Category: Health & Safety

⚡ Using Alcohol, Cannabis & Other Substances Safely

Alcohol, cannabis, prescription medication, and other substances can affect your judgment, coordination, memory, breathing, and ability to recognize danger. The safest choice is not to use illegal, unregulated, or non-prescribed substances. If you choose to use alcohol or cannabis, a few precautions can reduce—but not eliminate—the risk of injury, poisoning, overdose, and unsafe decisions.

Before Using Any Substance

Know what you are taking and how much.
Read labels and check serving sizes.
Ask a pharmacist about medication interactions.
Do not use medication prescribed to someone else.
Avoid loose or unmarked pills.
Do not combine substances.
Arrange safe transportation in advance.
Make sure children and pets cannot access the product.
Do not use when you are responsible for supervising someone else.

Avoid Dangerous Combinations

Never combine opioids, benzodiazepines, sleep medication, or other sedatives with alcohol unless a healthcare professional has specifically confirmed that it is safe.

Mixing these substances can cause:

Extreme sleepiness
Loss of coordination
Unconsciousness
Slowed or stopped breathing
Coma
Death

Alcohol and cannabis together can also cause greater impairment than either one alone.

Use Alcohol More Safely

If you choose to drink:

Decide your limit before you begin.
Drink slowly.
Eat before and while drinking.
Alternate alcohol with water.
Do not participate in drinking games.
Keep your drink with you.
Stop when you begin feeling impaired.
Never drive afterward.

A large glass, strong beer, or mixed drink may contain more than one standard serving. Coffee, cold showers, and fresh air do not quickly sober someone up.

Use Cannabis More Safely

If cannabis is legal where you live and you choose to use it:

Read the label carefully.
Check the amount of THC per serving.
Be cautious with high-strength products.
Do not mix cannabis with alcohol.
Do not drive or operate equipment.
Use only in a safe environment.
Keep products in their original packaging.

Cannabis edibles may take up to two hours to produce their full effects. Taking more too soon can cause severe anxiety, confusion, paranoia, vomiting, or accidental injury.

Never Drive While Impaired

Do not drive, bike in traffic, cook, swim alone, climb a ladder, or operate machinery after using an impairing substance.

Arrange:

A sober designated driver
Public transportation
A taxi or rideshare
A safe place to stay
Help from someone you trust

Feeling “fine” does not mean you can drive safely.

Keep Naloxone Available When Opioids May Be Present

Naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Keep it available if you or someone around you uses prescription opioids, heroin, fentanyl, or pills that did not come from a licensed pharmacy.

Make sure other people know:

Where naloxone is stored
How to use it
How to recognize an overdose
That they must still call 911

Recognize an Opioid Overdose

Possible signs include:

The person cannot be awakened.
Breathing is slow, irregular, or stopped.
The person makes choking, gurgling, or unusual snoring sounds.
Lips or fingernails appear blue, gray, or very pale.
The body is limp.
Pupils are extremely small.

If an overdose is possible:

Call 911.
Give naloxone.
Begin CPR or rescue breathing according to your training and the dispatcher’s instructions.
Give another naloxone dose after the recommended interval if needed.
Stay with the person until help arrives.

Do not allow an unconscious person to “sleep it off.”

Recognize Alcohol Poisoning

Call 911 if someone who has been drinking:

Cannot be awakened
Is vomiting repeatedly
Has a seizure
Is breathing slowly or irregularly
Has blue, gray, pale, or clammy skin
Cannot sit or stand
Has a possible head injury
May have combined alcohol with medication or drugs

If the person is breathing but unconscious, place them on their side and monitor their breathing. Do not give coffee, put them in a shower, or force them to walk.

When to Get Help

Consider talking with a doctor or treatment professional if you:

Regularly use more than you intended.
Have tried unsuccessfully to cut back.
Experience withdrawal.
Hide or lie about your use.
Have blackouts or memory gaps.
Miss responsibilities.
Continue despite health or relationship problems.
Use substances in dangerous situations.
Feel unable to cope without using.
Have experienced an overdose.

Do not suddenly stop heavy, regular alcohol or benzodiazepine use without medical guidance. Withdrawal can cause seizures, hallucinations, severe confusion, and other life-threatening complications.

For treatment referrals, visit FindTreatment.gov or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

For a substance-use or emotional crisis, call or text 988. Call 911 for an overdose, unconsciousness, severe withdrawal symptoms, or another immediate emergency.

Quick Safety Checklist

Know what you are taking.
Never share prescription medication.
Avoid mixing substances.
Check medication interactions.
Do not drive while impaired.
Store everything securely.
Keep naloxone available when opioids may be present.
Call 911 when an overdose is suspected.
Ask for help when substance use becomes difficult to control.

Suggested Guides

Important Health & Safety Notice

The information in this guide is provided for general educational purposes only. Independence Answers is not a medical provider, and this content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or supervision. Always follow the instructions of your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare professional, especially if you have a medical condition, take medication, or are unsure whether an action is safe for you.

Do not ignore or delay seeking professional care because of something you read here. If you believe someone may be experiencing a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Helpful Resources: Browse Safe Storage for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.