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Mixing energy drinks and booze a concern By Christina Commisso METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP One of the most highly used drugs among Ontario youths could very well be sitting in your kitchen fridge. For the first time, high-caffeine energy drinks have been included in the 2011 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey and in its debut year it placed second as the most commonly used drug, following only alcohol. "The biggest concern is mixing these drinks with alcohol and binge drinking," said Halton's Medical Officer of Health Bob Nosal, during a recent regional committee meeting. A report presented to council last week shows 50 per cent of Ontario students reported having consumed an energy drink in the last year, and 19 per cent consumed one in the seven days before the survey. While there are no restrictions on labelling the energy drinks, health concerns among health professionals are on the rise. According to the report, a single energy drink when mixed with alcohol will decrease someone's perceptions of feeling drunk, which tends to lead to more drinking and increase the chances of alcohol poisoning. The report compared the results from the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey to the 2009 Halton Youth Survey (HYS). The province-wide survey shows the decade-long trend of declining drug and alcohol use rates continues. Comparing the 2011 Ontario survey with the 2009 HSY, the results show local Grade 10 students are reporting higher alcohol, binge drinking, opioid, cigarette and tobacco use than the current Ontario average. Twenty-four per cent of Ontario youths surveyed report 3 · Thursday, April 5, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com "The biggest concern is mixing these drinks with alcohol and binge drinking." Dr. Robert Nosal, Medical Officer of Health, Halton Region Inside Opinion............................................6 Health.............................................21 Beaver Trails...................................22 Sports.............................................24 Classified........................................28 Full Delivery: Pharma, Freshco, Food Basics, Metro, KIA, Jenkins Agency, Linen Chest, West Oak Medical, CF Real Estate Ontario, National Home, Active Green & Ross, JYSK, The Bay, Holland Park Garden, Sobeys, Total Landscaping Partial Delivery: Superstore, Red Plum, Superstore, No Frills, Future Shop, Best Buy, The Brick, Canadian Tire, Fortinos, Home Outfitters, Loblaws, Part Source, Sears, Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Zellers, Pharma Save binge drinking -- having five or more drinks on one occasion in the last four weeks. This number is down from 26 per cent two years prior. The 2009 HYS shows 30 per cent of local Grade 10 students reported binge drinking in the last year. The Our Kids Network plans to update the HYS later this year, which will show if Halton is following suit with the rest of the province and drug and alco- hol levels are dropping. However, opioid use is already on the radar of Halton's health practitioners. The number of occasions where youths between the ages of 16 and 19 have requested needles for IV injections in Halton more than doubled in 2011 to 60 and the number of needles distributed to this age group went from 1,155 in 2010 to 3,927 in 2011, an increase of 340 per cent. According to a regional update on the needle exchange program, most of these youths are injecting prescription opiates, such as OxyContin, Dilaudid and Percocet. "Staff are particularly concerned about the use of opiate drugs by young people because there is a high-risk of fatal overdose, especially in naïve users," states the report. For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 8459742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com Follow Oakville Beaver staff on Twitter @OakvilleBeaver or @NewsHooked @DavidLea6 @DominikKurek @BeaverSports or @Halton_Photog Follow Your Bliss. EMBRACE YOGA APRIL SPECIALS It Fits Your Life EXPRESS CLASS PASS 12 Classes 1 Year Membership Regularly $1300 ( + HST ) 50% OFF NOW ONLY $650 ONLY $90 6am & 12noon 45 min, Mon-Fri Unlimited Classes (Introductory Offer) 30 DAYS FOR $25 Less Than a $1 a Day 131 Kerr Street (at John) 905-845-YOGA (9642) somelikeithot.ca Helping you stay on your path to Wellness · Some Like It Hot Yoga & Wellness Studio