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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Public Health and Safety>Substance Use |
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How much is too much alcohol?
- Is drinking a glass of wine a day good for my heart?
- Is it okay to mix alcohol & energy drinks?
- At what age should I start talking to my kids about drugs?
- How do I know if my teen is using drugs?
- I'm an adult, it's legal for me to drink. What does it matter if I have a couple of drinks to relax when I come home from work?
- I'm pretty sure some of my teen's friends are smoking marijuana. How do I get a conversation started about substance use with my teen now that the issue is actually close to home?
- How can I keep my teen safe when he/she goes to a party?
- I've read recently about teens using someone else's prescription medication or even over-the-counter drugs to get high. Does that mean I should keep medications locked up, even though my children are no longer small?
How much is too much alcohol?
Knowing and following the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines helps reduce your risk of injury, chronic health problems, and social and family problems related to alcohol.
Knowing and following the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines helps reduce your risk of injury, chronic health problems, and social and family problems related to alcohol.
| A standard drink is: 1 standard drink = 13.6 grams of alcohol = | ||
Wine (12% alcohol) 5 oz = 142 mL  |
Spirits - for example, vodka, rum, whisky (40% alcohol) 1.5 oz = 43 mL  |
Beer (5% alcohol) 12 oz = 341 mL  |
| Coolers and higher alcohol beers have more alcohol than one standard drink. Homemade wine is usually higher than the 12% alcohol content wines from the store. | ||
The guidelines, which are based on research by doctors and scientists, recommend adults who drink:
- Have no more than 2 standard drinks per day
- Have no more than 9 standard drinks per week (for women) and no more than 14 standard drinks per week (for men)
- Have something to eat to help slow down the effects of alcohol by slowing its absorption into the bloodstream. Alcohol will still get into your bloodstream, causing intoxication.
- Drink slowly and alternate with non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice, or soft drinks to avoid intoxication
- Wait at least one hour between drinks
These guidelines are meant for healthy adults who drink and are not appropriate for if you:
- Have health problems, such as liver disease
- Have a family history of cancer or other risk factors for cancer
- Have a family history of drinking problems
- Are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding (for more information, visit Motherisk)
- Are taking prescription drugs — combining medications such as sleeping pills, pain killers, anti-depressants, sedatives, and heart pills with alcohol can result in harmful side effects
- Are responsible for the safety of others at work or at home
Is drinking a glass of wine a day good for my heart?
Research shows that alcohol gives some protection against heart disease by increasing the good cholesterol in the blood. All types of alcohol (wine, beer, spirit) will give this positive effect. Red wine provides extra health benefits because of the antioxidants in the red grapes.
The heart health benefit of alcohol mainly applies to men over 45 years of age and women past menopause. If you currently do not drink alcohol, do not start drinking for heart health. You can reduce your chances of heart disease by not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.
In some cases, drinking two drinks a day over several years has been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to cancer risk. If you choose to drink alcohol for heart health, as little as one drink, every other day, is all you need.
Research shows that alcohol gives some protection against heart disease by increasing the good cholesterol in the blood. All types of alcohol (wine, beer, spirit) will give this positive effect. Red wine provides extra health benefits because of the antioxidants in the red grapes.
The heart health benefit of alcohol mainly applies to men over 45 years of age and women past menopause. If you currently do not drink alcohol, do not start drinking for heart health. You can reduce your chances of heart disease by not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.
In some cases, drinking two drinks a day over several years has been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to cancer risk. If you choose to drink alcohol for heart health, as little as one drink, every other day, is all you need.
Is it okay to mix alcohol & energy drinks?
Never mix energy drinks with alcohol. Caffeine can make people underestimate how intoxicated they are and can make them think they are fine to drive or do other activities which require alertness and coordination. Some people may even feel like they can drink more alcohol. Visit Health Canada for more information on energy drinks.
Never mix energy drinks with alcohol. Caffeine can make people underestimate how intoxicated they are and can make them think they are fine to drive or do other activities which require alertness and coordination. Some people may even feel like they can drink more alcohol. Visit Health Canada for more information on energy drinks.
At what age should I start talking to my kids about drugs?
It's never too early to start the conversation. Substance use is a part of life and getting an initial perspective on drug use from parents will help children start to form their own opinions. Early conversations explaining the chewable vitamin tablet is to help them grow and only Mommy or Daddy can give it to them, can progress to deeper discussions about other substances as your child becomes a pre-teen. Develop the habit of talking with your child regularly on a variety of subjects.
