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Stop Smoking - Smoking and the Youth
Smoking, drinking and using drugs
Last updated: Tuesday, September 21, 2004

David used quite a lot of cocaine when he was in his early twenties, but has kicked the habit after two stints in rehab. Mike likes a few drinks at night, but quit smoking when the twins were born. Margot likes the odd cigarette, but hates it when she has to inhale other people’s smoke.

 
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Things to remember

  • Although smoking, drinking and drugging could be quite acceptable in certain social circles, it should not be forgotten that alcohol, nicotine and mind-altering drugs are harmful substances.
  • SANCA (South African National Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse) recommends that adult women should not have more than 2 units of alcohol per day and men 4.
  • Smoking simply has no benefits for you or those around you. All it does is feed your nicotine addiction and dirty the air for everyone around you.
  • Drugs are illegal, so there’s no control over what dealers and merchants put into them. A number of people have died in this way after unwittingly taking rat poison or other extremely harmful substances.
  • Apart from being expensive, drugs can also seriously impact on your ability to lead a productive and meaningful life.
  • Smoking too much, drinking too much and taking drugs can all three lead to death, sometimes in the most undignified and protracted ways.
  • ‘Actually, it only takes one drink to get me drunk. The trouble is, I can’t remember if it’s the thirteenth or the fourteenth.” George Burns

    Read more:
    Parents: look out for these drugs
    What are you drinking?


     
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