Media Guide to Drugs

8/3/2019 Media Guide to Drugs

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Themediaguide TodrugsKy ct n f

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Auser-friendlyr

eference

bookfeaturing:

lAZofd

rugs

lEssential

Q&A

lThelawo

ndrugs

I have despaired over the years about the

hysterical and ill informed way in which

the media, most especially the largest-

selling popular newspapers, report on the

subject of drugs. Journalists are too readyto accept myths and, by passing them on,

contribute to yet further myth-making

by their readers. By reacting emotionally

rather than rationally to the topic, and by

denying reality, newspapers do a disservice

to society. This guide will surely help the

next generation of journalists because it

deals with facts that counter ignorance and

prejudice. I believe it will prove invaluable.

Roy Greenslade, Professor of Journalism at

City University and former editor of The Daily Mirror

Theme

diaguideTodrugs


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CttPublished b:DrugScopePrince Consort House

Suite 204 (Second Floor)

109 111 Farringdon Road

London EC1R 3BW

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.drugscope.org.uk

This publication is also available to download or ree at

www.drugscope.org.uk/mediaguide. Check here or updates.

DrugScope is the national membership organisation or the drug

sector and a leading drug inormation and polic charit. DrugScope

has over 600 members working in the drug sector and related elds

and the organisation draws on the expertise o its members to

develop polic and lobb government.

DrugScope 2011

All rights reserved. No portion o this publication ma be reproduced, stored

or transmitted in an ormat whatsoever without the express permission o the

publisher.

DrugScope would like to acknowledge the advice and assistance

given b Jason Bennetto and colleagues at Cit Universit School

o Journalism and the interviews granted b Pearl Lowe, Phil

Spalding and Tana Franks. The quotes rom service users are b

kind permission o Jo Kneale rom Oxord Brookes Universit whose

two-ear project looking at the process o recover will be published

b DrugScope as The Essential Guide to Recovery. The illustrations

o drugs were kindl provided b TICTAC Communications Ltd

based at St Georges Hospital Medical School.

Thanks to the Brit Trust and ANSVAR Insurance Co Ltd or their

kind support in producing this publication.

Written b Harr Shapiro

Designed b Helen Joubert Design

Printed b The Lavenham Press

n Aout DruSo 1

n

Orw of t UK dru s 5

n T AZ of drus 13

Amphetamine

Aml nitrite

Anabolic steroids

BZP (Benzlpiperazine) 22

Cocaine and crack 28

Ecstas 31

GHB and GBL 34

Heroin 37

Ketamine 40

Khat 43

LSD 45

Magic mushrooms 48

Methamphetamine 51

Mephedrone and other cathinones 54

Methadone 56

Solvents 58

Tranquillisers


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n Rort o dru us 65

Pearl Lowe 72

Phil Spalding 74

Tana Franks 76

Talking to drug users 78

Case stud: the muddle over mephedrone 82

n Dru Q&A 85

General inormation about the eects and risks

o using drugs 87

Drug statistics: how to nd the gures 94

Cannabis: some ke questions 98

Whats the government doing about drugs? 101

n Drus ad t aw 105

What are the issues around legalisation? 111

n Dru tratt 115

The value o treatment 120

n Dru duato ad rto 123

n Rsours 129

Drug terms 131

Common acronms 136

Useul organisations 138

at dscp

DrugScope is the national membership

organisation or proessionals working in

the drugs sector. Our members includepeople working in treatment, primary care,

housing, mental health, criminal justice and

education. We are also the UKs main source o

independent inormation about the misuse o

drugs.

Why is media wrk imrtant t DrugSce and ur

members?

There is much ignorance, misinormation and ear about drugs

and one o our ke tasks is to provide inormation, analsis

and comment which is up to date, based on the best possible

evidence and non-judgemental. This inormation is widel used b

proessionals, academics and researchers, politicians, members o

the general public and especiall b journalists.

Since the mid 1990s, DrugScope has provided a 24/7 on call

service to all media. We are requentl the rst port o call or

comment and inormation, dealing with enquiries on all aspects o

drugs and drug-related issues. On average, we receive over 1,000

media calls ever ear. We also deal with man enquiries rom those

studing to be journalists and consider it ver valuable to work with

student journalists whenever we can. DrugScope issues press

releases, posts comments and inormation on our website and

through our Twitter eed.


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The media guide to drugs

3

About DrugScope

lTodays news is accessible or much longer than it used

to be.

There was a time when print journalism was tomorrows chip paper

and news broadcasts were heard just once and never repeated.

But the advent o newspapers online and listen again options

means that inormation can be available perhaps indenitel and

easil accessible through a Google search. I ou add to that, the

conusing landscape o (oten misinormed and polemical) websites

and citizen journalism then the possibilities or all kinds o wrong

inormation about drugs to circulate endlessl are immense. Now

more than ever, journalists committed to responsible reporting ondrug issues need a reliable reerence point rom which to derive their

inormation.

lThe internet is contributing to an ever more complex

drug scene.

There was a time when several ears might pass beore a new drug

appeared in the UK. Recentl however, the use o GBL, Spice, BZP

and mephedrone in quick succession has received widespread

publicit. The internet allows or the global sale o drug ingredients

(known as precursor chemicals); the drugs themselves (oten

known as legal highs) as well as the platorms or debate and the

exchange o experiences. All o this complicates the reporting o the

UK drug scene.

lJournalism is becoming more pressured than ever

but quality reporting is still essential.

We are ver much aware o the pressures on journalists to produce

cop and the political and editorial constraints the ma be working

within. Even so, it is important that we do challenge the degree to

which people with serious drug problems are stigmatised b the

media. In this Guide, we will explore the reasons behind stigma

and what impact it has.

DrugScope also runs a ree dail online news service on drugs and

alcohol called DS Dail which keeps the eld up to date with all the

news and new reports and publications. Anone can subscribe

online at www.dsdail.org.uk.

Wh shud read this Guide?

Hopeull all journalists will nd this Guide useul whether the

are students, general news correspondents who just need basic

inormation or a stor or more specialist journalists who need to

keep up to date with the latest trends. The Guide is on our website

and will be regularl updated at www.drugscope.org.uk/mediaguide.

Why has DrugSce rduced this Guide?

lThe public get much o their inormation rom the media.

The media continues to be one o the most important sources

o inormation about issues that are outside the publics direct

experience. This is especiall signicant when it comes to a highl

charged and politicised subject like drugs where emotions run high

and the opportunities or stereotping those with serious problems

are legion. An IPSOS-MORI surve rom 2007 showed that among

those people who said the know something about illegal drugs,

most got their inormation rom the media. See the section on

Reporting on Drug Use or more on how the media deal with drug

issues, wh this can be problematic and how we would like to help

make it better.


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There is a common perception that drug use in

the UK is out o control that all young people

take drugs and that drug use and dealing is

rampant across Britains playgrounds. The

acts suggest otherwise, but as with manymisconceptions, there are elements o truth: the

UK regularly eatures at or near the top o any

Euro league o drug use among young people

and it would be ridiculous to categorically deny

that drugs are in circulation in any school.

However, a combination o ocial statistics,

academic research and DrugScopes own

inormation sources on the ground present a

much more mixed and complex picture.


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Overview o the UK drug scene

Hw many ee use drugs?

lO the general adult population aged 1659, around 10 million

people or 30% sa the have ever tried an illegal drug. The gure

drops to around 10% or use in the last ear and just over 5% or

use in the last month.

lFor those aged 1624, the main age group likel to be using drugs

on a more regular basis, over 20% said the had used a drug in the

last month.

lFor those aged 1115, around 22% said the had used a drug at

least once; 15% in the last ear and 8% in the last month.

