Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 57 ALCOHOL (continued) Signs and symptoms of alcohol use Effects and Risks For many people, a single drink of alcohol releases tension and reduces inhibition, making them feel more at ease and outgoing. Some people feel happy or excited when they drink, while others become depressed or hostile. Suicide and violent crimes often involve alcohol. Women are generally more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than men, and all adults become increasingly sensitive to alcohol’s effects as they age. When someone is more sensitive, it takes less alcohol to cause intoxication and more time for the body to eliminate the alcohol consumed. Early signs of alcohol intoxication include: • flushed skin • impaired judgment • reduced inhibition Continued drinking increases these effects and causes other effects, such as: • impaired attention • reduced muscle control • slowed reflexes • staggering gait • slurred speech • double or blurred vision. A severely intoxicated person may “black out,” and have no memory of what was said or done while drinking. Effects of extreme intoxication include inability to stand, vomiting, stupor, coma and death.3 1 – Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, October 2018 2 – Health Canada – https://www.canada.ca/en/healthcanada/services/substance-use/alcohol/about.html 3 – CAMH – https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illnessand-addiction-index/alcohol CANNABIS ALSO KNOWN AS: marijuana, bud, blunt, chronic, dab, dope, ganja, grass, green, herb, joint, loud, Mary Jane, MJ, pot, reefer, skunk, smoke, trees, wax, or weed. Variants include: hash, shatter, K2, spice. Get to know more about cannabis and explore the effects that early use of cannabis products can have on a young person’s life, then have a conversation with your child. Cannabis is the second most commonly used substance in Canada, after alcohol. Cannabis is a product of the plant Cannabis Sativa. The main active chemical in cannabis is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Of the roughly 400 chemicals found in the cannabis plant, THC affects the brain the most. It is a mindaltering chemical that gives those who use cannabis a high. Another active chemical in cannabis is CBD (cannabidiol), which is being studied for its potential medical applications and its ability to moderate the effects of THC. What does cannabis look like & how is it used? Cannabis can be consumed in several ways; inhaled, ingested, or applied topically, and there are significant differences in the way the effects are felt. Dried cannabis can be rolled into a cigarette, called a “joint” or in a cigar, called a “blunt”. It can be smoked in a water pipe or “bong” or vaped in an e-cigarette or other vaping devices. Cannabis edibles can be brewed as tea, infused into drinks, or mixed into food and ingested as candies, cookies, and brownies. Consuming cannabis edibles like brownies or cookies is considered by some youth to be a less risky way of consuming than smoking it. Ingesting cannabis can have delayed and unpredictable effects. A long waiting time is recommended when ingesting cannabis products to avoid the accumulation of effects. continued
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