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About Alcohol
About Driving While Impaired by Marijuana or Alcohol
About Marijuana
About Methamphetamine
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About Alcohol
What exactly is alcohol?
Alcohol is made by fermenting or distilling grains, fruit or even some kinds of vegetables, and the chemical name for alcohol is "ethyl alcohol" or "ethanol". Alcohol is found in beverages like beer, wine, liqueurs, coolers and hard liquor like rum and vodka.
How does alcohol affect you?
Alcohol enters the bloodstream through the stomach and intestines and is then carried to other parts of the body, and it reaches the brain almost immediately. Alcohol stays in the body until it is broken down by the liver and it eventually leaves the body through your breath, sweat and urine. Because the brain is the body's control centre, alcohol has a dramatic impact on the way we behave. The more alcohol in the bloodstream, the greater the impact. Judgement, inhibitions, reaction time, coordination, vision, speech, balance, walking and even just standing are all affected by alcohol.
What are some of the long-term effects of heavy drinking?
Besides damaging the liver, heart and brain, a person who drinks heavily can suffer from loss of appetite, vitamin deficiencies, stomach ailments, skin problems, sexual problems and memory loss.
How long does alcohol stay in your body?
Drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short amount of time causes your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to rise. It can take up to two hours for the body to get rid of the effects of one drink, so if you have one drink per hour, the alcohol builds up in your blood faster than your body can burn it off - and only time can bring it down again.
What exactly is "blood alcohol concentration"?
Blood alcohol concentration or "BAC" is a measure of how much alcohol a person has had by measuring the percent of alcohol in their blood. Since people sometimes drink faster than their bodies can burn off the alcohol, it builds up in their blood and the BAC is the exact level of this build-up.
Is it dangerous to take other drugs with alcohol?
Yes. Keeping in mind that alcohol is a psychoactive substance, it is important not to mix it with different kinds of drugs. There are many different kinds of drugs, some legal and some illegal, and some can cause serious problems when mixed with alcohol. Tranquillizers and antihistamines are two types of drugs that are legal but are known to be dangerous, and in some cases even fatal, when taken with alcohol.
Does alcohol affect men and women differently?
Yes. If a woman and a man who weigh the same drink the same amount of alcohol, the woman will end up with a higher blood alcohol concentration than the man and she will be more likely to suffer the effects of alcohol.
What happens if you drink when you are pregnant?
Alcohol can damage a developing baby's brain and body and this can result in a condition called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): a disability that affects how a baby looks, thinks, acts and learns. This condition does not go away and can last throughout the person's entire life. Nobody knows how much alcohol is safe to drink while you're pregnant, but it is known that the risk increases with the more you drink. The best advice is this: if you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, you should not drink.
What does "binge drinking" mean?
Binge drinking doesn't necessarily mean someone who drinks over several days and stays drunk the whole time. A more recent definition of binge drinking is a man who has five or more drinks, or a woman who has four or more drinks, all in a single sitting.
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About Driving While Impaired by Marijuana or Alcohol
If a person smokes marijuana and drives a car, is that considered impaired driving?
- It could be. Since marijuana impairs judgement, mental and physical ability, driving is extremely dangerous for someone who is high. Marijuana intoxication can even pose serious safety risks while riding a bicycle, operating machinery or even crossing a busy street.
What does the law say about this?
If the police believe that a person's ability to drive a vehicle is impaired by alcohol or a drug, the Criminal Code of Canada permits them to lay a charge of impaired driving. Also, a person who has a learner's permit or a probationary driver's licence may be forbidden by the province or territory to drive after consuming any alcohol whatsoever: this is called "zero tolerance". Some provinces are now training police officers in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and they will be able to spot people driving while under the influence of marijuana and other drugs.
What is the limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) when driving?
The national legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood and it is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada to drive a vehicle if your BAC exceeds this limit. It is a separate offence to drive while impaired by alcohol or a drug. (Some provinces and territories set lower provincial limits under their traffic legislation)
What are the penalties if someone is convicted of impaired driving?
A person who is convicted will likely get an immediate licence suspension and may be ordered by the provincial or territorial government to install an alcohol-detection device that prevents the car from starting if alcohol is detected. They may also be required to participate in a driver education program, or substance abuse treatment program. They can also expect an expensive fine in a criminal court. If they are repeat offenders, they will go to jail. If there is a collision, the insurance of the impaired driver may not cover their vehicle or injuries.
Can you be charged with impaired driving if you have been drinking but your BAC is below the legal limit?