What hae been the main trends in use in recent

years?

lFor all age groups, cannabis is ar and awa the most popular drug

whether ou are talking about once-in-a-lietime experiment or

regular use. Cannabis use has been alling in recent ears.

lOverall, drug use has either allen or remained stable in the past ten

ears.

lThe onl drug that showed a signicant rise in use in the late 90s

and earl 00s was cocaine powder. Even that seemed to level o,

then took a jump among those aged 1624 or reasons which were

unclear, beore dipping again.

lAter cannabis, cocaine has become the second drug o choice,

leaprogging over amphetamine and ecstas.

lSo-called legal highs (a number o which are now banned, like

mephedrone) have been hitting the headlines. However, while use

appears to be widespread, these drugs have et to gure in ocial

statistics so it is hard to get an idea o exactl how man people are

using them. However, it seems likel that the internet will pla an

increasing role in drug inormation, manuacture and distribution.

Hw much des drug use cst the UK?

The drugs that cause most harm to the individual, amilies and

the wider communit are heroin and crack. These drugs account

or most o the cost o drug treatment and drug enorcement and

are the drugs most likel to generate crime in order to und drug

purchase. Thereore cost estimates are largel based on use and

suppl o these drugs. There have been two studies one or

England and Wales and the other or Scotland. The combined

estimated cost came to nearl 19 bn.

Hw much des the UK send deaing with the

rbem?

The latest data is rom 2008/09. Out o a total labelled spend o

998 million, roughl two-thirds was spent on health and third on

enorcement with a ver small amount (about 0.4% o the budget)

spent on education. However the published gures signicantl

under-estimate the costs o enorcement. This is because the

mone spent on drug enorcement is wrapped up in the overall

budget or tackling organised crime and is thereore hard to tease

out. The Serious Organised Crime Agenc (SOCA) has an annual

budget o around 400m.

Hw many ee hae gt a drug deendency?

It is estimated that there are around 400,000 people in the UK with

a dependenc on heroin and/or crack. O those, around hal are incontact with treatment services.

Hw many ee die because drugs?

In 2009, coroners deemed that the deaths o 2,182 people in

the UK were drug-related. 72% were classed as accidental

poisoning or overdose, 9% were deemed to be suicide while the

exact circumstances o the remaining atalities remained unclear.

Nearl 70% o drug-related deaths (around 1400) involved heroin,

methadone or similar opiate drugs.


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11

Overview o the UK drug scene

B comparison, in 2008, just under 10,000 people died rom

alcohol-related diseases and over 100,000 people died rom

tobacco-related diseases.

Hw many ee cmmit drug ences?

In 2008/09, there were nearl 300,000 recorded drug crimes in the

UK, around 200,000 o which were warnings about possession o

cannabis. The number o cocaine powder oences jumped 24%

rom the previous ear.

Hw many drugs are seized by ice and custms?

The table below shows trends in seizures. The most noticeable

recent trend has been the increase in the number o cannabis plants

seized, due to the number o cannabis arms discovered. Generall,

it is customs who seize the largest amount o drugs in weight, while

the police make the biggest number o individual seizures.

Number seizures Cass A drugs (ice and custms)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Amphetamine Ecstasy-type drugs

Crack cocaineCocaine powderHeroin

2008/092007/082006/07200520042003

Aerage urity ccaine wder seized by custms and ice

2002 2008/09

Source: Home Ofce Statisical bulletins: Seizures o drugs in England and Wales

Stimuant use amng 16 t 59 year ds 1996 t 2009/10

Source: Home Ofce Statistical bulletin:

Drug Misuse Declared: fndings rom the BCS 2009/10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Customs Police

2008/092007/082006/072005200420032002

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

AmphetamineEcstasyCocaine powder

2009

/10

2008

/09

2007

/08

2006

/07

2005

/06

2004

/05

2003

/04

2002

/03

2001

/02

2000

1998

1996


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Market share UK cannabis market

Source: Home Ofce (2008) Cannabis potency study

Number indiiduas in cntact with drug treatment serices

in Engand

0

20

40

60

80

100

Imported herbalHomegrown herbalCannabis resin

20082002

0

62.500

125.000

187.500

250.000

Numbers in treatment

2009

/10

2008

/09

2007

/08

2006

/07

2005

/06

2004

/05

2003

/04

2002

/03

2001

/02

00/01

99/00

98/99

T

aZ


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AmpheTAmine

Common names: speed or whizz (amphetamine)

Where des it cme rm?

Most amphetamine comes rom Europe, especiall Holland.

What des it k ike?

Amphetamine powder varies in colour rom o-white through to pink

or brown depending on what other substances are mixed in with it

Hw ure is it?

Amphetamine is probabl the most impure drug on the market.

Man samples tested are less than 10% pure with the rest made up

with a variet o drug and non-drug powders.

Hw is it used?

Amphetamine is usuall snorted, but some users wrap it up and

swallow it with a drink. A small minorit inject the drug.

Hw many users?

According to the latest gures rom the British Crime Surve around

300,000 people aged 1659 have used amphetamine in the last

ear.

Hw much des it cst?

The average price o amphetamine is 9 per gram.

Hw much d ee use?

Amphetamine is sold in paper wraps o a gram, lasting the average

user around our hours.


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The AZ o Drugs

What are the eects using ?

Amphetamines are stimulants. The drugs give ou energ, boost

condence and keep ou awake which explains their use or

parting, clubbing etc.

What are the risks?

All drugs o this tpe put pressure on the heart and cardiac sstem.

The can cause the heart to race or beat erraticall and the heart

rate and blood pressure to rise. Users run the ultimate risk o heart

attack or stroke. Amphetamines also reduce the appetite and the

need to sleep, which with continued use over weeks or months can

cause signicant health problems. Prolonged use can cause anxiet,paranoid states and pschological dependenc.

Hw many ee die rm using amhetamines?

Amphetamine was implicated in the deaths o 49 people in 2009.

But see important note about drug deaths on page 97 which

applies to all drug death inormation in this Guide.

The aw

Amphetamine is a Class B drug under the Misuse o Drugs Act, but

is Class A i prepared or injection.

A SHORT HISTORy

1927 Amphetamine discovered by a research chemist in

America.

193945 Amphetamine pills given to troops to combat battle

atigue in WW2 and subsequent wars in Korea and Vietnam.

1956 Prime Minister Anthony Eden took amphetamine during

the Suez Crisis.

1950s1960s Thousands o prescriptions written or women

in the 1950s and 1960s who use the drug as a slimming aid.

1964 Possession without a prescription banned in the UK

ater thets rom chemists and actories uel the rst teenage

drug ashion among rival gangs o Mods and Rockers.

1970s Many amphetamines withdrawn rom the market ater

a voluntary ban on prescribing by some GPs.

1970s Illicitly produced amphetamine powder becomes

popular on the UK northern soul dance scene and during the

punk era.

1990s2000s Amphetamine power becomes popular again

during the height o rave culture and continues to be among

the top ve illicitly used drug the UK, although also the most

impure.

Amyl niTRiTe

Common name: Poppers

Where d they cme rm?

Sold in pubs, clubs, bars, sex shops and online.

What d they k ike?

Clear liquids in small bottles sold under brand names like Rush,

Locker Room and Liquid Gold.

Hw ure is it?

No evidence that it is adulterated with other chemicals.

Hw is it used?

The pungent smelling vapours are snied straight rom the bottle or

can be snied rom absorbent material including cloth or the lter o

an unlit cigarette.


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The AZ o Drugs

Hw many users are there?

Over 200,000 people aged 1624 sa the have used the drug in

the last ear, making it the ourth most used drug ater cannabis,

powder cocaine and ecstas. Poppers are popular within the ga

communit.

Hw much des it cst?

Single bottles sell or 2-3.

Hw much d ee use?

Bottle sizes var rom 10ml-30ml. Eects onl last a ew moments,

so exactl how much o a bottle will get used in a session will var.

What are the eects?

The drug was originall used to combat angina because it opens up

blood vessels. This eects means that users will eel fushed, their

heart rate increases and the ma experience dizziness and light

headedness. The drug also relaxes muscles so it is sometimes used

to make anal intercourse less painul.

