Alcohol
Alcohol is a drug.
True. A drug is any substance, other than food, that is taken to change the way the body or the mind functions. Drugs can occur naturally or can be produced in a lab.
Smoking cannabis interferes with your sense of time and distance.
True. Judging distance and passage of time is difficult under the influence of cannabis. People who drive after using cannabis can misjudge the speed at which they are driving, and the amount of time required for braking.
Smoking causes 80% - 90% of all lung cancers.
True. Researchers estimate that 80% to 90% of all lung cancer is smoking-related.
Playing pool with friends for money isn’t really gambling.
False. This is gambling. Gambling is defined as “the act of risking money, property or something of value on an activity with an uncertain outcome”.
Alcohol is a depressant.
True. Alcohol depresses the brain centres that control behaviour.
Smoking cannabis is less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
False. Similar to tobacco, smoking cannabis can damage your lungs. Second-hand cannabis smoke can be just as harmful as tobacco.
Tobacco smoke contains tar.
True. Tar consists of solid particles from cigarette smoke. It interferes with the normal exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs, and contributes to shortness of breath.
Some features in gambling devices can contribute to the development of a problem.
True. For example, the most powerful and long-lasting learning pattern occurs when a behaviour is reinforced intermittently and unpredictably. Patterns of intermittent winning may lead to irrational beliefs about gambling and winning. Slot machines and VLTs pay out on an intermittent reinforcement schedule.
When a person stops drinking suddenly after drinking heavily, they can get sick.
True. Physical dependence occurs when the body gets used to having alcohol in the system. Withdrawal symptoms (sickness) may happen if drinking is suddenly stopped.
The majority of Alberta youth in grades 7-9 have tried cannabis.
False. Over 90% of Alberta students in grade 7-9 have never tried cannabis.
Electronic smoking products (sometimes called vaping) are a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes.
False. Using electronic smoking products can lead to nicotine addiction, lung problems and risk of injury from battery malfunction. The long term health effects of using electronic smoking products are unknown.
Some video games designed for youth contain elements that are similar to gambling.
True. Some video games are designed to be similar to casino games, motivating players to continue playing by offering frequent rewards and the chance to gamble using virtual or real money, or the acquiring of skills.
If you drink only beer, you wont develop a drinking problem.
False. The form of alcohol makes no difference. The effect of the pure alcohol contained in all alcoholic beverages is the same.
Cannabis can affect your attention, judgment, decision making and ability to learn.
True. Taking anything that changes the way you think, act and feel could have consequences on major life areas. This could include poor performance in school or dropping out of things you enjoy.
Most Alberta Students in grade 7-12 have tried smoking cigarettes.
False. 80% of students in grade 7-12 have never tried a cigarette.
Computers keep track of every game played on licensed VLTs.
True. If there is a complaint by a customer, the computer centre can print out each selection made by the player for the entire game.
Only people who drink every day can become dependent on alcohol.
False. Anyone who drinks can become dependent on alcohol.
Cannabis is not addictive.
False. It can be. Regular use of cannabis at an early age increases your risk of becoming dependent on it.
Tobacco smoke contain approximately 7000 chemicals.
True. Nearly 70 of these chemical are cancer-causing agents called carcinogens.
When a flipped coin comes up heads four times in a row, the next flip will more likely come up tails than heads.
False. There is no relationship between previous outcomes and the next flip of the coin. The coin is just as likely to come up heads as it is to come up tails (50-50 chance). People who gamble often feel they have some control over the outcome, even when they don’t.