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The Christmas party season
is here and all the boozy celebrations can mean that people get
carried away.
Last year, a survey
of party-goers on talktofrank.com
found that, of those who said they were planning to take drugs on
New Years Eve, 43% said they'd be mixing different drugs and alcohol.
Darren Hall, FRANK spokesperson,
said
"Christmas and New Year
celebrating can lead people to take things too far, drinking more
than they normally would, or mixing alcohol and drugs which is never
a good idea.
"This season can also
put a lot of pressure on relationships and sometimes escaping from
family problems can lead people to overdo it."
"For many people, Christmas
and New Year are the biggest party nights of the year. Taking things
to excess can mean things get messy, and no-one wants to spend their
holiday ill or in trouble, or paranoid because they can't remember
what they got up to.
"Bearing in mind a few
common sense tips can help people to enjoy the party season safely
and enter into the New Year with a clearer head and fun memories.
Knowing the warning signs to watch out for, and what to do when
things get out of hand, can help prevent that party high turning
into an all-time low."
TOP TIPS FOR STAYING
SAFE
Getting there and back
- Plan your journey
to and from home.
- Avoid going to a club,
pub or party alone.
- Don't risk travelling
with a driver who you think may be drunk or on drugs
- Make sure somebody
knows where you are going and what time you will be home.
- Always carry your
bag close to you with the clasp facing inwards. Keep your house
keys in your pocket and if someone grabs your bag let it go. Remember
to keep hold of your bags in restaurants and pubs.
- If you think someone
is following you, check by crossing the street - more than once
if necessary - to see if they follow. If you are still worried,
get to the nearest place where there are other people - a pub
or anywhere with a lot of lights on - and call the police.
- Consider carefully
whether to leave a pub, club or party with somebody you have just
met.
- Don't take short-cuts
through dark alleys, parks or across waste ground. Walk facing
the traffic.
While you are out
- Don't accept a drink
or cigarette from anyone you don't trust, in case it gets spiked
with an illegal substance
- Don't take drinks
from large open containers such as punch bowls.
- Don't share or exchange
drinks.
- If you begin to feel
drunk after only a few drinks, seek help from a trusted friend
or management at the club/pub/ in case you fall ill, have an accident
or end up with people who may not look after you
- If you are taking
drugs, try to make sure you are with friends and tell them exactly
what you have taken in case you run into difficulties. Especially
if they are drugs you haven't tried before or you are mixing them
- Make sure you keep
hydrated, particularly if you are taking dance drugs like ecstasy.
But beware that too much water consumption can be dangerous. Do
not consume more than a pint of non-alcoholic fluid per hour
- When you are out,
keep your phone out of sight. If your phone is stolen or lost,
call your network or 08701 123 123 to get your phone blocked across
every network and help stop mobile phone crime.
Sex under the influence
- Be aware that drinking
alcohol and/or taking drugs can lower your inhibitions and affect
your judgement (not to mention your performance).
- Make sure you carry
condoms with you.
- Never feel pressurised
to have sex if you don't want to.
- If you think you
might get carried away (and do something you later regret), enlist
the support of a trusted friend to help keep your feet on the
ground if you think you are likely to get a bit 'warm and fuzzy'.
For further help or
information please call FRANK on 0800 77 66 00
or visit www.talktofrank.com
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