What are the risks?

Users report serious headaches. Poppers should not be used b

those with an kind o breathing or heart problems, glaucoma. Can

burn skin round mouth when snied.

Hw many ee hae died rm using this drug?

There are no gures available about deaths rom using poppers.

The aw

Not controlled under the Misuse o Drugs Act, so not illegal to

possess or sell.

A SHORT HISTORy

1857 First developed as a treatment or angina. Also used

to treat cyanide poisoning. Eventually sold in glass capsules

where the patient popped the top o the capsule to sni

hence poppers.

1970s Took o as a trendy drug in America was the drug

o choice on the 1972 Rolling Stones tour o the USA where

somebody described the eects as like being hit in the ace

with a brick; increasingly adopted by gay men in mid-late 70s

on the disco/party scene.

1980s Major scare linking popper use to HIV/AIDS through

the development o Kaposis sarcoma, a orm o cancer which

can be an early indication o HIV inection. This theory was

eventually disproved. Poppers were banned in the USA in the

late 1980s.

1990s2000s Long since replaced in medical settings by

other angina drugs, poppers gained in popularity in the UK on

the club scene and among some young people, but remain

outside the Misuse o Drugs Act.

AnAbOlic STeROiDS

Note: not to be confused with corticosteroids which are used in the

treatment of asthma and other conditions.

Common name: roids


Bought and sold online and in gms.

What d they k ike?

Mainl tablets and capsules in dierent shapes and colours, but

some orms are injectable.


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The AZ o Drugs

Hw ure are they?

Man come rom illicit labs and actories in the Far East or Asia

where there is no qualit control. The contents o some packets and

bottles will be exactl the tpe and dosage listed on the packaging.

Others, however, ma bear no relation to the packet and be a

dierent substance or dosage entirel or contain no active drug at

all.

Hw are they used?

Either swallowed or injected. Experienced users will take dierent

sorts o steroid depending on the eects the are looking or (called

stacking) and use dierent drugs in ccles over a number o weekswith rest periods (called ccling).

Hw many users?

The British Crime Surve cites that around 250,000 people have

said the have used steroids at least once, alling to around 75,00

or those who have used in the last ear. Some drug agencies have

reported increasing numbers o people asking needle exchanges or

sterile injecting equipment in the last 5 ears.

Hw much des it cst?

A regular user could spend 500-2500 a ear.

Wh uses sterids?

In general, there are three main categories o user, although some

ma overlap:

lElite athletes sprinter Ben Johnson being one o the more

notorious examples;

lProessional or amateur competition bod builders;

lThose looking to bulk up either because o their job, like securit

guards, club bouncers or construction workers or simpl to build

sel-esteem or a combination o both. This group ma also include

proessional or amateur bod-builders.

What are the eects?

Anabolic steroids are used to pump up muscle either to simpl

become big or to gain an advantage in competitive sport. There is

still debate over whether or not steroids, or example, would make

ou run aster (outside o a proper training regime, supervised diet

etc). There is no doubt that the build muscle strength and enable

an athlete to recover more quickl rom training or injur, which o

itsel potentiall enhances perormance.

What are the risks?

The active ingredient in these drugs is the male hormone

testosterone which occurs naturall in the bod. Thereore taking

steroids can exaggerate phsical and pschological male traits,

rom severe acne and male-pattern baldness through to increased

aggression. Evidence is thin however that steroid use alone can

provoke violent outbursts, known as roid rage, in otherwise placid

individuals. Liestle actors and personalit traits must alwas be

taken into account as well.

The drugs can cause lasting damage to the liver. The presence

o the drug in the bod also prompts the production o emalehormones; hence male testes shrink and man boobs can develop.

Hw many ee hae died using this drug?

No gures available specicall relating to steroids. Note, however,

that a death rom acute liver disease caused b anabolic steroids

ma not necessaril be registered as a drug-related death.

The aw

The suppl o anabolic steroids is controlled under Class C o the

Misuse o Drugs Act, but not possession.

A SHORT HISTORy

1930s First developed or medical use and have been used in

the treatment o muscle-wasting conditions; promotion o bone

growth and anaemia among other conditions.

1950s First appeared in the Olympic Games to enhanceperormance o eld athletes rom the Communist Bloc and the

USA.

1976 Placed on the Olympic banned list o substances.

1980s Out o competition testing introduced.

1988 Ben Johnson tested positive or steroids ater winning

the Olympic 100 metres nal in Seoul.

1996 Supply o anabolic steroids made a Class C drug oence

under the Misuse o Drugs Act.

2009 More steroids added to the list.


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23

The AZ o Drugs

bZp (benZylpipeRAZine)

Common names: Party Pills, Fast Lane, Silver Bullet,Smileys, Happy Pills and many other brand names


BZP (Benzlpiperazine) is a snthetic stimulant derived rom

piperazine, originall developed as a potential anti-depressant drug.

Recreationall, BZP is oten seen as an alternative to ecstas or

amphetamine, although usuall considered to be less potent than

these drugs. BZP pills are marketed under a huge variet o names

and the tablets come in man dierent shapes.

What des it k ike?

It is sold as a tablet, capsule or as an o-white powder.

Hw ure is it?

The chemical composition o substances sold as substitutedbenzlpiperazines are changing all the time.

Hw is it used?

BZP can be swallowed in tablets or crushed up and snied.

Hw many users?

BZP was mentioned in the British Crime Surve or the rst time

in 2010. Around 185,000 people aged 1659 reported using the

substance in the last ear.

Hw much des it cst?

Pills were available or 5 to 10 online.

Hw much d ee use?

Tpicall, users will take one or two tablets in one session.

What are the eects?

The use o BZP has similar eects to other snthetic stimulants

such as ecstas or amphetamines. Users report a sense o euphoria

and increased alertness, enhanced senses and a raised heart rate.

Depending on the dose taken, the eects o the drug can last or up

to 6 8 hours.

What are the risks?

It is not clear exactl what the risks are to health as large scale

studies have not been carried out, but users report a number

o adverse side eects. These include vomiting and nausea,

headache, palpitations, anxiet, strange thoughts, mood swings,conusion and tremors. Some o these eects occurred in the

comedown period while some were experienced or up to 24 hours

ater use. There are reports o users not being able to sleep or up

to ten hours ater taking BZP pills.

More severe adverse eects ma include ts and potentiall lie-

threatening seizures.


Between 200608, BZP has been implicated in 16 deaths.

The aw

BZP and related piperazines were brought under the control o the

Misuse o Drugs Act 1971 as Class C drugs in December 2009.

A SHORT HISTORy

1950s Early research into potential as anti-worming drugs(veterinarian medicine).

1970s Some research carried out into use as anti-

depressants; abandoned because o side eects.

Late 1990s Recreational use took o sharply in New Zealand.

Promoted as a sae alternative to methamphetamine which

was rie in New Zealand and Australia ollowing a heroin

drought.

2000s Began appearing in Europe, marketed (misleadlingly)

as a sae alternative to ecstasy.

2002 Banned in the USA.


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The AZ o Drugs

2006 Victoria is the last State to ban the drug in Australia.

2008 Banned in New Zealand.

2009 Banned in the UK and by now several European

countries as well.

cAnnAbiS, inclUDing SynTheTic

cAnnAbinOiDS (Spice)Common names: Dope, spli, weed, skunk,pu, hash


Currentl about 80% o the cannabis used in this countr is

commerciall home grown in cannabis arms with the rest imported

resin rom North Arica.

Snthetic cannabinoids are chemicals that mimic the eect o

cannabis. These products are most requentl reerred to b one

o the most common brand names, Spice. Spice and similar

products are made up o various herbs mixed with these snthetic

cannabinoids. The are bought in head shops or online.

What des it k ike?