Yes. If the police officer determines that your ability to operate the vehicle is impaired, you can be charged with the offence of impaired driving even if your BAC is below the legal limit.
Can I be charged with impaired driving if I'm on my own property?
Yes. The Criminal Code of Canada applies not only to public roads and highways, but to private property as well.
What is the legal drinking age in Canada?
The minimum legal drinking age is 19 in all provinces and territories except for Alberta, Manitoba and Québec, where it is 18.
Why do teen drivers have the highest crash risk?
Two factors combine to increase the crash risk of teenager drivers: driving inexperience and risk taking. Many young drivers lack a variety of psychomotor, perceptual and judgement skills and some intentionally increase their risk of a collision by trying to impress their friends or thrill-seeking.
How many people are killed in alcohol related crashes each year?
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation estimates that in 2002 (the most recent year for which official statistics are available), 1,055 people died in alcohol related crashes in Canada. (Source:  Alcohol Crash Problem in Canada, 2002) At what time of year do most alcohol related crashes occur?
Contrary to popular opinion, most alcohol related crashes do not occur during the winter months, but in the summer months (June, July and August).
Is the problem of drinking and driving getting worse or better in Canada?
Over the period of 1990 1999, the percentage of fatally-injured drivers who had been drinking prior to the collision declined from a peak of 48% in 1991 92 to a low of about 33% in 1999, but it bounced back up to about 36% in 2000. When it comes to collisions resulting in serious injuries, it is estimated that 19% of the drivers had been drinking. (Source Alcohol Crash Problem in Canada, 2002)
About Marijuana If it's just a plant, what's the big deal? A common belief is that marijuana is harmless because it's natural, but there are lots of examples of plants that, when consumed (smoked or eaten), are harmful - and marijuana is one of them. Tobacco is another one. What are some of the potential health risks of smoking marijuana? Some health risks include respiratory system damage, impaired coordination, balance, and motor skills. Also, marijuana can impair a person's inhibitions and judgement, which can lead to risky behaviour, including unprotected sex. Can a person become addicted to marijuana? Regular or heavy users can become "dependent" on marijuana but the severity of the addiction isn't like alcohol, tobacco or heroin. Dependence means that a person will think that they can't function without the drug, and even though the drug has a negative impact on their life, they continue to use it. When a person does finally quit, they may experience withdrawal symptoms like cramping, irritability and insomnia. Is it true that marijuana is bad for your mental health? Yes. If you have a family history of schizophrenia, marijuana can trigger psychotic episodes. Research also shows that frequent marijuana use is a risk factor for depression and anxiety. Is it safe to get into a car if the driver has been smoking marijuana? No. Marijuana impairs a driver's judgement and coordination so it's definitely NOT safe. Furthermore, it's illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana. Why don't they just test drivers the same way as they do for alcohol? Unlike alcohol and several other substances, marijuana is "fat soluble" as opposed to "water soluble", so traces remain in the body for longer periods of time than with other drugs. Occasional users may have it in their system for a week whereas it can remain in the system for three or four weeks in regular or heavy users. Just because a person has traces of marijuana in their body doesn't necessarily mean that the person is stoned: it simply indicates recent use. What if someone smokes marijuana and drinks at the same time? That person's reflexes and motor skills will become even more affected and the results are far more dangerous than if marijuana or alcohol are used separately. How can you tell if someone is using marijuana? Over the short term, the most obvious signs are the smell on a person's clothes and in their hair, and their eyes will likely be red and bloodshot. Longer-term signs, especially for regular users, include poor grades at school, secretive behaviour and new types of friends. Furthermore, these people tend to stop participating in their normal activities. Isn't it just troublemakers and losers who smoke marijuana? No. There isn't any one type of person that smokes marijuana. How do I know if I have a problem? Here are some common signs: you want to get high before or while you are at school; you spend a lot of money on marijuana; you have trouble remembering things; you end or limit relationships with friends who won't get high; you feel sad or angry when you are not high; you get high alone; you get high in the morning; you stop doing activities that you loved doing in the past; you find that getting high interferes with your obligations at home, work or school; you constantly want to get stoned; or you drive when you're high. I've tried to quit but I can't. What should I do? Trying to stop all at once is very difficult because it takes a tremendous amount of willpower, and some people get discouraged if at first they don't succeed. Others cut down gradually rather than going "cold turkey". Either way, the key is to be 100 percent committed to your goal. If you've tried to quit but weren't successful, try again - and by all means talk to somebody. It's a tough battle and many people aren't successful the first time 'round. There's no shame in trying again and again and again until you finally beat it. Check out these helplines too! Isn't the Canadian government legalizing marijuana? No. Although there has been some public confusion about the legal status of marijuana lately, marijuana is and will always remain illegal. There's only one exception and that concerns people authorized by Health Canada to possess marijuana for medical reasons.
