Alcohol

While the proportion of young people who are drinking has declined in recent years, those who do drink are consuming more alcohol, more often. High levels of alcohol consumption are associated with a range of high-risk behaviours including unprotected sex and offending

It is a myth that Alcohol only becomes a problem past 18!

Thankfully, times and views are changing and society is having to accept that there cannot be any one stereotypical image, lifestyle or social economic group that are more likely to have issues with alcohol.
 
The perception of a person who has issues with alcohol has long been the image of a person sat on a park bench drinking out of a brown paper bag.
 
There is scientific proof that activities that are regularly undertaken before the age of 21 will become a habit more easily than those undertaken post 21 years, due to the way to brain develops.
 
In the recent Positive Futures survey it revealed that 15% of young people were drinking in excess of safe drinking levels.
 
It is this group of young people, who are drinking to excess, who are more likely to not only have short term issues with alcohol but could also be causing long term problems for themselves in a range of areas such as physical, mental and social health.
 
Recently Teen Life Check has placed a quick and easy online questionnaire on their web site, which gives instant feedback about teen lifestyle and health. This can be found at www.teenlifecheck.co.uk
 
Additional information:
In control?
Legal stuff
Alcohol Project Worker
 
If when thinking about alcohol usage it becomes apparent that there could be issues, there are places with in Portsmouth City that can offer support and advice. At this point it would be wrong not to also add that the alcohol issue may not be about personal use it may well be a situation where someone else's alcohol usage is of issue for you. Whatever the case may be the following places will be able to offer guidance and support with alcohol issues:
 

• E's up [Substance Misuse Service for young people]
  Telephone No: 023 9282 5140
  Website: www.es-up.org.uk
• FRANK [Information & advice on drugs and alcohol]
  Telephone No: 0800 776600
  Website: www.talktofrank.co.uk
• Advice & support for children of problem drinkers.
  Website: www.nacoa.org.uk
  Help line no: 0800 3583456.
• Off the Record. A free, confidential support service for 11-25s offering counselling, information and befriending to any young person in difficulty or needing help with any issue.
  Telephone No: 023 9281 5322.
• SORTED? Lists of health services for young people in the city.
  Website: www.areyousorted.co.uk

 
Also in this section
Substance Misuse
Schools Drug Education Team
Smoking
Smoke Free Portsmouth