A small amount o herbal cannabis looks like a bundle o

compressed green leaves. Cannabis resin is sold in small brown

lumps that can be crumbled into a joint. Snthetic cannabinoid

products ma resemble herbal cannabis or the ma be more

powder.

Hw ure is it?

Forensic evidence suggests that home grown cannabis is about 2

times stronger than imported resin. There is no orensic evidence

that cannabis is requentl cut with other pschoactive drugs.

In 2007 however, gritweed, cannabis spraed with tin glass

particles, circulated on drug markets in the UK and Europe. The

glass was intended to give the impression o cannabis that was

stick and thereore super strong. Users complained o damage

to throat and lungs. Gritweed appears to have largel disappeared

now.

Hw is it used?

In the UK, cannabis tends to be smoked mixed in with tobacco (in

the States, it is more likel to be smoked on its own). Some people

smoke through a water pipe (hubble-bubble or bong).

Hw many users?

Use o cannabis in the last ear among those aged 1624 stands

at just over a million; double that or the whole 1659 group. Just

under ten million 16 to 59 ear olds have used it in their lietimes.

Hw much des it cst?

Average prices per quarter ounce o standard qualit herbal resin

were 31 in 2009. For good qualit herbal cannabis the price rose

to 40, while or resin cannabis the average price was 21.


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The AZ o Drugs

Hw much d ee use?

Users tend to dene their use in terms o mone spent or weight

bought rather than number o joints or splis smoked per da.

Anbod spending 100 a week or more and smoking a joint or two

ever da or months on end would be regarded as a heav user.

An average single bu would be a 10 bag containing about 3.5

grams o cannabis.

What are the eects?

Apart rom a raised heart rate and eeling hungr (the munchies),

most eects are pschological. Users can eel stoned relaxed

with a sense o time slowing down and a greater awareness osounds, colours etc. Some people might not eel an eects at all.

What are the risks?

The phsical eects o inhaling cannabis can impact the respirator

sstem, leading to oral, throat, and lung cancer. Pschologicall,

use o cannabis has been reported to cause anxiet and paranoia

in some users, and ma in rarer cases be a trigger or underling

mental health problems. Skunk has more pschoactive properties

than resin as it contains higher levels o the active chemicals.

There are some suggestions that Spice has the potential to be more

potent than natural cannabis.


Figures rom 2009, indicate that cannabis was implicated in the

deaths o 26 people, but primaril mixed in with other substances.

The awCannabis and Spice are Class B drugs. First time possession in

England and Wales would probabl result in a warning, then a xed

penalt notice o80. The maximum penalt or possession is ve

ears in prison. There is no warning process in Scotland or Northern

Ireland. The maximum penalt or intent to suppl is 14 ears in

prison.

A SHORT HISTORy

B.C. Cited in ancient texts as both a medicine and religious

sacrament.

19th century Popular pain reliever in child birth.

19th century Seven volume Indian Hemp Commission report

reutes many o the wild claims made about the dangers o the

drug.

1928 First controlled in the UK ollowing claims in the League

o Nations rom Egyptian and South Arican delegates o its

psychoactive properties.

1930 US Federal Bureau o Narcotics established. Director,

Harry Anslinger, dominates thinking about cannabis both in the

States and internationally or the next thirty years.

1960s Beginning o the movement to reorm the cannabis

laws.

1964 Allowing premises to be used or the smoking o

cannabis banned in the UK.

1968 Forerunner o ACMD concluded that the dangers o the

drug did not warrant imprisonment or small amounts. Accused

o being over-infuenced by the lobby or legalisation by then

Home Secretary Jim Callaghan.

1971 Cannabis made a Class B drug under the Misuse o

Drugs Act.

1979 Government rejected ACMD recommendation regrading

cannabis to Class C.

2000 Runciman Report recommended regrading to Class C.

2004 Cannabis regraded to Class C, but Class C supply

penalties now same as Class B.

2009 Cannabis moved back to Class B.


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The AZ o Drugs

cOcAine AnD cRAcK

Common names: Coke, charlie, snow, white, C,Percy, toot


Several thousand tons o cocaine are produced annuall in

Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. The substance will then be tracked

through Panama, Argentina and Brazil beore being shipped to the

US and Europe via the West Indies and Arica.

What des it k ike?

Cocaine is a white powder, while crack cocaine looks like small

white or o coloured lumps.

Hw ure is it?

The latest Forensic Science service results show average purit o

26.4% although samples can all into single gures. Cocaine purithas dropped o considerabl over the last decade.

Hw is it used?

It is cut into lines and snorted through a rolled up note or a straw.

Some people inject. Crack is smoked through a pipe, which might

be something as rudimentar as an empt zz drink can.

Hw many users?

Last ear cocaine powder was estimated to have been used b

nearl 800,000 people aged 1659, and 360,000 1624 ear olds.

Its estimated that there are around 180,000 dependent users o

crack cocaine in England.

Hw much des it cst?

The average UK price is 42 per gram or powder cocaine and

around 10 or a 0.2g rock o crack cocaine.

Hw much d ee use?

The tpical weekend user might sni one-quarter gram or so over

the weekend while more regular users might consume up to one or

two grams a da. Because the eects wear o ver quickl, users

can get through several grams in a relativel short period o time.

What are the eects?

Phsiological arousal accompanied b exhilaration, eelings o

well-being, decreased hunger, indierence to pain and atigue,

and eelings o great phsical strength and mental capacit. The

eects o cocaine last or 15 to 30 minutes while the eects o crack

cocaine last or 5 to 10 minutes.

Large doses or a spree o quickl repeated doses over a period o

hours can lead to an extreme state o agitation, anxiet, paranoia,

and perhaps hallucination. As with amphetamine pschosis, these

eects generall resolve themselves as the drug is eliminated rom

the bod.

What are the risks?

The ater-eects o cocaine use include atigue and depression.

Excessive doses can cause death rom respirator or heart ailure.

Regular users can quickl develop a pschological dependenc.

Though there are no known phsical withdrawal smptoms, there

are suggestions that stopping use can cause sleeplessness, hunger

and depression.

High doses can result in increased bod temperature, extreme

agitation, convulsions and respirator arrest. The risk o overdose

risk is increased i cocaine is mixed with other drugs such as heroin

or depressants such as barbiturates and alcohol.


Figures or 2009 reveal that cocaine and crack were implicated

in 154 deaths, more than an other drug apart rom heroin,

methadone and similar opiate drugs. Overall, cocaine deaths have

been steadil increasing over the ears.

The aw

Cocaine and crack are Class A drugs.


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The AZ o Drugs

A SHORT HISTORy

Ancient history Coca leaves chewed by indigenous

populations in South America to deal with altitude, stave o

hunger and or religious/ceremonial purposes.

19th century Cocaine rst extracted rom coca leaves and

developed or use in various patent medicines to deal with

breathing problems like asthma and as a tonic. Vin Mariani

became a very popular coca wine in Europe. Coca-Cola

originally contained about 3% cocaine.

1916 Exaggerated claims that soldiers on leave were beingsold cocaine by London prostitutes led to control o the drug

under the Deence o the Realm Act.

1920 Non-medical use and supply o cocaine controlled

under the Dangerous Drugs Act, but cocaine could still be

prescribed by doctors to those with a habit (mainly middle

class proessionals).

1920s Cocaine use prevalent among Londons well-to-do at

mass parties reminiscent o the rave scene some sixty years

later.

1930s1960s As medical use o cocaine disappeared

(apart rom some uses as an anaesthetic in dentistry) and

amphetamine became the recreational stimulant o choice,

cocaine supplies dried up.

1968 UK GPs prevented rom prescribing cocaine unless theyhad a licence rom the Home Oce.

1960s1970s Cocaine reappeared as an expensive drug o

choice or the rich and amous in the USA.

1980s Use o cocaine became symbolic o the loads o

money culture o the City o London. Crack rst appeared

in the UK, prompting an ex-US drug enorcement ocer to

predict the collapse o British society inside two years.

