A drug is a chemical that you take into your body, which changes the way you feel and act. Some drugs are prescribed by a doctor for illnesses. But when people talk about drugs they usually mean drugs that are illegal or unsafe.
There are lots of reasons why people take drugs. Some people try drugs because friends are doing it or to look popular in front of people. Some people think drugs can help them forget about feeling sad or hopeless, problems at home or problems at school. And some people may like the thought of doing something dangerous or illegal.
Sometimes people are forced to take drugs. Or are put under pressure to take drugs as a dare.
4 things to remember about taking drugs:
are they
DANGEROUS?
It can be hard to say 'no' to your friends, especially if they’re all doing drugs. If they're trying to get you to do something that you don't want to do, this could make you feel scared and alone.
You could try:
There are always risks involved when taking any kind of drug. Some drugs can be unsafe and could make you very ill.
Here are some of the risks:
knowing there's
someone
who might be able to
help
Different types of drugs affect people differently.
If you have a drug problem, you might:
You can talk to a counsellor who can support you, ask an adult you trust for help, or talk to other people on our message boards who may have similar problems.
How you can stop taking drugs
Drugs can be very addictive and stopping can sometimes be difficult.
Different things can help people in different ways.
You could try:
Remember that emergencies are very rare. But sometimes people can have a bad reaction to drugs. They could have a bad experience and get anxious and panic. Or become overheated and dehydrated.
For immediate help call 999 for an ambulance to come. For more info in an emergency visit Talk to Frank.
Here's some advice on helping somone who is:
There are lots of different types of drugs and they can all be harmful.
Illegal drugs are described in different classes (A, B and C) depending on how unsafe they are. The harmful effects of these include feeling paranoid, depressed, dizzy, anxious, out of control or physically ill (vomiting). They can also make you feel 'high', relaxed, happy, confident and energetic.
They can affect mental and physical health. You never know how your body will react, so while 1 person might be fine, another might end up with a reaction that could harm them. By taking any type of illegal drug you are also at risk of poisoning, overdosing or dying. The find out more about different types of drugs and their effects, visit Talk to Frank
The punishment for taking, carrying, sharing or selling drugs depends on the type of drug. If the police caught you with any type of drug you could be arrested and sent to prison. You might also not be allowed to travel to certain countries like the USA or Australia. Illegal drugs are described in different 'classes' depending on how addictive or unsafe they are.
You could start by letting the person know that you're worried about them.
They may not realise they have a drug problem. And they might not know how their behaviour is affecting you.
It may also be embarrassing for them to talk about things like this.
If they don't want to talk to you, you could suggest they talk to someone else.
Read our advice about helping a friend.
If you take drugs or are worried about someone else who is taking drugs, you could try:
It can be hard to see your mum, dad or carer with drugs.
A first step could be letting them know how their behaviour is affecting you. It might be embarrassing or scary to talk about things but it's important that you feel safe at home.
You could also try:
