Drug Information- How to Use Prescription Medications Safely
- Types of Drugs
- Drug Impaired Driving
- How to Talk to Your Children About Drugs and Alcohol
- Mixing Alcohol and Drugs
- Where to Turn for Help
- How to Use Prescription Medications Safely
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are safer when used responsibly and for their intended purpose. When taking any prescription or OTC drugs, it is important to understand what you are taking, why you are taking it, when to take it, how to take it, and what the side effects of the drug might be. Medications can contribute to better health when used safely. However, they can also interfere with desired treatment when misused.
- Using medication safely - Provides information and tips about using medications safely.
- Using medication safely - for seniors - Provides information and tips for seniors about using medications safely.
- Drug Watch – Contains information on various drugs and medication on the market. This is an American site so some information may not apply in Canada. Please keep in mind that Drugwatch.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
What is drug impaired driving?
Drug impaired driving occurs when someone operates a vehicle while under the influence of any drug that acts on the brain. This can include legal drugs (such as alcohol), or illegal substances such as marijuana. Many people believe that driving is safe as long as they are not drinking alcohol. However, other drugs can also affect a person's motor skills, perception, and judgement. Drug impaired driving not only puts the driver at increased risk for harm, but also passengers and others who share the road.
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. Other drugs such as cocaine, opiates, and amphetamines have also been reported. Different drugs have different effects on the brain, but all lead to risky driving that puts everyone in jeopardy.
Drug impaired driving is a criminal offense and punishable by law. As of June 2007, the police can pull a driver over and administer a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) if the officer suspects the driver has a drug in his/her body.
For more information, check out: Parliament of Canada
For more information:
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) - Information on how alcohol and other drugs affect driving.
- Canadian Public Health Association - Information on the 'Pot and Driving' campaign.
- Half Baked Ideas - Website for teens and young adults on marijuana and driving.
How to Talk to Your Children About Drugs and Alcohol
It's not always easy to discuss the topic of alcohol or drugs with your children, but it is an important conversation to have.
You may want to chat about the various drugs that are out there, or the reasons why children and youth engage in drug use. You may simply be concerned that your child is hanging out with the wrong crowd or that they may be engaging in risky behaviour.
Whatever the reason, there are several resources that the Region of Peel Public Health offers, including a parent presentation, brochures and pamphlets that will assist you with this discussion.
For helpful tips and information:
- Talk About Drugs - Region of Peel Public Health
A resource for parents to start the conversation about drug use and abuse.
- Parent Action on Drugs - Provides programs and services aimed at prevention, education, and support.
Oftentimes, while people are socially drinking, they may be offered other drugs such as marijuana or ecstasy. Mixing alcohol and other drugs is extremely dangerous, and can even be fatal!
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down your breathing, heart rate, and other parts of your brain. If you mix alcohol with other drugs, you put your body and mind at an increased risk for harm. Many drugs taken together have the potential to interact with one another to produce greater effects than either drug taken by itself. Or, the combination of drugs may produce a new or unexpected effect.
Some side effects of mixing drugs include alcohol poisoning (where your body can't get rid of the alcohol it absorbed), cramps, headaches, vomiting, comas, or even death.
If you choose to drink alcohol, avoid taking with other drugs or prescription medications.
For more information:
- The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) - Provides information on alcohol and the dangers of mixing drugs.
- Health Canada: Straight Facts About Drugs & Drug Abuse
Drug Resources
There are support services and treatment agencies in Peel that can give you more information and help you or your family deal with problems related to drug use.
For more information:
- Youth Substance Abuse Program
- Health Canada: Straight Facts About Drugs & Drug Abuse
- YMCA - Youth Substance Abuse Program - Provides educational, counselling, and mentoring services to youth.
- Addiction Counselling Services of Peel, William Osler Health Centre - Provides individual counselling for drugs, alcohol and gambling. Please call 905-796-3005 for more information.
- The Addictions and Concurrent Disorder Centre, Credit Valley Hospital.
- Drug and Alcohol Helpline - The Drug and Alcohol Helpline - Provides a toll free treatment information and referral service for those seeking alcohol or other drug treatment.
- Parent Action on Drugs - Provides outreach, prevention, education and parent support on issues of substance use.