1990s The break-up o large Colombian drug cartels created

many more smaller operations seeking new markets outside

the USA. Europe became a target via the link with Spain

and Portugal. Use o cocaine rose dramatically in the late

1990searly 00s as the price ell.

2010 From being regarded as a hard drug in the 1980s,

cocaine use regarded as just another drug on the scene with

ecstasy, amphetamine and other recreational drugs. Price and

purity remain low. Over that time crack established itsel as one

o the main problem drugs in the UK alongside heroin.

ecSTASy

Common names: E, MDMA, pills, brownies,Mitsubishis, XTC, Dolphins

Ecstasy tablets are sometimes known by the logo that appears

on them such as love hearts, superman, Ferrari, though these can

change quite frequently.


MDMA, the active drug in ecstas, is produced in underground labs,

particularl in Holland, but also in parts o Eastern Europe. Large

quantities also appear to be produced in Asia, especiall in India

and Thailand.

What des it k ike?

Ecstas is usuall in the orm o pills which can take various shapes

and colours, oten stamped with motis such as a smile ace, heart


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The AZ o Drugs

or Armani and Mercedes logo. An o-white crstalline powder orm

o MDMA has become increasingl prominent over the last decade.

Hw ure is it?

The amount o MDMA in ecstas tablets has been alling or some

time, while the street level purit o the powder orm was 58.5%

according to the most recent Forensic Science Service data.

Hw is it used?

Ecstas tablets are usuall taken orall, but ma also be crushed

up and snied, and even sprinkled into joints and smoked. MDMA

can be dabbed onto the gums or tongue, or taken orall, known as

bombing, b wrapping up the powder in cigarette paper. Some

users might also sni the powder.

Hw many users?

The British Crime Surve report decline in the use o the drug

since the earl 2000s, although it is possible that respondents to

the Surve are onl responding to questions about ecstas tablets

orpills rather than ecstas in general and i assertions that use

o ecstas powder is increasing are correct, then the BCS gures

might be skewed in this respect.

The BCS 2010 reports 517,000 1659 ear olds and 283,000

1624 ear olds have taken the substance in the past ear.

Hw much des it cst?

Ecstas is sold in a wide variet o tablets o diering shape and

colour or around 2-3 each. Prices oten var in dierent localities.

Hw much d ee use?

Users will oten take one or two tablets at a dance event, though

more experienced users ma take ve or more.

What are the eects?

A mild euphoric rush ollowed b eelings o serenit and calmness

and the dissipation o anger and hostilit. Ecstas appears to

stimulate empath between users, but there is no conclusive proo

that ecstas is an aphrodisiac. It tends to enhance the sensual

experience o sex rather than stimulate the desire or sexual activit

or increase sexual excitement.

What are the risks?

Ecstas aects the bods temperature control mechanism and can

cause an increase in bod temperature to dangerousl high levels

in rare cases. The cumulative eects o high ambient temperatures

at a dance venue, coupled with dehdration due to dancing, means

there is potential or a double heat-stroke. The drug can cause the

release o Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH) that prevents the production

o dilute urine. Excessive drinking causes water build up inside the

bod cells which can be ver dangerous.


Figures or 2009 indicate that ecstas and ecstas-tpe drugs wereimplicated in the deaths o 8 people. For 2 o those 8 people, no

other drugs were involved.

The rst ecstas death was recorded in 1989 and since then, there

have been over 300 deaths. One o the most widel reported drug

deaths occurred in 1995 when Leah Betts died rom the eects o

water intoxication, believing that drinking lots o water would protect

her rom the possible side eects o ecstas.

The aw

Ecstas is a Class A drug.

A SHORT HISTORy

1912 MDMA originally synthesised by the German

pharmaceutical company Merck as a possible slimming aid,

but never developed.

1965 Alexander Shulgin, a research chemist working or DOW

Chemicals in the States rediscovered MDMA and through

trying the drug himsel discovered its property o promoting

empathy in users.

1970s-1985 Had limited use in psychotherapy in the USA ,

or example, as a marital aid where a hostile couple would be

given a dose under medical supervision beore the therapy

session began.

1977 Drug controlled as Class A under the Misuse o Drugs

Act ater some MDMA was discovered during a raid on an

amphetamine lab in the Midlands.


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The AZ o Drugs

1985 Unsubstantiated claims o the drugs adverse eects

on rats caused the drug to be banned in the USA. By then it

was appearing on the streets in the USA as a drug or sel

exploration much as LSD had been used in the 1960s. In 1985

the rst article on ecstasy appeared in the UK press.

198595 Starting with use among British partygoers one

summer on the Balearic island o Ibiza, ecstasy comes to

the UK in the mid 1980s. It helps uel the rave scene which

gains in popularity over the next decade. But alongside the

smiley aces come ecstasy-related deaths which began in

1989. However, it was the death o Leah Betts in 1995 whichcaptured media, political and popular attention.

1995 onwards As the rave/clubbing scene became more

mainstream, use o MDMA appears to peak and level out.

2000s The price and quality o the tablets alls while some

users begin to switch to MDMA powder. The drug retains a

signicant presence on the drug scene.

ghb AnD gbl

Common names: GBH, liquid ecstasy


GHB is manuactured b legitimate companies, but also produced

illegall rom basic chemicals.

What des it k ike?

Both GHB and GBL are usuall sold as an odourless liquid in small

bottles or capsules (GHB does come in powder orm but is rarer).

It tastes slightl salt. GBL is a colourless, oil liquid with a weak

odour. It is a common solvent used in products like paint strippers

and stain removers.

Hw ure is it?

Not known to be contaminated.

Hw is it used?

The drug is mainl taken b mouth, although some, mainl

dependent users, inject it.

Hw many users?

None o the large UK surves et include GHB/GBL in their

enquiries. Use appears to be restricted to dance events as well as

used experimentall b oung people. Preliminar ndings in the

British Crime Surve estimate that around 37,000 people have tried

these substances at least once.

Hw much des it cst?

Prices have been reported at around 5 or a capul o liquid and

1015 a bottle, although prices per capul can be much lower.

Hw much d ee use?

Some consider a dose to be a 15ml tablespoon. Elsewhere, it has

been written that the customar dose is 5ml a teaspoon. Doses

are also measured out as capuls, an indeterminate quantit in

roughl the same range. Adding to the conusion is the act thatthere is no telling how concentrated the liquid is, or whether it is

actuall GHB, and not GBL. Once in the bod, GBL converts to

GHB.

What are the eects?

Users take the drug or its euphoric and sedative eects rather than

as a stimulant which aids dancing an alternative to getting drunk

on alcohol rather than a dance/parting drug.

What are the risks?

Like with other barbiturates, there is a ne line between the amount

that is required to achieve the desired eect and that which will

lead to coma. Even experienced users are at risk rom death b

intoxication. The consequences o long term use are unknown.


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The AZ o Drugs

There is evidence that taking these drugs with alcohol or other

sedative drugs adds to the risk o harm. But it is also clear that

GHB and GBL can cause death when taken alone. Because GHB

and GBL can reall knock ou out, the have been linked to drug-

assisted sexual assault.

There is increasing evidence o a signicant risk o phsical

dependence among regular and heav users o these drugs. One

hospital in South London has established the rst specialist clinic

to treat people with a dependenc on GHB and GBL. Phsical

withdrawal smptoms are similar to those seen in those withdrawing

rom heav alcohol use and withdrawal can be dangerous i carriedout without medical supervision.


In 2009, GHB/GBL was implicated in 21 deaths.

The aw

GHB and GBL are both controlled under the Misuse o Drugs Act as

Class C drugs.

A SHORT HISTORy

1960s1980s Widely used in the States, France and Italy

to aid sleep and also as an anaesthetic in childbirth, but use

discontinued because o concerns over addiction and the

development o saer drugs.

