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Drink and Drugs: My Story

Eight young people describe how their lives dramatically changed through their involvement with alcohol and other drugs.

The science of how alcohol and other drugs affect the body is explored through eight real-life stories, highlighting how behaviour can change dramatically as a result of drinking alcohol or taking other drugs.

At 14, Alan's drinking boosted his self-confidence, leading him to challenge a group of lads who were insulting his friend. They threw Alan into a bus shelter, shattering his collarbone. Anna, now 17, fell out with her friends after drunkenly kissing her best friend's ex-boyfriend at a party. Eighteen-year-old Jordan drank over half a bottle of neat brandy just to look cool - and nearly killed himself as a consequence. Emily, now 17, was so drunk after leaving a bar that she agreed to the offer of help to find a taxi from a guy she barely knew, with devastating consequences.

At 13, Jade was introduced to cannabis by her boyfriend, and she was soon smoking the drug every day. Her life unravelled further when she started to take mephedrone. Increasingly isolated by the drugs, Jade had to confront her lifestyle when her mum found out what she had been doing. Semi-professional footballer Lorne felt pressured to smoke cannabis to fit in with a new bunch of friends at college. But his football career went up in smoke, as within months he was kicked out of his college and his home.

Rose, 17, collapsed at a festival after smoking a legal high given to her by someone she knew. Assuming it was safe because it was legal, Rose ended up being rushed into hospital, drifting in and out of consciousness. Sam first tried cannabis at 12, and by 15 was a regular user of ketamine, a medical anaesthetic. Riddled by kidney pain, Sam's body began to break down under his addiction, threatening his education and his life.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 17 Jun 2015 04:00

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