Some seasonal tips from the Global Drug Survey 2017

Our friends at the Global Drug Survey 2017 have some festive advice for any of you planning a big Christmas night out. Before hitting the town, you can take part in this year's pharmaceutical who, what, where, how often and for how much? Just click here and spend around 15 minutes completing the confidential online survey which is running until January 10.
Here's what Dr. Adam Winstock and the crew have to say...

NYE can be long party and hopefully one you’ll even remember parts of! GDS does not want people to become part of the statistic we put out every year of the 1-2% of participants who say they have ended up in the emergency department in the last 12 months. Most people who do so have drunk too much, and or taken too many drugs, too quickly. Most of them would have had a better time, avoided the emergency room and probably not ruined the night for their mates as well if they had just taken less, slowed down and not been a muppet.
So to help you have maximum fun with minimum pain and keep you from being a GDS statistic in May 2017 when we release our results, GDS has put together some tips on how to last the night, keep you and your mates happy and avoid ending up in the emergency department.

BEFORE
1. Plan your journey home before you start. Getting home can be a nightmare especially if you don’t know where you will end up. So at least give it some thought and if your plans change - especially if they involved other people - let someone know so they can make other arrangements and are not worrying bout you.

2. Purchase your drugs well ahead of time and know what you’re taking. Most people won’t be using drugs on NYE - yes, really, you’re in a minority! - but if you are, then you are better off using something from a batch (a pill or powder) you have used before. First you’ll know what to expect and how much to take but second you won’t get ripped off by merchants out to peddle crap for a profit on a night where they know last minute calls and requests make easy pickings.

3. Tell your mates what you have and what you’re planning on taking - might mean you should share! If you’re going to take something unusual or different then it might be worth letting your mates know so if you go wonky in the night they know when and if to worry.

DURING

4. The earlier you start, the more likely you are to get trashed too early or use up your fun, drinks or drugs before your night has started. Some venues might not let in you in if you look too battered and, if you're on the pull, you’re more likely to ‘score’ if you look and sound in one piece as opposed to chewing your face off, wiping your nose or sweating like a pig

5. Set a limit on what you are going to use and pace yourself. NYE can be a brutally expensive night and a great excuse for saying fuck the overdraft. NYE is a marathon not a sprint so once you’ve started don’t forget that drugs and alcohol carry on working their magic for hours after you take them and that taking more drugs in a shorter space of time is not usually more fun, and leaves you either tapping off your mates or reaching for your phone.

6. Don’t re-dose too soon no matter what you are using. Drugs and alcohol take time to reach their peak effect. For almost everything you want to avoid taking more when you are peaking. If you do you’re likely to go past the point of being nicely trashed to a place that is less nice. For booze this means slowing down as you get to the place of being as drunk as you want to be. For pills remember it can take 2-3 hours to peak and that even small doses on top of the dose that gets you happy can tip you over. Always leave at least 3 hours between doses and don’t mix pills and powders from different batches

7. Look out for your mates. Friends are trusted, can share good advice and give a shit about you so keep them close. Friends know when someone is in trouble. If a girlfriend is wandering off with someone who you don’t know who worries you – say something. If your mate can’t communicate, is extremely confused and agitated, and/or burning up, it might be a clue something is wrong. If you’re worried then get them somewhere quiet, loosen tight clothing and seek help. Don’t be afraid to call for an ambulance. The police, if they turn up, are only there to protect the emergency teams. They are not there looking for people who might have something on them. Your mates come first. Can’t wake a mate – call for help, put them in the recovery position and stay with them till help arrives.

8. Stay well hydrated by alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and stopping your drinking and anything else at least a few hours before you plan your night to end, so you can get off to sleep naturally as opposed to crashing out. Having a pee before bed and maybe a couple of paracetamol might not be a bad idea either.

9. Have an amazing night (maybe even morning) and hopefully remember most of it to share with everyone afterwards.

AFTER

10. Sleep, eat, smile and hope that Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram have the same memory of the night as you do.