The Effect and Consequences of Mixing Alcohol and Drugs

It's Halloween in 3 days! Although Halloween is a fun day with people going trick or treating, parties,raves and clubbing, things can and do go wrong often disastrously when there's alcohol or drugs involved.

Granted alcohol doesn't do much in moderation,but when you're drunk, you're unable to quickly or logically. However do have some element of control, albeit it minimal amounts, but everything changes if you've also taken drugs.

NEVER DRINK ALCOHOL AND TAKE DRUGS!
IT CAN BE FATAL!

Drugs affect you in different ways depending on what you've taken, how much of it, and it also depends on if the drug itself is impure (e.g. ecstasy is sometimes cut with anything from LSD to caffeine). When you mix it with alcohol,it does a lot of damage to your system.Some people incorrectly believe that because alcohol is a depressant if you take something that it designed to give you lots of energy (e.g. MDMA), it will make you normal and you will be fine....HELL NO!

It will affect your nervous system in such a way that you will be unable to speak coherently,control your body (you will have difficulty just walking or standing) or make competent decisions. And this is when the trouble starts.

What happens to the body and in effect me when I drink and take drugs?

First you may experience changes in body temperature (either an increase or a decrease), then you may fell nausea, disorientated or dizzy. At this stage, your body is severely struggling to cope with the toxins in your body (caused by the alcohol) and the drugs you've taken. at this point, you should leave the area you are in, and alert a friend and call 999.
Should you remain in that area and dismiss the symptoms, you may become unconscious. Now you are in severe danger. CALL 999 NOW!  If you're curled up or if you're head is tilted forward, your airway is constricted which makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now your oxygen levels start to decrease, oxygen begins to be diverted mainly to the vital organs. When the oxygen levels below a certain level in the brain, you become hypoxiated. Now there is an increased chance of you slipping into a coma. After this stage, your vital systems begin to shut down, you stop breathing and your heart stops beating. Once all your vital sign cease, you are dead.

What do I do when they become unconscious?

As soon as they become unconscious, first try to wake up by issuing commands such "Open your eyes". If they do not responds, then place them in the recovery position.  Watch the video below by Clive James ( an SJA member) to learn how to put someone into the recovery position.

How To Put Someone In The Recovery Position

Okay, I've put them in the recovery position, what do I do now?

Now dial 999 and request an ambulance, it is imperative that you stay calm and speak clearly. The main information that the ambulance service require are:

• Status - e.g. unconscious and breathing/ unconscious and not breathing
• Age and gender - e.g. 19 year old female
• What the has person taken - e.g. 3 pints of beer and MDMA
• Location (and any landmarks) - e.g. 15 recovery road, SW18 7TX, the house has a drive

If possible get someone to stand outside of the location, so that the ambulance knows where the incident is.

IMPORTANT - ALWAYS TELL THE PARAMEDICS,NURSES,DOCTORS EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE TAKEN OR DRUNK.
This means you can be treated more effectively, and they will be able to assist you more efficiently.

Also remember its not only you that is affected, your friends, family or however is beside you at that time can be affected. When I was working at Notting Hill carnival, I was helping the friend or family member who was with the patient by calming them down and explaining to them what was going on as it can be very worrying and scary for them.

If you put someone in the recovery position and give the information required to the ambulance crew, then the chances of the person surviving are greatly increased.

I think this post has got too much of a deathly tone so to cheer you up, follow the link for some great tasting halloween food!
http://keytonutrition.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/halloween-kids.html

Stay safe on Halloween, don't drink and take drugs and most importantly HAVE FUN!