Risks - ALCOHOL and DRUGS

 www.drugscope.org.uk 

This manual is not designed to cover all the potential scenarios; hence the list below is NOT exhaustive. This is a topic that just needs sign posting.  

Please be aware of the confidentiality and the need to disclose policies in this manual (Mentoring Guidelines).

Honest information about drugs | FRANK (talktofrank.com)

SMS 82111 or Phone 0300 1236600 (this is useful to highlight to your mentee if appropriate).

Frank is a website run by the UK Department of Health that gives explicit details on the mental and physical effects of all drugs. You can talk to Talk to Frank via e-mail, msn, phone or even text, and it is all anonymous, so you don’t have to give your real name. Talk to Frank can also give you advice on what to do if you're worried about someone.

Cannabis (skunk)

• Bhang, black, blast, blow, blunts, Bob Hope, bush, dope, draw, ganga, grass, hash, hashish... 
• Class B, this means it is illegal to cultivate, produce, supply or possess the drug. 
• Cannabis is becoming stronger. Certainly, skunk cannabis (a very strong distinctive smell) is very strong and in the undeveloped young person’s brain can have profound effects. 
• Psychologically, use of cannabis has been reported to cause anxiety and paranoia in some users and may in rarer cases be a trigger for underlying mental health problems. 
• A 2008 study commissioned by the Home Office found that the mean THC concentration in England and Wales was 8.4% for herbal cannabis, and 5.9% for cannabis resin. 
• It is becoming increasingly hard to get good quality lower potency pure cannabis; often adulterated or modified and skunk is the easiest to get hold of.

Skunk 

• Strains of high THC plants include skunk, 'super-skunk', 'Northern Lights'. Some are cross-bred plants created in 1990s (the details of which, according to growers, are as closely guarded a secret as the Coca Cola recipe). 
• A gateway drug? It is often suggested the taking of one drug, particularly cannabis, may lead to the use of other drugs. While it is true that most people who use heroin will have previously used cannabis, they are also likely to have smoked tobacco and consumed alcohol. Only a small proportion of those who try cannabis go on to use heroin.
  

Ecstasy

• Brownies, dolphins, doves, E, eckies, Edward, fantasy, love doves, MDMA, MDMA powder, M and Ms, New Yorkers, sweeties, tulips, X, XTC, 3,4, methylenedioxymethamphetamine 
• An illegally manufactured drug that usually comes in tablet or capsule form. Ecstasy can also come in powder form known as ‘MDMA powder’ or crystals. Ecstasy remains a popular drug, particularly among those who are into the clubbing/dance scene. 
•  Ecstasy is a stimulant drug that also has mild hallucinogenic effects. It has been described as being like a mix of amphetamine and a weak form of LSD. The effects of taking a moderate dose start after 20-60 minutes (longer if on a full stomach) and can last for up to several hours. 
• The pupils become dilated, the jaw tightens and there is often brief nausea, sweating, dry mouth and throat. The blood pressure and heart rate increase and loss of appetite is common. 
• Many users experience an initial rushing feeling followed by a combination of feeling energetic and yet calm. Loss of anger, empathy with other people and an enhanced sense of communication are commonly reported. Some users also report a heightened sense of their surroundings, greater appreciation of music and increased sexual and sensual experience. 
• Some users have bad experiences. This may include feeling anxious and panicky, confusion and unpleasant distortion of the senses that may, in some manner or other, last for days, even weeks. This is more likely if users take high doses or are already feeling anxious or unstable.
  

Ketamine

• Green, K, special K, super K, ket, Vitamin K. 
• An anaesthetic with analgesic, stimulant and psychedelic properties. Popular amongst clubbers. Comes as liquid or pills. 
• Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic, meaning users will feel detached from themselves and their immediate surroundings. The drug also has painkilling, stimulant and psychedelic effects. 
• Concerns over the risks of using the drug have been growing in recent years. Repeated or heavy use of ketamine appears to be particularly harmful to the urinary tract and can cause ulcerative cystitis, where the bladder wall thickens. In some cases, individuals have had to have their bladders surgically removed. Frequent use can also cause kidney dysfunction and abdominal pains known as ‘K-cramps’. 
• Frequent use can lead to depression. 