1990s Gained in popularity as a drug on the rave scene and

among bodybuilders due to its ability to promote slow wavesleep in which growth hormone is secreted. Begins to be

implicated in drug-assisted sexual assaults.

2003 GHB controlled as a Class C drug

200708 Reports o deaths rom use o GBL in south London

2009 In April, the death o Brighton student Hester Stewart

directly linked to GBL. Drug controlled as a Class C drug in

December.

heROin

Common names: Brown, skag, H, horse, gear,smack


Nearl 90% o global and UK heroin comes rom Aghanistan and

Pakistan. The Netherlands imports and then exports a lot o the

heroin into the UK, mainl to London and the South-East.

What des it k ike?

Street heroin is a poor cousin o medical heroin or diamorphine.

Street heroin is usuall a brown powder instead o the pure white,

indicating its crude beginning as opium paste.

Hw ure is it?

Starting rom upwards o 95% purit in the countr o origin, street

heroin is tpicall mixed or cut with various adulterants. The latestForensic Science Service report indicates average purit o 35.6% in

the period April-June 2010.

Hw is it used?

Heroin is snonmous with intravenous use, and the common

image is o a user cooking up and injecting the substance.

However, intravenous users make up onl 28% o those entering

treatment. The majorit smoke heroin, heating the powder on tin oil

and inhaling the substance through a small tube, a practice known

as chasing the dragon. Heroin can also be snied like cocaine.

Hw many users?

As a household surve, the British Crime Surve doesnt reall

give us a good indication o how man people use heroin, so the


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The AZ o Drugs

Home Oce commissions other research instead. The most recent

research suggests that there are around 273,000 people who use

heroin dependentl in England.

Hw much des it cst?

Heroin is currentl selling or around 45 per gram. One-quarter

gram bags currentl retail at around 20 to 25, down to 5 and

10 bags containing smaller quantities.

Hw much d ee use?

Someone dependent on heroin might use one-quarter to a hal

gram each da.

What are the eects?

A large proportion o people report drowsiness, warmth, wellbeing

and contentment. Opiates induce relaxed detachment rom pain,

anxiet and rom desires or ood and sex, while the individual

remains ull aware. For man people, this detachment is ver

pleasurable. Along with or instead o these reactions, rst use

(especiall injection) is oten accompanied b nausea and vomiting.

What are the risks?

With the uncertain composition and purit o street heroin, adverse

reactions are an ever-present possibilit. Increasing numbers o

people are overdosing on prescribed methadone, including when

methadone is used on top o street heroin.


In 2009 around 1,000 deaths were attributed to heroin with a urther

230 deaths rom methadone although some o these would haveinvolved both drugs.

The aw

Heroin is a Class A drug under the Misuse o Drugs Act 1971.

Possessing it can lead to a prison sentence o up to 7 ears and an

unlimited ne. Suppling (which includes giving it to a riend) could

lead to a lie sentence and another unlimited ne.

A SHORT HISTORy

19th century Opium was already in use as a painkiller in the

orm o laudanum (opium dissolved in alcohol). In the mid 19th

century, morphine was extracted rom opium and introduced

onto the market. Then heroin was synthesised rom morphine

and actually promoted as a cure or morphine addiction! The

name heroin came rom the German or heroic as the drug

was (and still is) the worlds most powerul painkiller.

1920 Non-medical opium, morphine and heroin use and

supply controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

192060 Most morphine and heroin users were middle-class,

middle-aged women who had become addicted through GP

prescriptions or medical conditions.

196070 Beginnings o non-medical heroin use among young

people o all classes, but numbers still small.

1968 Due to concerns about over-prescribing by some GPs,

doctors banned rom prescribing to users unless in possession

o a Home Oce license.

1980s Numbers o users rose dramatically when smokeable

heroin was introduced rom the Middle East. This coincided

with signicant economic problems and unemployment,

pushing drug policy right up the political agenda. Heroin

Screws You Up was the rst UK anti-drug campaign. The

link between HIV/AIDS and injecting drug use resulted in the

development o the rst needle exchange schemes, under

Margaret Thatchers government. The 1980s also saw the

increasing use o methadone as a way o controlling the spread

o blood-borne viruses.

1990s Whereas Burma, Laos and Thailand (The Golden

Triangle) had supplied much o the UK heroin market,

production shited towards Aghanistan which now supplies

over 90% o UK heroin.

2000 Price and quality have allen over past decade with no

let-up in supply, but the heroin using population appears to be

both stabilising and ageing.


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The AZ o Drugs

KeTAmine

Common names: K, Special K, Super K,Vitamin K, ket


Some street ketamine, which is usuall a powder, comes rom licit

sources or is imported illegall rom the Far East. Pharmaceutical

ketamine is usuall liquid, so street ketamine is derived b heating

the liquid to evaporate the water, leaving a crstalline powder.

What des it k ike?

In street use, ketamine is most commonl encountered as a crstal

powder or in tablet orm.

Hw ure is it?

Legall produced ketamine will be pure. Illegall produced tablets

and powder are commonl ound with ephedrine added.

Hw is it used?

Users might inject ketamine in its liqueed pharmaceutical orm.

Tablets are taken orall, while powders are snorted up the nose.

Hw many users?

An estimated 113,000 1624 ear olds and 159,000 1659 ear

olds reported using ketamine in the last ear, according to the

2009/10 British Crime Surve.

Hw much des it cst?

Ketamine costs approximatel 20 per gram.

Hw much d ee use?

Tpicall the normal dose or snorting would be around 60100mg.

Used intravenousl, or intramuscularl, a sub-anaesthetic dose

would be around 12mg o bod weight.

What are the eects?

Ketamine is a complex drug. It is a disassociative anaesthetic,

meaning users eel detached rom themselves and their immediate

surroundings. The drug also has painkilling, stimulant and

pschedelic eects. Ketamine eects tpicall take up to 20 minutes

to come on i taken orall, though some are almost immediate, 30

seconds or so, i injected. Reported phsical eects include aninitial cocaine-like rush, vomiting and nausea, slurring o speech and

vision, numbness, irregular muscle coordination and muscle rigidit.

Pschological eects come on and recede aster than LSD, though

the eects can be similar, including snaesthesia, or seeing sounds

and hearing colours, euphoria, de-personalisation, conusion, plus

powerul dissociative or out-o-bod-sensations.

What are the risks?

Users ma eel numb, uncoordinated and nauseous or a ew

hours ater the most intense eects wear o. Ketamine is especiall

dangerous when mixed with ecstas or amphetamines and can

result in high blood pressure. High doses can dangerousl suppress

breathing and heart unction and can lead to unconsciousness.

There have also been more recent reports in medical literature that

suggest ketamine can cause serious damage to the urinar tract,

with some regular or heav users experiencing irreversible damage

to their bladder.


23 deaths were identied between 1993 and 2006 where ketamine

was mentioned either on the death certicate or in the coroners

report. In 4 o these deaths, ketamine was the onl drug present in

the users bod. These deaths were most likel due to the increased

risk o accident due to the disassociative eects o the drug.

The aw

Ketamine is a Class C drug under the Misuse o Drugs Act.


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The AZ o Drugs

A SHORT HISTORy

1962 Developed by Parke-Davis in the USA as a saer

alternative anaesthetic to PCP (later known on the streets as

Angel Dust).

1967 Became a street drug in the USA known as Green or

Special K.

1960s1970s Used as a battleeld anaesthetic in the

Vietnam War. Widely used in veterinary medicine. Also used

in psychiatry and or academic research into altered states o

consciousness.

1978 Two landmark books published recounting experiments

with ketamine. One author, John Lilly, injected ketamine

daily or many years but lived until he was 86. The other,

Marcia Moore, disappeared in 1979 ater injecting hersel with

ketamine and was ound dead two years later in a orest near

her home.

1990s Became increasingly popular on the UK rave scene.

