At last, it’s October – and the stage is set for Halloween. While this can be an exciting celebration of creativity and candy, it also carries some risk.
Here are some simple and effective tips to help you have a safer Halloween:
- Planning for a safe ride home
- Trying to stick to one substance if you choose to use. Mixing substances, including prescription medications, can have harmful short- and long-term effects as well as increase the risk of overdose.
- Knowing the signs of an overdose and being prepared with naloxone to temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose.
- Staying hydrated before, during and after drinking or using other substances will help to reduce the harmful after effects of substances such as alcohol. Try having one glass of water between every one to two alcoholic beverages.
- Eating a nutritious meal prior to consuming substances.
- Avoiding consuming substances alone.
- Letting your friends and family know where you will be going in advance. Have a plan for how you can contact help if you need it.
- Knowing and setting your limits. Knowing when it is time to stop is key to managing potentially harmful substances. Familiarize yourself with Canada’s guide on alcohol (PDF, 739 KB) for reference on how much and how often is considered safe.
- Remember, consent is crucial. No one deserves or asks to be sexually assaulted, no matter their use of drugs or alcohol. Consent can not be given while high, drunk, or otherwise impaired. Period. Check out this Consensual Sex Guide (PDF, 212 KB), a resource from the Carleton University Sexual Assault Support Centre (CUSASC).
For more harm reduction tips and additional information on specific substances, visit the Carleton Mental Health and Wellness website.
If you plan to host or attend any gatherings, be sure to remain respectful of neighbours by:
- Limiting the number of guests and sticking to the people you know and trust.
- Letting your neighbours know about the gathering in advance and asking if they have any concerns.
- Keeping noise levels low; excessive noise at any time of the day is illegal if it is considered a nuisance by your neighbours and fines can be significant.
- Cleaning up after yourself and refraining from disruptive actions like littering and vandalism.
- Reminding your guests to be considerate of the community.
The responsibility is yours whether you are a guest of the haunted house or are hosting a gathering of ghouls, goblins or witches.
Sunday, October 27, 2024 in Campus Life, News, Wellness
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