Be Savvy this summer!

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Summer time is the time of year when friends and family get together, enjoying the sun and where friends gather at summer events.

The Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership wants to help everyone stay safe, have a good time and be free from harm so here are a few important tips to ensure you do!

If you are out and about and the sun is shining and you want to top up your tan, don’t forget to cover up with sun screen and don’t forget to top up with fluids too so you don’t become dehydrated. If you happen to be around or near water always play it safe and avoid any risky behaviours.

It is always a good idea when you are on a night out or going to a festival to agree a meeting point in the event that your party gets split up so that you know where to look for your friends. Ways to keep safe if you are drinking, using drugs or even if you decide to stay sober with your friends is to look after each other. Make sure you all know where everyone is going. If someone feels they want to leave early, make sure they get into a taxi and ask them to ring you when they arrive home. Before you leave the house make sure you have enough money to get home.

Whilst we do not encourage or condone the use of illegal drugs, if someone is going to take any drugs it is safer to start with a small amount, such as a quarter or half tablet and wait at least an hour to gauge the effects before considering taking any more. In recent years, the purity of drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy has increased up to 10 times stronger than 10 years ago, therefore it is difficult for people to know the strength of the drug they plan to take, and indeed what is in it. If you do decide to take any substance and are visiting a large mainland festival, consider accessing the forensic testing sites to ensure the drug is safe and help to reduce your risk of serious harm.

If you do take too many drugs your judgement will be impaired. It is also safer to stick to the amount you have rather than buy more, so for safety reasons you know how much you have taken, and only take drugs in a safe environment.

Polydrug use is when an individual mixes drugs which can increase health and harm risks. Mixing cocaine with amphetamines or ecstasy can put a potentially lethal strain on your heart and it is best to avoid doing so, and using alcohol with these. Mixing different alcohol drinks and drugs can lead to a very bad reaction. If you prefer not to drink or take drugs, that’s good and it’s okay for you to say so and don’t be swayed by peer pressure. Your friends should understand and respect your decision.

If you notice that one of your friends or for that matter anyone who may be on their own and has become unwell through possibly having taken any alcohol or drugs, and you are concerned for them, it is important that you seek help right away and bring them to the attention of stewards or the safe space team. If someone falls unconscious it is vital that you put them in the recovery position (shown below).

With the Scottish Government recommending that men or women should not regularly drink more than 14 units per week – the equivalent of six pints of beer or six glasses of wine or 14 shots of spirits, you should try and keep a tally of how many drinks you have. An easy way to keep track of your alcohol consumption is to visit the Drinkaware website at www.drinkaware.co.uk where you can download the ‘Track and Calculate Units App’ or check out the drinks calculator on the new Scottish Government’s site https://www.count14.scot/ Remember to drink water to keep rehydrated but make sure you don’t take too much as this can also have a negative effect on your health and try to have a meal before you start drinking.

If you are driving, stop and think before you get behind that wheel that you could be risking the safety of yourself and others. Being caught the night before or the morning after can result in a criminal record and even a sentence. Having a drink driving offence on your record could affect your employment opportunities and can have wider implications in your life.

If you just so happen to meet up with someone do take sensible precautions, be sure to look after your sexual health and avoid STIs or unwanted pregnancy. Free condoms and pregnancy testing kits are available from the Health Information & Resources Service based at the Stornoway Health Centre. Emergency contraception is also freely available from all pharmacists and GP practices.

On the day after, let your body recover. Eat plenty food, make sure you sleep, avoid anymore drugs or alcohol and make sure your body is completely free from substances before your get behind the wheel.

Alcohol and drug misuse is a major public health issue and can cause high levels of harm to individuals, their families and relationships and the wider community. If you are worried about your own, a friend or family member’s alcohol or drug use there are a number of online sites as well as local services that can provide information and support, help lines and forums:

Further information can be found on the Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership website – outerhebadp.co.uk or telephone the Alcohol & Drugs Partnership Office on 01851 762022.