It's never too early to start the conversation. Substance use is a part of life and getting an initial perspective on drug use from parents will help children start to form their own opinions. Early conversations explaining the chewable vitamin tablet is to help them grow and only Mommy or Daddy can give it to them, can progress to deeper discussions about other substances as your child becomes a pre-teen. Develop the habit of talking with your child regularly on a variety of subjects.
How do I know if my teen is using drugs?
There is not one specific sign of drug use. Unexplained physical, mood, or behavioural changes may be signs of experimentation with or regular use of substances. Such changes in your teen are also a normal part of adolescence, so don't jump to conclusions. Hopefully, your family has always had open conversations about a variety of topics which may make it easier to bring up substance use with your teen.
There is not one specific sign of drug use. Unexplained physical, mood, or behavioural changes may be signs of experimentation with or regular use of substances. Such changes in your teen are also a normal part of adolescence, so don't jump to conclusions. Hopefully, your family has always had open conversations about a variety of topics which may make it easier to bring up substance use with your teen.
I'm an adult, it's legal for me to drink. What does it matter if I have a couple of drinks to relax when I come home from work?
Parents are their children's strongest role model and greatest influence. What you do or don't do has a big impact on your teen's decisions about using or not using substances. Be a good example. If you're critical of your teen for using marijuana to relax, you've lost your credibility if he or she has seen you having two drinks before dinner because "you've had a bad day". Your behaviour should be in line with the rules and expectations you have established for your teen.
Parents are their children's strongest role model and greatest influence. What you do or don't do has a big impact on your teen's decisions about using or not using substances. Be a good example. If you're critical of your teen for using marijuana to relax, you've lost your credibility if he or she has seen you having two drinks before dinner because "you've had a bad day". Your behaviour should be in line with the rules and expectations you have established for your teen.
I'm pretty sure some of my teen's friends are smoking marijuana. How do I get a conversation started about substance use with my teen now that the issue is actually close to home?
Parents who are knowledgeable about substances can more easily discuss the topic with their teens. Learn what you can from the internet or library. Scare tactics don't work with teens. Help them understand the importance of being careful about what they put into their bodies, but honestly acknowledge that people use substances for a reason, and one is for the pleasure they get from doing so. Share your concerns about the risks involved with substance use. Listen and try to really hear their views and experiences.
Parents who are knowledgeable about substances can more easily discuss the topic with their teens. Learn what you can from the internet or library. Scare tactics don't work with teens. Help them understand the importance of being careful about what they put into their bodies, but honestly acknowledge that people use substances for a reason, and one is for the pleasure they get from doing so. Share your concerns about the risks involved with substance use. Listen and try to really hear their views and experiences.
How can I keep my teen safe when he/she goes to a party?
You can't prevent your teen from choosing to participate in substance use at parties, but you can give a clear message about where you stand and the reasons for it. Teens are not adults. Set rules — some may be made in consultation with your teen but some may be non-negotiable. Make sure the consequences of broken rules are ones that you can follow through on.
Revise the rules as your teen matures. Asking your teen to come up with a "party safety plan" can help to reassure you. The plan could include having money for a cab if necessary, having a friend watch your drink if go to the washroom, and other strategies you may come up with together.
You can't prevent your teen from choosing to participate in substance use at parties, but you can give a clear message about where you stand and the reasons for it. Teens are not adults. Set rules — some may be made in consultation with your teen but some may be non-negotiable. Make sure the consequences of broken rules are ones that you can follow through on.
Revise the rules as your teen matures. Asking your teen to come up with a "party safety plan" can help to reassure you. The plan could include having money for a cab if necessary, having a friend watch your drink if go to the washroom, and other strategies you may come up with together.
I've read recently about teens using someone else's prescription medication or even over-the-counter drugs to get high. Does that mean I should keep medications locked up, even though my children are no longer small?
It's important to have an open discussion with your children about the harm that can come from improper use of these medications. Just because a doctor prescribed them does not mean they're safe for anyone to take. If you don't want to lock up the medicine cabinet, keep your own prescriptions out of sight and monitor amounts of all others drugs.
It's important to have an open discussion with your children about the harm that can come from improper use of these medications. Just because a doctor prescribed them does not mean they're safe for anyone to take. If you don't want to lock up the medicine cabinet, keep your own prescriptions out of sight and monitor amounts of all others drugs.
For more information, or to speak with a Public Health Nurse, please contact