Cocaine/crack cocaine

• Cocaine - coca paste - basuco, cocaine, C, charlie, coke, dust, Gianlucca, gold dust, Percy, lady, snow, toot, white... 
• Crack - base, freebase, gravel, rock, stones, wash 
• Cocaine white powder derived from the leaves of the coca shrub. 
• Powder cocaine can contain as little as 10% actual cocaine. Can be cut with a variety of unpleasant adulterants– e.g. paracetamol, worming tablets, anaesthetic drugs, caffeine 
• Crack cocaine is an intense, short acting drug produced through a process that separates the cocaine base from the hydrochloride, resulting in small rocks of cocaine around the size of a peanut. Unlike the powder equivalent, crack cocaine is often associated with inner city areas suffering from acute social deprivation. 
• Class A - Maximum penalties for possession are 7 years imprisonment plus a fine and for supply life imprisonment plus a fine. 
• Cocaine and crack are strong but short acting stimulant drugs. They tend to make users feel more alert and energetic. Many users say they feel very confident and physically strong and believe they have great mental capacities. 
• Common physical effects include dry mouth, sweating, loss of appetite and increased heart and pulse rate. At higher dose levels users may feel very anxious and panicky. The effects from snorting cocaine can start quickly but only last for up to 30 minutes without repeating the dose. The effects come on even quicker when smoking crack but are not as long lasting. 
• Once the user stops, which can prove very difficult for a regular or chronic user, they will very quickly start to feel tired, panicky, exhausted and unable to sleep, often causing extreme emotional and physical distress. 
• For both crack and cocaine, dependency is not inevitable. Whether people become dependent, and if so how quickly it happens, will vary depending on the individual user's mental state and circumstances. The fact that cocaine and crack are expensive means that people who become dependent may spend vast amounts of money. Those who are not wealthy may find themselves involved in crime or prostitution to fund a habit. 

Steroids

• Anabolic steroids also have a building effect on the body and increase muscle tissue. 
• There are reports of regular users becoming physically violent and sexually abusive, in a fit of so called 'roid rage'. But whether those involved had violent tendencies in the first place is unclear. 
• Liver abnormalities and a rare form of hepatitis. 
• Hypertension - steroids encourage the body to retain water and raise blood pressure. 
• HIV and other infections if users inject and share injecting equipment. 
• Stunted growth in young people. 
• Changes in male reproductive system. Sperm output and quality is reduced and can take 6 months to return to normal. Sex drive may at first increase but then be lowered. Some men have also experienced over-development of their breast tissue. 

Methamphetamines (crystal meth)

• Crystal meth, 'yaba' (ya-ba, ya ba), zip, meth, speed, go-fast, cristy, christal, tina, chalk, crank, shabu, glass, crazy medicine, L.A. 
• Methamphetamine use and its spread is of concern in several countries, particularly in South East Asia (Thailand and Japan), the USA, Australia and the Czech Republic. It is relatively uncommon in the UK although the drug's widespread use abroad and its appearance on the UK dance scene have led to fears of it becoming more popular. 
• Methamphetamine (crystal meth) is a central nervous system stimulant with a high potential for misuse and dependence. A synthetic drug, it is closely related chemically to amphetamine 'speed') but produces greater effects on the central nervous system. 
• It can cause psychiatric problems with symptoms resembling those associated with paranoid schizophrenia, such as paranoia and hallucinations. Methamphetamine induced psychosis can result in homicidal or suicidal thoughts. It is also associated with violent and aggressive behaviour and with acquisitive crime. 
• Drug users who inject the drug are at risk of infection from HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B if they share needles and other injecting paraphernalia. Increased sexual arousal and loss of inhibition increase the likelihood of unsafe sexual practices. 
• Heavy and regular users of the drug may suffer tooth loss and decay, a condition known as 'meth mouth'. There is some scientific debate as to whether this is a direct effect of methamphetamine, a result of the route of administration or other behavioural issues. However, dentists are observing increased incidence of decay and tooth erosion among patients who are methamphetamine users 

Amphetamines

• Speed, sulph, sulphate, uppers, wake ups, billy whizz, whizz, whites, base... 
• Amphetamines are synthetic stimulants. They increase breathing and heart rate, lessen appetite and make the pupils widen. 
• Users tend to feel more alert, energetic, confident and cheerful and less bored or tired. 
• With high doses people often experience a rapid flow of ideas and feel they have increased physical and mental powers. 
• As a street drug, amphetamine usually comes as a white, grey, yellowish or pinky powder or as putty-like substance known as base. The purity of street powders is less than 15 per cent. 

Mephedrone (methedrone, miaow, miaow)

• Meph, m-cat, MCAT, Miaow, miaew, 4-mmc, bubbles, white magic, plant feeder 
• Class B. Little known, often used in conjunction with club drugs 
• Many people who have used mephedrone and similar drugs report that their experiences are similar to taking amphetamines, ecstasy or cocaine, producing a sense of euphoria and wellbeing, with users becoming more alert, confident and talkative. People who have used methylone, which is closely chemically related to ecstasy, particularly report a feeling of empathy with those around them. 
• Some users report heart palpitations, or an irregular or racing heartbeat, which may last for some time after taking the drugs. Users can experience blurred vision, hot flushes and muscle tension, particularly in the jaw and face, and some people report that their fingers and other extremities have taken on a blueish pallor after using mephedrone. As with other stimulants, the substances tend to act as appetite suppressants. Nausea and vomiting have been reported, particularly if mixed with other drugs such as alcohol or cannabis.
   

