Drugs and Alcohol

When I go to parties with my friends, I feel like my friends are going to think I'm a real loser if I don't drink beer with them. Every time I've had something to drink, I've had seizures the next day. I don't know what to do.
Actually, you do know what to do, or at least, what you need to do. It's just hard to make the commitment to doing it.

Here's the thing: if your friends are truly friends, they probably know you have epilepsy and understand what you go through when you have a seizure. Although your friends would probably love it if you could join them in a beer or two at a party, they'll understand that if you do so, you're really putting your health at risk. You face risks they don't. And while we're talking about risks, remember, whether you have epilepsy or not, in the United States it's illegal for young adults under the age of 21 to drink beer or any kind of alcohol.

What about other drugs?
Drugs like cocaine, heroin, crack, ecstasy and speed all affect the nervous system. When you have epilepsy, you are really asking for trouble if you use drugs like these.

For more than 20 years, there has been a serious effort in this country to publicize the dangers of these drugs to the general population. It should come as no surprise then, that these drugs are even more dangerous for someone with a neurological disorder such as epilepsy.

Still, peer pressure can be a powerful thing. If you're feeling a lot of pressure to use drugs, talk to someone you trust – a friend, a sibling, a counselor, or if you can, a parent or other relative – and let them know what you're going through and ask what they think. Hopefully, they'll help you find your way.

Does smoking pot increase the chances of having a seizure?
Some doctors say yes, some say no. But who needs that kind of uncertainty? The risk is there. Even if it wasn't, everyone knows that smoking anything is bad for your health and smoking something illegal can really mess up your life in so many ways.

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