Drugs and Alcohol
If you are struggling with alcohol or drugs, or you/someone you know needs help there are people who care reach out:
Youth line – 0800 376 633 or free text 234
The Alcohol Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797
1737 – Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 anytime to speak to a trained counsellor
School Guidance Counsellor – They’re there for you, no judgment
Trusted adults – A teacher, a coach, a parent or whānau member sometimes just talking helps so much
Testing Centers:
If you are using drugs in general particularly MDMA or Weed there are places in Christchurch that you can go to check if what you are using is mixed, and what it is mixed with to ensure it is safe to consume. The one in Christchurch is located at 10 Washington way and it is called the Roger Wrights center. They are there for support and safety there is no connection to the police, so don’t worry about that.
Alcohol:
I know that alcohol is something a lot of us hear about, see around us, or even feel pressure to try especially as we get older and closer to leaving school. Even though it is so common, and very normalized, it is important to talk about because it’s something that can really affect our health, our safety, and even our friendships and choices.
What is alcohol? Alcohol is a drug that can be toxic and addictive. It can affect the way you think, feel, and behave. It can slow your reactions, mess with your decision-making, and sometimes cause you to act in ways you wouldn’t if you were sober. For teenagers especially, alcohol can be risky because our brains are still developing and drinking too early or too much can have long-term impacts.
There are many different types of alcohol, drinks containing alcohol are typically divided into four classes—beers, wines, spirits and RTDS which are (ready to drink mixed drinks)
Drinking a small amount of alcohol can make you feel more relaxed or happy, but alcohol is actually a depressant. This means it that alcohol slows down the messages that travel between your brain and your body and the first part of your brain that alcohol depresses is the inhibition. The next is coordination, decision making and memory. There are different stages of being drunk, these stages are based on your blood alcohol percentage. Everyone’s body reacts differently depending on their size, tolerance, what they've eaten, and how fast they're drinking. Even if someone looks okay, they might be at risk.
Tipsy (mild intoxication) – In general, one or two standard alcoholic drinks within an hour can make someone feel tipsy you might feel more relaxed and confident, or you might start talking more and being more outgoing than usual and some people feel a little light-headed or warm.
When these things start happening, alcohol starts to affect the brain, especially the parts that control judgment and self-control. You might not realize you're already being impacted, and it is very common to keep drinking because you don’t think you’re ‘drunk enough’ yet. Your decision making can be impacted even at this early stage.
Blacking Out – When you blackout, you are still yourself in the moment but the part of your brain that processes what is happening into your memory becomes depressed. This means that you will not remember parts of your night.
If one of your friends is too drunk, you may think that giving them bread or food will help them or make them less drunk, this is not the case as the alcohol has already been absorbed into the person's bloodstream. The only way to ‘sober up’ after alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream is to wait for your body to process it.
Passing Out – When someone passes out, their body is literally shutting down because it can’t handle the amount of alcohol in their system. Their brain can’t stay alert, their breathing can slow, and they might even choke if they throw up while lying on their back.
This isn’t just a normal part of drinking, It’s alcohol poisoning and it’s a medical emergency.
If you ever see someone passed out from drinking, please don’t leave them alone or just laugh it off. Here’s what to do:
Check if they respond. Try to wake them. If they don’t move or talk, it’s serious.
Put them in the recovery position. On their side, with their head tilted so they don’t choke on their own vomit.
Call 111 if necessary. You won’t get in trouble; they care more about saving a life.
Stay with them. Keep them warm and don’t let anyone convince you they’re ‘fine’.
Mixing Alcohol with drugs:
Alcohol with Weed: (crossfading)
Someone doing this might feel okay at first, but the effects of combining weed and alcohol occur very quickly after consumption. In such a sport span of time, extreme effects such as loss of control over the brain and body, blackouts and panic can occur. Coordination, judgment, and memory get much worse compared to if just one is used. Alcohol and weed both affect the brain, just in different ways. Alcohol slows things down, and THC (weed) changes perception and emotions. Together, they confuse the body. Reactions, balance, and even breathing can be affected more than if someone had only taken one.
It’s really unpredictable, especially for young people. Our brains are still developing, and we’re more sensitive to how substances affect us, especially when mixed.
Greening out - This is when someone becomes nauseous, dizzy, sweaty, paranoid, or even passes out. It’s like the body goes into a panic and tries to get all of the substances out of the body. It can feel terrifying and lead to vomiting, anxiety attacks, or fainting. A lot of people regret crossfading after greening out.