2006 Controlled as a Class C drug.

KhAT

Common names: Quat, qat, qaadka, chat


The plant is imported into the UK rom Arica and the Arabian

Peninsula. Although there are several varieties o the plant, two are

generall available, including Miraa, chief rom Kena, and Harari

rom Ethiopia. The plant can be purchased at some specialist health

ood shops, markets and in a number o head shops.

What des it k ike?

The plant is imported as resh leaves or sometimes as twigs.

Hw ure is it?

Because khat comes in recognisable lea orm, it cant be cut with

anthing. There are two active chemicals in the plant: cathinone

and cathine. Both are chemicall related to amphetamines. Theconcentration o cathinone in the resh leaves ranges rom 0.3 to

2.1%, depending on the origin and variet o the plant. Cathine

concentrations range rom 0.7 to 2.7%.

Hw is it used?

Khat is a lea that is chewed over a number o hours.

Hw many users?

Use o khat is mainl limited to certain communities living in the

UK, notabl groups rom Ethiopia and the Arabian peninsula. Khat

appeared or the rst time in the 2009 British Crime Surve, with just

over 70,000 1659 ear olds saing the have tried it and just over

40,000 o 1624 ear olds.


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The AZ o Drugs

Hw much des it cst?

Prices var, but a small bundle o leaves weighing two to three

ounces will cost roughl 4.

Hw much d ee use?

Users will chew a hit, or a small bunch o leaves.

What are the eects?

Khat is predominantl stimulant in eect. A tpical khat chewing

session is said to be the equivalent o ingesting a moderate 5mg

dose o amphetamine sulphate. Following mild euphoria and

talkativeness, users have oten reported calming eects. Khat can

also suppress the appetite.

What are the risks?

As it is chewed, infammation o the mouth and other parts o the

oral cavit, with secondar inections, is common in khat users.

Long term eects can lead to other health problems, including heart

disease and loss o sex drive in men. Certain groups are also more

at risk rom oral cancer, while excessive use has also been known

to bring on pschological problems such as depression, anxiet and

irritation, in some cases leading to pschosis.


Researchers have identied a total o 13 deaths since 2004 in which

khat was implicated. These include related events like impaired

judgement leading to road accidents, as well more direct medical

eects such as liver and heart ailure.

The awThe khat plant itsel is not controlled under the Misuse o Drugs

Act, but the active ingredients, cathinone and cathine, are Class

C drugs. In October 2010, the government called on the Advisor

Council on the Misuse o Drugs to review the status o the drug.

A SHORT HISTORy

Ancient history khat or Qat smoked rom the time o Ancient

Egypt. Use spread to Arabian Peninsula and other countries o

Arica, especially Yemen and Somalia.

2000s Now a major cash crop in Yemen. Due to increased

migration, Somali communities have established themselves

around the world. In response to the use o khat among these

communities, some countries have banned the use o khat,

including France, Norway, Poland and the USA. In the UK and

some other countries, the active ingredients, cathinone and

cathine have been controlled.

lSD

Common names: Acid, trips, lucy


LSD is derived rom ergot, a ungus ound growing wild on re and

other grasses. First snthesised in 1938, it is now mainl produced

in underground labs in both the UK and abroad, particularl in

Belgium and the Netherlands.

What des it k ike?

A liquid soaked into blotting paper, oten sold in strips.

Hw ure is it?

It is rare to come across acid that is impure.

Hw is it used?

Tabs are normall dissolved on the tongue. It can be absorbed

through the skin, especiall i a person is sweat.

Hw many users?

LSD is an increasingl rare sight in the UK. According to the

2009/10 British Crime Surve, an estimated 36,000 16 to 24 ear

olds and 60,000 1659 ear olds were reported to have used the


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The AZ o Drugs

drug in the last ear. Levels o use have remained low and hardl

changed since the mid-1990s.

Hw much des it cst?

Prices var in dierent regions, but LSD can usuall be bought or

between 1 and 5 a tab.

Hw much d ee use?

Tpicall one or two tabs, but experienced users ma choose to

take more.

What are the eects?

A trip can take between 20 minutes and an hour to start but canlast up to 12 hours, with the eect tpicall peaking ater to two

to six hours. Experiences can var, with users reporting visual

eects such as intensied colours, distorted shapes and sizes and

movement in stationar objects. Users ma also eel as though time

is speeding up and slowing down. True hallucinations are relativel

rare. Trips can have an intense eect upon the pschological and

emotional reactions o a user, including heightened sel-awareness

and even out o bod experiences.

What are the risks?

Trip eects are oten determined b a persons imagination and

state o mind. Unpleasant reactions are more likel i the user is

unstable, anxious, or depressed. I panic sets in, the experience can

be conusing and even rightening. Flashbacks have been known to

occur where part o a trip is subsequentl relived ater the original

experience. Adverse pschological eects can sometimes occur,

especiall or more regular users. There is some evidence o LSD

triggering underling mental health problems.


No gures are available on deaths rom LSD use.

The aw

LSD is a Class A drug.

A SHORT HISTORy

1938 A Swiss chemist Albert Homan, working or Sandoz,

began synthesising a compound called LSD. The war stopped

the work.

1943 Homan resumed his work with LSD. Cycling home one

day, he had strange experiences, which carried on at home. He

realised this was the eect o the drug.

1940s-1950s Psychiatrists started using the drug to treat

those with various mental health problems. LSD was one o the

drugs used by the US military searching or a truth drug in theCold War.

1960s The drug was championed by leading lights o the

American counter-culture, notably Timothy Leary, as a way o

exploring an alternative reality to that o the Establishment.

Scare stories about the drug appeared in the US media

similar to the reeer madness stories o the 1930s. However,

there would be some notable acid casualties, such as Syd

Barratt o Pink Floyd.

1966 LSD banned in the USA and UK.

1970s The UK was home to one o the worlds most

signicant LSD labs until Operation Julie (1977) ended LSD

production in the UK.

1980s LSD made something o a comeback during the early

days o the rave scene.

1990s2000s Use in decline as recreational drug users adopt

ecstasy, magic mushrooms and later the growing range o

legal highs.


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mAgic mUShROOmS

Common names: Liberties, magics, mushies, libertycap, shrooms, Amani, agaric


Mushrooms can be ound growing wild in most parts o the UK, in

moist, oten dark areas, usuall in elds or near trees. The grow in

autumn, with parts o Wales, and northern England and Scotland

ielding large crops during this period. A number o varieties, such

as Cubensis Mexicana, are not native to the UK or Europe but are

available in some specialit shops in countries such as Holland or

over the internet.

What d they k ike?

Small and tan-coloured, the bruise blue when there touched.

Amanita Muscaria, or f agaric, mushrooms are red and white

spotted toadstools. However, distinguishing magic mushrooms rom

their poisonous and sometimes deadl cousins is a complex skill

and not to be undertaken lightl.

Hw ure are they?

Mushrooms are not dealt with on the black market to an great

extent, but the purit will depend on the reshness, variet and

regional variation. The main problem with purit is ensuring that the

right mushroom has been picked. Picking the wrong one can be

lethal.

Hw are they used?

Ater picking, there oten eaten raw or are dried out and stored.

The f agaric mushrooms tend not to be consumed raw as the

can cause severe nausea. Mushrooms can also be ltered and

brewed in a tea.

Hw many users?

According to the 2009/2010 British Crime Surve, an estimated

83,000 1624 ear olds and 132,000 1659 ear olds have taken

magic mushrooms in the last ear.

Hw much des it cst?

Indications show that quantities o around 30 mushrooms sell or

around 5 a bag. These prices are merel indicative and do not

represent a recognised street price.

Hw much d ee use?

Most people take between 15 grams per use.

What are the eects?

The eects o psilocbin-containing mushrooms are similar to a

mild LSD experience. As with LSD, the experience is extremel

variable and can also be strongl infuenced b the users mood,

environment and intentions. Variabilit also arises rom dierences in

potenc among mushrooms and methods o preparation.

