There's a lot of "information" floating around the Web about drugs and even some misinformation spreading by word-of-mouth. The movies, music and other media don't always accurately portray the risks of use either. With all the hype around drugs, you may not realize that most teenagers choose not to smoke weed.

There is a complicated list of reasons why people try or use drugs. Some people do it to change the way they feel, but by taking drugs, they haven't changed the situation. They've only distorted it for a little while. And since many drugs are depressants, the "escape" of drug use isn't happy and can be quite unpleasant. Former users often say that drugs ended up isolating them from friends and family and made them feel more alone.

Remember no one "plans" to become a drug addict, and every one of the millions of people with drug dependency started out thinking they had it "under control."

Click Image for Signs of Drug Use

Cocaine What is it?

Cocaine is a white powder made from coca leaves. Crack is another form of cocaine that is usually smoked.  Crack and cocaine are stimulants that
give an immediate high that lasts a few minutes.

Cocaine and crack cause sweating, loss of appetite and increased heart and pulse rate.  At higher dose levels users may feel very anxious and panicky.

Risks

Cocaine and crack affect the body and emotions.
After using cocaine and crack, many people feel tired and depressed.
Cocaine and crack use can cause heart attacks and strokes.  They can also make you stop breathing.

Heroin What is it?

Heroin is a white or brown powder made from opium poppies.  Users may snort, smoke or inject it.  Heroin is a depressant.  It also impairs the thinking process, which affects the way you act and make decisions

Risks

Heroin is highly addictive, and because of the way people use it, it enters the brain almost immediately.  Users build up a tolerance very quickly and need more and more of the drug to feel the same high they did the first time they used it.Because the strength of heroin varies and its impact is more unpredictable when used with alcohol or illicit drugs, the user never knows what might happen with the next dose.

Our key message is to stay together and stay safe. So if you're heading out, follow these tips:

1. Plan your journey home in advance by booking a taxi or arranging for someone to collect you

2. Drink responsibly and know your limits when it comes to alcohol

3. Don't get separated from your friends and don't let them wander off on their own, especially if they have had too much to drink

4. Never leave your drink unattended and never accept a drink from someone you don't know

5. Save the phone numbers of reliable taxi companies into your mobile or carry some spare change in case you need to use a payphone

6.Stay calm and walk away if someone provokes you. It's never worth getting into a fight

7. Always carry enough money to get home

8. Don't walk through areas you are unsure of and stay in well-lit places

Develop campaigns to;

Highlight the dangers of young people drinking
Long term consequences of drinking from a young age
The health consequences of drinking from a young age
The legal consequences of supplying young people with alcohol
Develop other means of awareness raising and interrupting the sale and supply of alcohol to young people

Safer Blanchardstown quickly identified Young People drinking as being a major source of concern for residents across Blanchardstown. This was achieved by meeting and talking to various groups e.g. Resident Associations, Community Groups, Community Development Workers, groups of Community Employment Workers, Community Gardaí and individuals from all over Blanchardstown.

At these meetings people were asked what issues, in relation to fear and safety, cause them the greatest concern. Among the top three most pressing issues raised in each of the groups were young people drinking and the associated anti-social behaviour.

In order to try to respond to this issue appropriately the Safer Blanchardstown Forum decided to set up a sub group to look at ways in which young people are accessing alcohol. The Young Peoples Access to Alcohol sub group was set up and is tasked with trying to develop suitable interventions to reduce the access, supply and attraction of alcohol to young people.