Alcohol, narcotics, doping, tobacco and gambling (ANDTG)

Last updated: 15/8-2023

Lifestyle habits are habits that have a considerable impact on our health. Smoking, alcohol and narcotics can contribute to ill health. Gambling can also lead to problems and ill health.

Tobacco contains many toxic substances, including nicotine, which is an addictive substance present in tobacco products. Smoking increases the risk of developing a number of diseases, and causes people to die prematurely. Asthma, cancer, lung disease, cardiovascular disease and ulcers are examples of damage that smoking causes.

Snuff is tobacco that users place under their lip. Snuff can cause damage and disease in your mouth, and may lead to cancer.

Electronic cigarettes have a chamber containing a liquid with different flavourings and chemicals. Nicotine is usually included, but not tobacco. Smoking electronic cigarettes, or vaping (from vapour), can harm your health. There is also a risk that you will switch to smoking tobacco cigarettes.

A water pipe or hookah can be used to smoke flavoured tobacco or a mixture of molasses, additives and sweeteners. Molasses does not contain tobacco or nicotine. Even if the smoke smells and tastes milder than tobacco smoke, it still contains carbon monoxide and carcinogenic substances just like tobacco smoke does.

When you are in the same room as a person who is smoking you are inhaling the smoke too. This is known as passive smoking, and may cause you to develop the same diseases as the active smoker risks developing.

Help is available

Quitting smoking or quitting using snuff brings great health benefits. You can get help via your medical care centre. Medication is also available that may be of considerable help when you want to quit. Ask your doctor's advice about medication. And you can always call the 1177 helpline and get medical advice.

The Quit Smoking Helpline – a website with more information about tobacco, where staff can give you free advice over the phone. Call 020-84 00 00 if you need help to quit smoking or using snuff.

Alcohol has an intoxicating effect and affects your body. It may have a positive effect, making you feel happy and relaxed. Drinking small amounts of alcohol need not be dangerous, but a lot of alcohol is harmful for everyone. Your brain and heart can be damaged by alcohol, and it can increase the risk of certain types of cancers. Drinking alcohol for an extended period of time can lead to depression, anxiety and sleeping problems.

Alcohol can become an addiction. Being addicted to alcohol means having difficulties stopping drinking or drinking less, despite the negative consequences of alcohol. This in turn can mean that a person's job and contact with family and friends are affected.

Help is available

Support is available if you want to change your drinking habits. Seek help and advice at your medical care centre or social services. And you can always call the 1177 helpline and get medical advice.

You can also call the Alcohol Helpline if you are concerned about your own or someone else's drinking habits. Specially trained counsellors will take your call. The call is free and anonymous, meaning that you don't need to say who you are.

You can reach the Alcohol Helpline on 020-844 448.

In Sweden all narcotics are prohibited. Another word that is often used for narcotics is drugs. There are many different types of drugs, including amphetamine, cocaine, heroin and cannabis. Khat is also classified as a narcotic. There are also medical products that are classified as narcotics, and may only be taken according to a doctor's prescription.

Narcotics are addictive. If you use narcotics it will often be difficult to stop using them. The risk of becoming addicted is greater if you use the drug often or in large quantities. If you do become addicted, this will often lead to medical as well as social problems.

Doping involves the abuse of drugs that increase the strength and volume of muscles. Doping is prohibited in Sweden. One example of doping is the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). People who use anabolic-androgenic steroids often experience bad side effects such as severe acne, mood swings, impotence, fertility problems, and serious cardiovascular conditions.

Help is available

Most people who are addicted to drugs need professional help from staff in addiction care within the medical care or social services. You can always call the 1177 helpline and get medical advice.

The church and certain charities can also provide support and help in some locations.

The Cannabis Helpline is a website that provides professional support and treatment for people who want stop using cannabis, as well as support to family members.

The Doping Helpline can provide help and support if you are using anabolic-androgenic steroids. You can also contact the Doping Helpline if you are worried about someone else's use of doping. You can make an anonymous call to the Doping Helpline on 020-546 987. Calling anonymously means you don't have to say who you are.

If you have a gambling problem this means that you have difficulties controlling how much money and time you devote to gambling. A gambling problem can harm your relationships, finances and health. The problem impacts the person who gambles too much, but also their families, friends and society at large.

Too much gambling can lead to mental ill health, including anxiety, angst, depression and suicidal thoughts. Gambling problems have financial consequences. People with gambling problems have difficulties paying bills, default on payments, and often accumulate considerable debt.

Help is available

Do you have gambling problems, or does someone you know? If you want to change your gambling habits you can seek help at your medical care centre or the social services. And you can always call the 1177 helpline and get medical advice.

The Support Line is a website offering support to people with a gambling problem. The family of someone with a gambling problem can also get help through the Support Line. You can call the Support Line anonymously on 020-819 100 and get support. Calling anonymously means that you don't have to say who you are.

On the Spelpaus.se website you can block yourself from all gambling that requires registration with gambling companies licensed to operate in Sweden.