Picture this:
You’ve just finished your exams, you and your mates are planning to go to a festival, day party, or night out – and it’s more than likely that there’s going to be alcohol and drugs involved.
You get to a party and it feels like everyone there is indulging in substances – but you get on with it because you’re having a laugh.
But it can change in an instant.
That’s because mixing alcohol and drugs can be very dangerous and it’s easy to underestimate how critical these combinations can become. Mixing substances can increase the risk of blackouts, panic, breathing difficulties, accidents, overdose and becoming unconscious.
Understanding the risks
Ketamine and alcohol are a particularly risky combination because both slow down the body and affect coordination and awareness. What starts as “just a few drinks and some ket” can quickly become dangerous, especially if someone is tired, dehydrated or hasn’t eaten properly.
Nitrous oxide (NOS) can also become more dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs, increasing risks around fainting, falls, confusion and oxygen deprivation.
One of the biggest problems is that you can’t always tell how intoxicated someone really is. A mate who seems “just really drunk” may actually need urgent medical help.
If someone:
- Can’t stay awake
- Is struggling to breathe
- Is vomiting repeatedly
- Becomes unresponsive
- Has collapsed
call 999 and put them in the recovery position. You should also always tell medical professionals honestly what has been taken. Emergency services are there to keep people safe, not to judge.
If you choose to go out and drink or take drugs:
- Avoid mixing substances where possible
- Start low and pace yourself
- Eat beforehand and stay hydrated
- Stay with people you trust
- Keep an eye on your mates throughout the night
Whatever your plans are after exams, the most important thing is making sure everyone is aware of the risks involved with mixing drink and drugs.
It’s also crucial for you to understand what you are taking and how this can affect you, and how you can access the right support.
Access support
- We offer an e-learning module Staying Safe, which contains video modules that cover most of the drugs taken in the UK today, the risks when taking them and how to engage with them more safely.
- Eclypse, offer a free and confidential drug and alcohol service for young people in Manchester, if you have significant issues or want medical advice, you can speak to the University GP service.
- You can also read the University’s new ‘Policy on The Harmful Use of Substances or Alcohol by Students’, in co-creation with the Students’ Union.