The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to stay safe and not take risks with alcohol and other drugs over the festive party season. Most fatal overdoses involve the use of more than one type of drug, and any combination of prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, illicit drugs or alcohol can be dangerous.

The PHA strongly recommends that you do not take any drug unless it has been prescribed to you by a medical professional and in accordance with your prescription. Stephanie Hanlon, Joint Regional Lead for Drugs and Alcohol at the PHA, said: “We know that some people choose to use alcohol and other drugs as part of their festive celebrations but it’s important that we enjoy ourselves safely. We are urging people to stay safe and avoid taking risks with any substances.

“Mixing any drugs increases the risk of serious harm and can have a negative impact on you and those around you. Combining different types of drugs is unpredictable, can increase the toxicity of already potentially harmful substances, and increases the risk of serious harm occurring.

“It’s easy to forget that alcohol itself is a powerful drug and mixing any drugs, including prescription medications and alcohol, can be unpredictable and unsafe.

“It is of course safest to not use any drugs at all, but if you choose to use alcohol and other drugs, it’s vital that you keep yourself and those around you as safe as possible.

“Anyone who uses drugs should bear in mind that products that look the same as each other may not be the same in terms of their contents. A pill or powder that looks like one taken previously may in fact have entirely different substances in it.

“The same is true of prescription drugs obtained illegally. This means that you can’t be sure of what effect it will have, plus new drugs are being identified all the time so you can never really know what you are taking.”

You can keep health risks to a minimum by following the advice below:

• Drink alcohol in moderation (no more than 14 units – around 5-6 pints of beer – per week for both men and women, spread evenly throughout the week).
• Avoid taking illicit drugs altogether.
• Only take medication that has been prescribed by your doctor and as they have instructed.
• Ask your doctor whether you need to avoid alcohol while taking a medication they have prescribed for you.
• It is important to keep hydrated and you should sip no more than a pint of fluid per hour during the session. Avoid energy drinks because the caffeine in them can increase strain on the heart. Alcohol causes dehydration and increases the risk of dangerous side effects.
• Look after your friends. It’s ok to tell each other to take it easy; that’s what good friends do. Don’t let anyone go off by themselves. If anyone becomes unwell, stay with them.
• If anything has gone wrong, call the emergency services immediately.

For those who use drugs, the PHA has the following advice:

• Exercise extreme caution when taking any substance if you are unsure what is in it.
• Take a test dose to start out with – start with a smaller dose than you usually would.
• Avoid taking more than one substance at a time – risk of overdose increases when you mix any drugs.
• Never use alone – make sure there is someone with you who can ring an ambulance.
• If injecting, never share your equipment as it increases the risk of blood born virus. Clean injecting equipment can be obtained at Needle and Syringe Exchange Services.

It is important to remember that support services are available in your local area and are there for both those who use substances and their friends and family. To find services near you please visit www.DrugsAndAlcoholNI.info.