alcohol | Harm Reduction

Alcohol is a depressant psychoactive drug that causes the functions of the central nervous system to slow down. Alcohol also triggers the release of dopamine, which causes the sense of euphoria associated with alcohol use.

Like any psychoactive substance, drinking too much alcohol in a short period of time increases the risk of overdosing. “Alcohol poisoning,” the term for an overdose of alcohol, can have dangerous or even fatal effects on the body. Please be careful if you are using other drugs with alcohol! NEVER use opioids when you have been drinking alcohol!!! This combination is very often fatal!!!

Drug Profile

Name: Alcohol

Aliases (other names): Booze, Juice, Giggle juice, Sauce, Hard stuff, Moonshine (Homemade alcohol).

Type of Drug: Depressant drug.
Depressants slow down the messages travelling between the brain and body.

Legalized in Canada?: YES. For adults 19+
See this CCSA webpage for more details

Addictive?: YES.
Alcohol produces more dopamine than natural rewards do. Long-term alcohol use repeatedly floods the reward system with dopamine making
it addictive.

Continued, frequent, and heavy drinking use can cause physical dependence and addiction. “Problem drinking” describes a level of alcohol use which causes problems in a person’s life, including alcohol-related illness, social problems, accidents, and even deaths. This behaviour does not include physical dependence.

Problem drinking is 4x as common as severe alcohol dependence. See this CAMH webpage for more details

Effects of Alcohol Use

Acute Alcohol Posioning:

Signs of Acute Alcohol poisoning:

  • Clammy skin

  • Low body temperature

  • Slow and labored breathing

  • Incontinence

Hangover

When a person feels sick around 8-12 hours after drinking alcohol

  • Headache

  • Nausea

  • Diarrhea

  • Shakiness

  • Vomiting

Mixing Alcohol With other drugs

Alcohol & Cannabis

Many people who use cannabis products have also been drinking alcohol. This is often referred to as getting "cross-faded." As both cannabis & alcohol have depressant effects, combining these can cause the central nervous system to dangerously slow down.

Look out for your friends who are showing symptoms from a combination of Alcohol and Cannabis to make sure they are breathing properly, and call for help if you are worried.

How to help if someone has a bad reaction:

  • Stay with them and never leave them alone

  • Take them to a safe place & monitor them

  • Reassure them

    • Let them know you're not going to leave them and that they'll be okay

  • Keep them comfortable & upright

  • If they need to vomit, help them do so without risk of choking.

    • Ensure their head is tilted downwards, or put them in the recovery position (laying on their side) if necessary.

  • Give them some water to drink

  • Remember, you are a friend, not a doctor. If in doubt, always call for help!

Alcohol and Opioids

*WARNING: Do NOT mix OPIOIDS & ALCOHOL!!!

Using both Alcohol and Opioids together is responsible for more polydrug overdoses than any other combination of drugs. Together, they greatly increase your risk of experiencing opioid overdose.

Dangerous" is an understatement. Using both Alcohol and Opioids is very often FATAL. Both Alcohol & Opioids are depressants of the Central Nervous System, causing the body's major functions, such as breathing and heart rate, to slow down or stop completely.