Drugs, alcohol and smoking
There are many reasons why someone might drink alcohol, take drugs or start smoking, including vaping.
It is important to remember that all of these activities will have negative impact on their health and wellbeing, including their mental health.
Use the links below to learn the facts and find the help that you need:
Alcohol →
Drugs →
Smoking →
Vaping →
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol, and getting drunk affects the way you think and feel. Some people might try to cope with worries by drinking alcohol. But it can be dangerous so it’s important to know the facts.
Alcohol can affect you, even in small amounts. Decisions can be harder to make. And we think we can do more than if we’re sober. It’s one of the reasons so many serious accidents happen after people have been drinking lots of alcohol. It’s important to know your limits.
If you’re worried about how much you’re drinking or feel like you can’t stop, there’s help available.
Are you worried about your alcohol use?
Take a quick quiz to understand your alcohol use.
For this quiz, some of the questions will ask you about units. Make sure you read the ‘Unit Guide’ for help.
Get help
Bromley Changes is a local service run by the organisation CGL (Change Grow Live) in Bromley. It is a free and confidential service for young people.
Or call 020 8289 1999 from 10am – 4pm on weekdays.
Outside of those hours and at the weekend you can call on: 07738 802 713. You can also email referrals.bromley@cgl.org if you need help or support.
Learn more about alcohol
There is a range of advice available:
Drugs
A drug is a chemical that you take into your body, which changes the way you feel and act. Some drugs are prescribed by a doctor for illnesses. But when people talk about drugs, they usually mean drugs that are illegal or unsafe.
A lot of people think about trying drugs when they’re in their teenage years and early 20s. There are lots of reasons why people take drugs. Some people try drugs because friends are doing it or to look popular in front of people. Some people think drugs can help them forget about feeling sad or hopeless, problems at home or problems at school. And some people may like the thought of doing something dangerous or illegal.
Are you worried about your drug use?
Get help
Bromley Changes is a local service run by the organisation CGL (Change Grow Live) in Bromley. It is a free and confidential service for young people.
Or call 020 8289 1999 from 10am – 4pm on weekdays.
Outside of those hours and at the weekend you can call on: 07738 802 713. You can also email referrals.bromley@cgl.org if you need help or support.
Learn more about drugs
There is a range of advice available:
Smoking
Smoking cigarettes or cannabis can be addictive and is really bad for your health.
Quitting can be very difficult. But there’s lots of help out there if you want to quit smoking or help someone else stop.
What you need to know about smoking
There can be lots of pressure from friends and people around you to smoke. It might seem like everyone does it.
But smoking is highly addictive and can cause serious health problems, including cancer. Once you start, it can be really hard to stop.
Nicotine (which is found in cigarettes) has been linked to anxiety, so it isn’t a harmless drug, and being addicted is often stressful and expensive.
Giving up smoking
Many people try to quit smoking with willpower alone, but it’s much easier to go smoke-free with the right help.
There are lots of support options available to help you on your quitting journey. You might want to consider the cost of different aids and the side effects. If you’ve tried to quit before, think about what methods worked for you and what you might want to do differently.
The key is not to give up, try different combinations until you find the one that works for you.
Quit smoking
Quitting can be tough, but there is a range of support available. For example, the Smokefree Teen website will help you to build a quit plan that works for you.
Who to talk to
Talk to a Stop Smoking London adviser about e-cigarettes and other tools to help you quit smoking call 0300 123 1044.
Alternatively, visit the Stop Smoking London website to learn more.
Vaping
Vapes, or e-cigarettes, are devices that enable users to inhale nicotine in vapour, generated by heating a liquid (e-liquid), rather than smoke.
It is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s; however, data shows that the number of children and young people using vapes is rising. It is also illegal for an adult to purchase them for someone who is under-18.
Quit vaping
Quitting can be tough, but there is a range of support available. For example, the Smokefree Teen website will help you to build a quit plan that works for you.
Who to talk to
Talk to a Stop Smoking London adviser about e-cigarettes and other tools to help you quit smoking call 0300 123 1044.
Alternatively, visit the Stop Smoking London website to learn more.