Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 107 FACTS ABOUT TEEN DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE Substance use can become a serious issue and lead to long-term problems, injury, and even death. Growth and development can be affected by alcohol and other substances. Teens who use these substances may have trouble finding their identity, building relationship skills, and becoming emotionally stable. They also may have trouble preparing for their future. Substance use can affect memory and learning, which can harm a teen's schoolwork. In some teens, substance use can grow quickly from experimenting and occasional use into a substance use disorder. Even occasional alcohol use increases a teen's risk. ALCOHOL Alcohol affects all organs of the body but has its most serious effects on the liver. Teens should wait as long as possible to drink alcohol. Follow the laws for the legal drinking age where you live. Alcohol use: • Can cause problems with brain development in teens. Some teens who drink alcohol regularly may not learn how to handle stressful situations without drinking alcohol. • Makes it harder for a person to think and act quickly. It slows down thinking and moving, and it makes a person less alert. A car crash is more likely when a person drives after drinking alcohol. • Can lead to unprotected sex. This increases the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). NICOTINE Over time, smoking or vaping can cause cancer and heart and lung problems. Smokeless tobacco like chew or snuff can cause dental problems and cancers of the mouth. RECREATIONAL OR ILLEGAL DRUGS Some teens misuse cannabis, hallucinogens such as LSD, or other drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or meth. • Cannabis can affect memory, problem-solving, and learning. It can also cause mood swings. • Hallucinogens can cause mental changes. For example, a person may have a distorted sense of time and see, feel, or hear things that seem real but aren't (hallucinations). This may lead to poor judgment or risky behaviour. • Cocaine can cause abnormal heartbeats, sometimes causing a deadly heart attack, seizure, or stroke. • Drugs like ecstasy (MDMA), Rohypnol, or GHB can be dangerous, especially in overdose or when combined with alcohol or other drugs. • Meth can cause seizures, stroke, long-term health problems, and serious mental problems, including paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions. • Many illegal drugs are made in home labs, so they may contain unsafe or dangerous substances, such as fentanyl.
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