If some people are using marijuana for medical reasons, it must be safe, right?
Not necessarily. Just because some very ill people are authorized by Health Canada to use marijuana doesn't mean that marijuana is harmless. There is a lot about the safety of marijuana that is not yet known. What we do know, is that smoking marijuana can be as or possibly more harmful than smoking tobacco. This is why Health Canada advises even those persons authorized to use it for medical purposes not to use it by smoking the dried plant material. Also because of the concerns about the lack of information about the safety of marijuana, the authorization to use marijuana for medical purposes is given only to patients when their doctor has confirmed that other drugs have not worked or cannot be used by that patient.
Who runs the medical marijuana program?
The Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme at Health Canada coordinates the program. They are responsible for determining who is eligible for an authorization to possess marijuana for medical purposes. The Programme also ensures there is a safe and reliable source of marijuana.
Is Canada the only country with a medical marijuana program?
No. Since September 2003, marijuana has been available for medical purposes in pharmacies in the Netherlands but only when prescribed by a doctor. In the United States, federal law still prohibits marijuana for medical purposes but it has been approved by the following individual states: California, Washington, Washington D.C., Oregon, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Maine, Vermont, Hawaii, Montana and Maryland. Is marijuana an effective medicine? Current scientific evidence has not established its safety and effectiveness. Who is eligible to use marijuana for medical purposes? According to the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR), people with serious illnesses can apply for an "authorization to possess marijuana." This authorization allows them to have marijuana for personal medical use. Under the MMAR, the support of a doctor is necessary as part of the application process.
If I'm authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes, where do I get it?
Holders of an authorization can currently obtain marijuana for medical purposes from three possible sources: they can grow their own supply; they can designate someone else to grow it for them; they can apply for access to the marijuana grown for Health Canada.
About Methamphetamine
What is Methamphetamine?
Meth is a synthetic drug, meaning that it is made from chemical ingredients rather than ones that occur naturally.
Meth and other amphetamines are known as stimulants because they stimulate the body’s central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord; it acts as the control network for the entire body. What happens when people use Meth?
- Immediately after smoking or injecting Meth, there is an intense, extremely pleasurable “rush” or “flash” that lasts a few minutes. This feeling is followed by prolonged euphoria, a feeling of intense happiness that is otherwise known as the “high”.
- People on Meth become alert and attentive. They lose their appetite, they breathe faster, their heart beats faster, and they feel like they have lots of energy. Their body temperature rises and they become very talkative. Depending on various factors, including the amount of Meth taken, the person may also become irritable, confused, anxious and aggressive. They may also develop involuntary, jerky movements.
- Snorting or swallowing Meth creates the high but not the rush. Snorting takes effect within 3-5 minutes and oral use within 15-20 minutes. Depending on the amount taken, the high could last anywhere between 4 and 12 hours - or even longer.
Is Meth similar to cocaine?
Powder cocaine and crack-cocaine, like Meth, are stimulants. Some of the effects are also similar; they all increase stamina, alertness, heart rate, and energy, and create euphoria. However, unlike Meth, the effects of powder cocaine don’t last long, usually about 15 – 30 minutes. Crack lasts even less time, about 5 – 10 minutes. As mentioned earlier, depending on the amount taken, a Meth high could last anywhere between 4 and 12 hours
Is Meth addictive?
Meth is a highly addictive substance with a high potential for abuse. A person who is dependent on it will continue to use it despite the negative impact on their life. With regular use, tolerance develops to the effects of Meth so that users have to take more and more of the drug to experience the same effects. If regular users stop taking Meth, they may experience symptoms of withdrawal which include strong cravings for the drug, irritability, lack of energy, increased appetite, sleep problems and depression. These symptoms usually appear 24 hours after the last use.
What are some of the common ingredients in Meth?
- Pseudoephedrine, often found in cold medication.
- Red phosphorus, which is used to make safety matches, fireworks, and pesticides.
- Hydrochloric acid, an acid so strong that one of its uses is to treat industrial waste and other sludge.
- Anhydrous ammonia, an important source of fertilizer for farm crops
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