Myth or Reality? (For groups of young people age 17-24)

Statement 1 Each year, the number of young people age 15 to 24 who drink alcohol increases.

Answer Myth Three-quarters (75.5%) of young Canadians age 15 to 24 reported having consumed alcohol in the twelve months preceding the survey. This is down from 82.9% in ( Source : Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey, Health Canada, January 2009)

Statement 2 Alcohol is a surefire way to be less shy, more fun, and more intelligent.

Answer Myth There is no guarantee that drinking will make you nicer or more fun. Alcohol and drugs affect how the brain functions. They alter the way your neurons communicate and affect your senses, which can impair your judgment, make you behave differently, and hamper your coordination. They can make us do things we wouldn’t normally do otherwise, but they definitely don’t make you smarter or more fun!

Statement 3 The negative effects of using alcohol and drugs affect only me, so it doesn’t hurt anyone else.

Answer Myth It’s true that some of the negative effects of alcohol and drugs affect the user directly: Injuries from a fight or accident Health problems (headaches, digestive problems, low energy) Psychological problems (inattentiveness in school, bad mood, irritability, anxiety, depression, etc.) But your family, friends, and loved ones can also be affected by Relationship problems (big arguments when the user is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, disagreements about the use of these products, etc.) Unprotected sexual encounter that may lead to a sexually transmitted infection or an unwanted pregnancy—and the emotional toll and relationship problems they can cause Plus, the car accidents caused by driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol can have short-, medium-, and long-term effects on the lives of a number of people, including perfect strangers. Do you have any other suggestions on the possible effects on others?

Statement 4 Drug use among young people age 15 to 24 has dropped over the past few years.

Answer Reality According to the Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (January 2009), cannabis use among young people age 15 to 24 in the twelve months preceding the survey dropped from 37% in 2004 to 26.3% in Use of drugs other than alcohol and cannabis fell from 11.3% in 2004 to 5.5% in 2009.

Statement 5 Gambling continues to grow in popularity among young people 17 and older.

Answer Myth In general, gambling among secondary students has dropped since More specifically, it has dropped from 61.5% in 2002 to 47.5% in 2008 among Secondary V students. (Source : Québec Survey on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use and Gambling in Québec Secondary School Students, 2008, by Institut de la statistique du Québec)

Statement 6 Gambling practice websites let users hone their skills before moving on to more serious sites where they can win big!

Answer Myth It is generally recognized that the odds of winning are higher on practice sites where people can play without betting money than on sites where people have to bet money.

Statement 7 Sophie goes out with her friends on Friday nights. She always has at least five drinks, but she doesn’t drink at all the rest of the week. Sophie has an alcohol abuse problem.

Answer Reality Alcohol and drug abusers don’t necessarily use several times a week, but when they do use, they use a lot (5 or more servings) and they mix substances. They often use to get their mind off things, forget their problems, or disconnect from reality. Alcohol or drug abuse can eventually cause physical and psychological addiction. It can also lead to several other problems such as dropping out of school, job loss, delinquency, and violence.

Statement 8 Using increasingly larger amounts of alcohol or drugs more often is a sign that a person may be developing an abuse or addiction problem.

Answer Reality Here are some other signs: Spending a lot of time thinking about using substances, taking substances, obtaining substances, or looking for money to buy substances Losing interest in one’s favorite activities, hobbies, and non- using friends Wanting to cut back or manage one’s use and not being able to Using to feel better, build up courage, or forget problems Needing to use more and more of the product to feel the same effects Feeling guilty about one’s use

Statement 9 A chugging contest is a good way of figuring out who’s the toughest.

Answer Myth Chugging doesn’t prove anything. Being tough does not trump the effects of alcohol. Chugging is also dangerous. It can cause acute alcohol poisoning, which can lead to death in less than an hour. That is why it’s so important to closely monitor the symptoms of a person who seems to have had too much to drink in a short amount of time and never leave that person alone. Here are the signs of acute alcohol poisoning: Significant reduction in or total loss of response Loss of consciousness or deep sleep Difficulty breathing Weak pulse Repeated vomiting Excessive perspiration Damp or cold skin WARNING: A person who is exhibiting these signs should never be left alone. Call

Statement 10 Two people who buy ecstasy pills from a dealer can expect to be taking the same thing.

Answer Myth Based on seized designer drugs analyzed by Health Canada chemists, the composition of two pills that look identical may be completely different. So people may think they’re taking product x while the “E” they got contains something totally different. This means it may have no effect at all, the full or partial expected effect, or an excessively strong or even toxic effect. Taking designer drugs is always a risk since there is no way of knowing exactly what you’re consuming.