After the festivities and overindulgences of December – during which the British population consumed more than 600 million units of alcohol – January is a time to set resolutions to live healthier and happier lifestyles

Alcohol Concern’s Dry January and Cancer Research’s Dryathalon are two examples of high-profile campaigns that jump aboard January’s growing ‘No Alcohol’ trend, challenging people to give up alcohol for a month, while raising funds for a charity.

Of course, these campaigns can be great ways to encourage people to adopt health-conscious lifestyles, but we all know this is no substitute for a detox and that the slow and steady method of cutting back substances over several months can be considerably more beneficial to your health.

Whether its alcohol or drugs, if you, a family member or a friend are thinking about controlling or cutting back the amount you use and would like free and confidential support, please get in touch with Bristol Drugs Project (BDP). BDP have been supporting the people of Bristol around their alcohol or drug use for over 25 years, working to help people reduce the harm they can cause to themselves.

If you would like free and confidential advice and information for yourself or someone else, please contact BDP on 0117 987 6000 or visit www.bdp.org.uk

BDP have put together some advice to help you enjoy yourself in the new year:

• Take your time: Start drinking later in the day or plan to finish earlier. Pace yourself, let others finish their drink first and avoid drinking in rounds
• Take a break: Replace some of your drinks with non-alcoholic or low alcohol drinks. Remember to keep a supply of non-alcoholic drinks at home 
• Beware of mixing: Mixing drugs with drink is a risky recipe and can cut your night short
• Cocaine: Mixing with alcohol creates the substance Cocaethylene which is toxic in the liver, raises blood pressure and increases chance of seizures, heart attacks and strokes
• Benzos: Mixing with alcohol can cause breathing problems and overdose. Avoid repeated use, as they are highly addictive. They also take a long time to come off and are dangerous to stop suddenly. Always have someone look out for you, as they can make you confused, forgetful and drowsy, leaving you vulnerable
• Wait to feel the effects: If you choose to use drugs, always give them time to work before re-dosing. The only ‘safe’ dose is none at all
• Ecstasy: Over the past 10 years the average strength of ecstasy has greatly increased. If taking ecstasy, start with half a pill. Avoid re-dosing and mixing with other drugs or alcohol
• GHB/GBL: If you don’t know the concentration of your liquid G, be extremely careful. There is no way, without testing, to determine its strength. Avoid frequent use as dependency can occur quickly
• Ketamine: Can often be mistaken or cut with MXE (which is approximately eight times stronger) causing panic, anxiety and short-term paralysis. Avoid sharing tubes or using notes to reduce the risks of blood borne viruses
• Legal highs: It’s impossible to know what’s in a ‘legal high’ before you buy it, so avoid mixing with alcohol. Many contain banned substances and have not been tested. They can have completely different effects, ranging from stimulating, sedating or causing hallucinations
• Remember to eat: It’s a bad idea to drink on an empty stomach. There are always plenty of leftovers in the fridge over Christmas; don’t let them go to waste
• Limit your cash: Decide the amount of money you will take out on a night and leave your cards at home. Always make sure you’ve got enough for a taxi or book one ahead
• Resist a refill: Keep track of how many you’ve had by only topping-up your glass when it’s empty
• Keep hydrated: If taking drugs, sip about one pint per hour of water or fruit juices. Drinking too much can lead to its own problems so take it slowly
• Look after your mates: Know what your friends have taken and let them know what you’ve had. If there is a problem, don’t delay getting help
• Never let friends go off with strangers or in unmarked taxis and keep your drinks on you at all times
• Avoid driving: Alcohol, drugs and wheels can be a lethal combination
• Keep your energy up if hung-over: Avoid the ‘hair of the dog’ as more alcohol will always make you feel worse in the long run. Choose a snack to raise blood sugar levels and drink water to help get rid of that headache