Di on Safer Partying
Tuesday, 4 April 2006.
Originally from express article 15 February 2006
By Di from Auckland Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS).
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| Keep yourself safe while partying - here are a few tips. |
Of course no use is the safest BUT, if you are going to be imbibing in any substance - be it alcohol or ecstasy - at the HERO Party on the 25th Feb - and you're a smart person, then you'll follow some key tips.
If using party drugs know your source and if possible in advance, find out the strength of the substance (especially GHB). If in doubt, take half – wait for it to come on and if necessary take the other half.
- Eat a large healthy meal before you go out especially if using ‘E’, speed or ‘P’ because you probably won't want to eat once you have snorted or had a burn. You need the energy that only food will give you to party hard without feeling burnt out later, or having a bad comedown.
- Take condoms and lube as anyone could look bonkable when you are intoxicated!
- Put money aside for a cab/telephone - who knows where you will end up and although you love your friends dearly they may not be able to get you home when you need to leave!
- Drink water between drinks (or 600mls an hour if using ecstasy and sweating excessively eg dancing – don’t drink more as it can lead to water intoxication and possible death). Take or buy a sipper bottle.
- When dancing make sure you have breaks to cool down. Dehydration and heat stroke are no fun unless you like: headaches, dizziness, cramps, fainting and collapsing! (not a good look! And a real turn-off)
- Keep an eye on friends and take them to a ‘chill out’ space (or call an ambulance) if needed. It is also a good idea to tell your friends what you are taking, so they know what to do if you start acting strange (well more strange than usual), or in the rare event that medical attention is required.
- GHB & GBL (G, Liquid E, Fantasy) are very easy to overdose on: the same amount needed to give one person a good buzz could be another person’s overdose. Mixing ‘G’ with alcohol can result in overdosing as they are both depressants which means 1+1=5!.
For more information or if you have concerns, contact CADS on 845
1818 or www.cads.org.nz or if you live outside Auckland contact Alcohol
and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797.
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