Alcohol Information- Your Health Before and During Pregnancy
- Drinking and Driving
- How to Talk to Your Children About Drugs and Alcohol
- Things You Should Know When Having a Party
- Where to Turn for Help
- Your Health Before and During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you should avoid alcohol and other drugs. Alcohol and other drugs can create problems for women trying to get pregnant, and can be harmful to your baby. No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.
- Health Before Pregnancy: Provides information on the effects of caffeine, alcohol, and drugs.
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Provides moms-to-be with information and resources on having an alcohol-free pregnancy.
- The Canadian Health Network - Provides information and resources on how to have a healthy pregnancy.
- The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) - Offers information on alcohol, pregnancy, and breast-feeding.
- Pamphlets, posters, and displays available from Peel Health on alcohol and other drugs.
- Treatment and support services in Peel Region.
Additional Information on Pregnancy, Alcohol and Drugs
Drinking and driving is a serious matter. In Canada, it is a criminal offence to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 per cent or more. It is also illegal to drive while you are impaired, even if your BAC is less than .08 per cent.
There are strict fines and penalties for those who are caught driving while under the influence of alcohol. As of May 1st, 2009, there are new roadside suspensions for those with a BAC between .05 and .08. Specifically, the police can immediately suspend your licence up to three days for a first occurrence, seven days for a second occurrence and 30 days for a third or subsequent occurrence.
Impairment begins as soon as you start drinking. Alcohol flows through your blood and affects your thinking, judgement, perception, and reaction time. The more you drink, the greater your level of impairment and the higher your risk of death or injury. You are safest if you completely separate driving from drinking.
If you have been drinking, you can help keep yourself and others safe by using a bus, taxi, or designated driver, or by phoning friends or family members for a ride home.
News Alert : As of August 1, 2010, all drivers under the age of 21 must have a zero blood alcohol concentration level (0% BAC) when driving or they face:
- An immediate 24-hour licence suspension
- 30-day licence suspension
- Up to $500 in fines
Furthermore, there will be tougher penalties for drivers in the Graduated Licensing System if they violate the conditions of their license, or if they are convicted of any Highway Traffic Act offences that carry four or more demerit points.
More information
For more information:
- Peel Regional Police - Includes statistics on drinking and driving, as well as information on programs that help reduce impaired driving.
- Transport Canada - Provides information on drinking and driving, and other related topics.
- Department of Justice Canada - Provides information on impaired driving and the law.
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving
- Canada's Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines
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.
- Youth Drug Prevention for Parents - Government of Canada’s National anti-drug strategy
Things You Should Know When Having a Party
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 alcohol.
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.
- DART - The Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment of Ontario - Provides a toll free treatment information and referral service for those seeking alcohol or other drug treatment.