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Alcohol and Other Drugs

Alcohol

Most people believe that they can handle their alcohol use, but sometimes it can get out of control.

Alcohol is one of the oldest and most widely used drugs in the world. There are many reasons people choose to drink alcohol. Trying something once or using it sometimes doesn’t mean a person will develop a drinking problem.

Alcohol, like other drugs, can cause problems depending how it’s used. It can cause injuries, disease, and other negative effects. It’s important to know what can happen so it doesn't cause more problems for you.

These ways of using alcohol can often cause big problems (problematic alcohol use):

  • drinking large amounts (binge drinking)
  • drinking and driving
  • using alcohol to deal with problems
  • using alcohol with other substances (e.g., some types of medicine, drugs)

If you’re using alcohol in any of these ways, get help.​​​

Worried about a friend?

Friends are often the ones to notice a change. To learn how to support a friend, see Helping Others: For Friends.​​

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