Magic Mushrooms

• Liberties, magics, mushies, liberty cap, Psilocybe semilanceata, psilocybin, shrooms, Amanita muscaria, fly agaric 
• Use of magic mushrooms for pleasure in the UK appears to have developed in the late 1970s as a legal alternative to LSD. Fly agaric use is still rare but use of liberty caps has become quite common, especially amongst teenagers. These are hallucinogenic mushrooms that grow wild in many parts of the world and the UK in autumn. The main type used is the liberty cap (Psilocybe semilanceata) but fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is also sometimes used. 
• Magic mushrooms (except Fly Agaric) are usually eaten raw but are also dried out and stored for later use. They can also be cooked into food or made into a tea or infusion and drunk. 20 - 30 liberty caps would be regarded as a full dose, but only one or part of a Fly Agaric would be required. 
• A bad trip can be very frightening and may include fear, anxiety and paranoia. This is more likely with high doses and where the user already feels anxious. People who experience a bad trip can usually be calmed by others reassuring them. Like LSD flashbacks can be experienced some time later. This is when people re-experience part of a trip and it can be frightening, especially if they do not know it can happen. After a time, these almost invariably fade of their own accord. 
• The greatest risk is picking the wrong type of mushroom and being poisoned. Eating some varieties especially Amanita Phalloides and Amanita Virosa could be fatal. 

Legal Highs

• Substances that mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as ecstasy and speed but are not controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act. 
• Methoxetamine - chemically similar to ketamine. 
• Herbal ecstasy - has until recently been sold freely at dance events, clubs, concerts and festivals. It contains various herbs and extracts that are claimed to be hallucinogenic and/or stimulants.
  

Heroin (and other opiates e.g. codeine and over the counter painkillers) 

• Boy, brown, china white, dragon, gear, H, horse, junk, skag, smack... 
• Heroin (medical name diamorphine) is one of a group of drugs called 'opiates' which are derived from the opium poppy. 
• Opium is the dried milk of the opium poppy. It contains morphineand codeine, both effective painkillers. Heroin is made from morphine and in its pure form is a white powder. 
• Today street heroin usually comes as an off white or brown powder. 
• Heroin can be smoked snorted or prepared for injection 
• Heroin and other opiates are sedative drugs that depress the nervous system. They slow down body functioning and are able to combat both physical and emotional pain. The effect is usually to give a feeling of warmth, relaxation and detachment with a lessening of anxiety. Effects start quickly and can last several hours but this varies with how much is taken and how the drug is taken. 
• Physical dependence can also result from regular use. Withdrawal after regular use can produce unpleasant flu like symptoms and may include aches, tremor, sweating and chills and muscular spasms. These fade after 7- 10 days but feelings of weakness and feeling ill may last longer. Whilst many people do successfully give up long term heroin use, coming off and staying off heroin can be very difficult.
  

Nitrites

• Amyl, butyl, hardware, liquid gold, locker room, poppers, ram, rock hard, rush, snapper, stag, stud, thrust, TNT 
• In the UK nitrites are usually sold as a gold coloured liquid in a small bottle. 
• There are many different brand names, such as THT and liquid gold. The liquid is inhaled either straight from the bottle or from a cloth. 
• Nitrites have now become more widely used than just in the gay community, especially among teenagers. A recent survey of 16 year olds in the North West of England found that over 20% of them claimed to have used nitrites. Nitrites have become popular in the dance/ rave scene either used by on their own or in combination with other drugs. 
• The effects start soon after inhalation but only last for a few minutes. People experience a 'rush' as heartbeat quickens and blood rushes to the head. A pounding headache, dizziness, nausea, a slowed down sense of time, a flushed face and neck and a feeling of light headedness are commonly reported effects. People using nitrites for sexual pleasure often report a prolonged sensation of orgasm and prevention of premature ejaculation, although some men have also reported problems achieving an erection. Nitrites also relax the anal muscles making anal intercourse easier. The fact that some people use nitrites for sexual pleasure may make it more difficult to practice safer sex whilst high.
  

Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)  

• Nitrous oxide is a volatile substance that is a gas at room temperature. It belongs to a group of drugs that kills pain. 
• Nitrous oxide has many legitimate uses but some people misuse it because when inhaled it can make people feel euphoric and relaxed. This happy feeling has led to it being nicknamed ‘laughing gas’. Some people have also experienced hallucinations. However, unconsciousness or death from lack of oxygen can occur when using nitrous oxide. The risk is greater if the gas is consumed in an enclosed space or if a plastic bag is used that covers both nose and mouth. Nitrous oxide can sometimes be sold to recreational users in balloons. 
• Volatile substances like nitrous oxide are depressant-type drugs, which means that they slow down your brain and your body’s responses. 
• The effects of nitrous oxide vary depending on how much has been inhaled but they include: feelings of euphoria, relaxation and calmness; dizziness, difficulty in thinking straight and fits of giggles/laughter; sound distortions or even hallucinations; in some people, a headache can be an unwanted immediate effect.