If you ever get crossfaded (or see someone else struggling):
Please don’t ignore it or try to ‘sleep it off’. It’s okay to ask for help. Keep the person safe, put them in the recovery position if they pass out, and call 111 if it feels serious. It's not overreacting, it's caring and is the responsible thing to do. Even if you think your friend will be mad at you for calling for help, it is better than risking something serious happening to them.
Drugs:
Nicotine/Vaping/Cigarettes: A.K.A: Smokes, Ciggies, Durries, Darts, Vaping, Nic or a boof
They all contain a drug called nicotine. So, nicotine is a drug that comes from the leaves of the tobacco plant. It’s what gives the “hit” in things like cigarettes, vapes, and chewing tobacco. It also comes in patches, lozenges, and gums - those are called Nicotine Replacement Therapy (or NRT), and they’re meant to help people cut down or quit. They can also sometimes be abused.
Nicotine can make someone feel a bit chilled out and help take the edge off if they’re feeling stressed or irritated, but it can also make them feel sick, dizzy, and give them headaches, especially if their body is not used to it. And the more someone uses it, the more their body starts to depend on it, which means if they stop suddenly, they are likely to get cravings or withdrawal symptoms. That can feel rough.
If someone smokes cigarettes or vapes a lot, it can seriously mess with their lungs, heart, and other parts of their body in the long term. It also makes the chances of getting cancer way higher. Just something to keep in mind if you're thinking about it or already using it. No judgment, it’s just good to know what’s going on.
Weed: A.K.A: Marijuana, Cannabis, Weed, Bud, Pot, Grass
Cannabis is actually the most commonly used illegal drug in Aotearoa. It comes in heaps of different forms like the actual bud (flower), oils, resins, and even edibles like brownies or gummies.
There are two main parts in cannabis: THC and CBD. THC is the bit that makes someone feel ‘high’ and it can leave them feeling chilled out, giggly, or even a bit floaty and euphoric. But for some people, it can also bring on anxiety, make them super sleepy, or leave them feeling paranoid or on edge. Weed, can be smoked in many forms, however the two most common are a bong or a joint. It is very important to be aware of what type of weed is being consumed and what is in it, but this is really difficult to know. Sometimes weed can be chopped with tobacco or other drugs which don't mix well with weed.
CBD doesn’t get people high, but it’s used more for medical stuff - like helping with pain, anxiety, or trouble sleeping. It’s kind of like the calming side without the buzz. It’s legal in New Zealand and can be prescribed by specialist doctors.
MDMA: A.K.A: MD, Ecstasy, E, Molly,
MDMA is a stimulant drug, and it’s also known as an empathogen which basically means it can make someone feel super connected to people and more in tune with their emotions. When it’s pressed into pills and sometimes mixed with other stuff like caffeine, it’s usually called ‘ecstasy’.
It speeds up how the brain and body work, so someone might feel full of energy, really confident, and extra lovey or chatty with the people around them. But it can also make someone feel dizzy, restless, sweaty, or even a bit anxious, depending on how their body reacts.
The effects can last up to 5 hours, but afterwards, there’s often a comedown. That’s when someone might feel low, grumpy, or anxious for a bit while their brain tries to reset. In New Zealand, some substances being sold as MDMA are actually synthetic cathinones that can have more unpredictable, unpleasant and dangerous effects. The safest thing is not to use MDMA, but if someone is going to, they should get them checked using a free, legal, non-judgemental and confidential drug checking service.
Ketamine: A.K.A: K, Special K, Ket, Jet
Ketamine is a powerful dissociative anesthetic that’s sometimes used in hospitals and veterinary care. It works by slowing down how the brain and body function, and it can lead to strong changes in how someone experiences the world around them.
Some people say it makes them feel really relaxed or even euphoric, and it can cause what’s called a dissociative state - like feeling detached from your body or surroundings. But it’s important to know that ketamine can also leave people feeling really groggy, confused, or emotionally numb afterward.
If someone takes too much, they might end up in what’s known as a “K-hole,” where they can’t move or speak. That can be a frightening experience. While ketamine on its own doesn’t often lead to overdose, it becomes a lot more risky when mixed with other depressant drugs - especially alcohol. If you or someone you know is thinking about using ketamine, please take care and talk to someone you trust. You’re never alone, and your safety and well-being always come first.