn’t easy, but good friends will never force you to do things you don’t want to.

Frank have ten tips for dealing with peer pressure on their website.

Childline have a guide to being assertive, which you might also find helpful when you want to say no but you're not sure how.

It can be tough to know what to do if you’re worried about your friend’s drinking or drug use. You might worry that they’ll get angry if you tell someone, or start hiding their drink or drug use from you. Or that keeping quiet will only let their problem might get worse.

The best move is to let them know that you’re there – no judgement, just support as their friend, and they can talk to you if they want to . But you can also be honest about your worries and how it’s affecting you or your friendship.

But if that conversation feels too hard, that’s okay. It’s not your job to fix things. You can suggest they use one of the helplines at the bottom of this page. And don’t forget, you can ask for support from an adult you trust. They don’t need to know their name, but if you think they may be in danger, then it’s a good idea to tell them who your friend is.

You can let your friend know before you talk to an adult and let them know why. They might not get it at first, but they’ll come around. They’ll soon see that it’s because you care.