Users oten have eelings o nausea, and can experience vomiting

and stomach pains. The eects o Fl Agaric are similarl

hallucinogenic, albeit more intense and introspective.

Fl Agarics are associated more with drowsiness ollowed b a

stimulation o the senses.

What are the risks?Potential dangers arise rom the possibilit o picking poisonous

species b mistake. Eating varieties such as Amanita phalloides

or Amanita virosa can be atal, even when in small amounts. In

contrast, it would take large amounts o Libert Cap or Fl Agaric

mushrooms to cause a atal overdose.

There are no signicant withdrawal smptoms and no phsical

dependence, though individuals ma become pschologicall

attached and eel a desire to repeat their experiences. Bad trips

characterised b deep ear and anxiet can occur, especiall in high

doses, and ma develop into a pschotic episode.

Hw many hae died rm using these?

No gures are available relating to deaths rom magic mushrooms.


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The AZ o Drugs

The aw

Under the Drugs Act 2005, the possession and sale o raw,

unprocessed resh psilocbin mushrooms is now a Class A oence.

A SHORT HISTORy

Ancient history magic mushrooms have a long history o use

or religious and ceremonial purposes in the Americas and

across northern Europe and Russia.

1957 R. Gordon Wasson, a vice-president o JP Morgan

Bank and his wie, both passionate students o mushroom

cultures (ethnomycologists) published a landmark study called

Mushrooms, Russia and History. Wasson and his wie were

also the rst westerners to take part in the Mexican Mazatec

indian mushroom ritual.

1967 Wasson published Soma: divine mushroom o

immortalitybased on studies o use o Fly Agaric mushrooms

in Indian sub-continent culture.

1971 Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms

is controlled as a Class A drug under the Misuse o Drugs Act,

but it is not illegal to possess or eat the mushrooms raw.

1978 Wasson turned his attention to use o ceremonial

hallucinogens in Ancient Greece with The Road to Eleusis:

Unveiling the Secret o the Mysteries.

1979 Another landmark book published on hallucinogenic

plants including mushrooms: Plants o the Gods by Richard

Schultes and Albert Homan, who discovered LSD.

2005 Under the Drugs Act, it became illegal to possess

psilocybin mushrooms, but not Fly Agaric or other non-

psilocybin varieties.

meThAmpheTAmine

Common names: crystal meth, meth, ice, tweak,glass, crank, Tina, Christine, yaba, Hillbilly crack


Methamphetamine is manuactured in underground meth labs

because the drug is relativel cheap and eas to make. However,

methods ma involve infammable chemicals and the release o

toxic umes, meaning the manuacturing process can be ver

dangerous. The chemicals needed to manuacture the drug (e.g.

ephedrine, red phosphorous and iodine) are readil available.

What des it k ike?

The substance can come in a number o orms, as an o-colour

white, ellow or pink crstalline powder, as a clear liquid, in

ampoules (a small sealed vial) or small white chips known as ice.

Hw ure is it?

As with most amphetamine-based drugs that are manuactured

illicitl, purit is questionable, though inormation on

methamphetamine purit is limited in the UK.

Hw is it used?

Taken orall, snorted, injected or smoked.

Hw many users?

Thirteen thousand 1624 ear olds and a urther 3,000 2559 ear

olds reported using the substance last ear, although most heav

and regular use is still conned to the ga club scene.


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Hw much des it cst?

Methamphetamine sells or anthing between 35 and 75 a gram.

Hw much d ee use?

No reliable data on this or the UK, but likel that a heav user is

likel to consume several grams over the course o a run lasting a

ew das.

What are the eects?

Methamphetamine is to amphetamine as crack cocaine is

to cocaine. So the phsiological and pschological eects o

smoking crstal meth are similar to those experienced b people

using amphetamine powder, onl signicantl magnied. Users

can eel exhilarated, with eects increasing arousal and activit

levels, including desires or sex. The intense rush rom smoking

methamphetamine can last between 4 and 12 hours.

What are the risks?

Its not onl the eects that are amplied but the dangers with

methamphetamine. The include a rapid rise in heart rate and blood

pressure, putting a massive strain on the cardiac sstem. The higher

the dose, the more potent the eects. Users ma also experience

intense agitation, paranoia, conusion and ma act violentl,

particularl in response to perceived threats while experiencing

paranoia. Pschosis has been widel reported in areas with large

numbers o users. In cases o overdose, stroke, lung, kidne and

gastrointestinal damage, coma and death are all real risks.


In the UK there are no gures available relating to deaths links to

methamphetamine use.

The aw

Methamphetamine was reclassied as a Class A drug on

18th Januar 2007.

A SHORT HISTORy

1893 First synthesised in Japan rom ephedrine.

1940s Approved or use in the USA or various conditions

including narcolepsy and depression. It was rumoured that

Hitler received daily injections and the drug was widely used

among the Axis and Allied orces to ght battle atigue and to

psych soldiers up or ghting. Major addiction problems in

Japan resulted in a ban in 1951.

1960s American biker gangs began ill icit manuacture and

trading in amphetamine and methamphetamine.

1968 Following the UK ban on GPs prescribing heroin or

cocaine to users without a license, there was a brie spate o

injecting methamphetamine use in London.

1990s New wave o illicit methamphetamine production in

the States and in Far East Asia. This is ice/crystal meth in the

States (smoked like crack cocaine) or yabba (a red pill smoked

at the end o a cigarette) in the Far East.

2000s Some methamphetamine production and use in the

UK, largely conned to a section o the gay clubbing scene.

2007 Methamphetamine reclassied to Class A in the UK.


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mepheDROne AnD OTheR cAThinOneS

Common names: Meph, MC, MCAT, m-cat, 4-MMC,Miaow, Meow Meow, Bubbles, Bounce, Charge,Drone, White Magic, Ivory Wave


Prior to their classication under the Misuse o Drugs Act, the

cathinones could be bought legall on the internet or in head

shops. Websites and shops advertised the products as plant

ood and not or human consumption as a wa o tring to avoid

prosecution under medicines, poisons and consumer laws.

What des it k ike?

Mephedrone and most cathinones are white, o-white or ellowish

powders.

Hw ure is it?

It is hard to tell what ou are buing. Products labelled as one thing

ma contain something entirel dierent. What ou ma think is

mephedrone might sometimes be mixed with other cathinones and

caeine.

Hw is it used?

While it is usuall snorted, it can also be swallowed in bombs

(wraps o paper) and ma also appear in pill or capsule orm.

Hw many users?

With its relativel recent and sudden emergence, levels o

prevalence are not currentl known.

Hw much des it cst?

Prior to the drugs classication, mephedrone was mainl sold in

bags containing a gram o the drug that retailed or between 10

and 15. There ma have been changes to the average price since

the drugs classication.

Hw much d ee use?

Users will tpicall use between a hal a gram and a gram.

What are the eects?

With little clinical literature o the eects, reporting relies upon

anecdotal evidence rom users. Man people who have used

mephedrone and similar drugs report that their experiences are

similar to taking amphetamines, ecstas or cocaine, producing a

sense o euphoria and wellbeing, with users becoming more alert,

condent and talkative.

What are the risks?

People who snort these substances can experience extremel sore

nasal passages, throats and mouths, with burns or cuts caused b

the chemicals sometimes leading to nose bleeds. The substance

has an eect on the heart, with users reporting heart palpitations

(an irregular or racing heart beat). As with other stimulants, the

substances tend to act as appetite suppressants. Nausea and

vomiting has been reported, particularl i mixed with other drugs

such as alcohol or cannabis.

Hw many hae died rm using this drug?

While mephedrone has been implicated in several deaths in the

UK, currentl there are ver ew, probabl onl 1 or 2, where

mephedrone was the onl drug to be identied. Other deaths ma

have involved use o this drug in combination with other stimulants.

The aw

All cathinone derivatives, including mephedrone, methlone,

methedrone and MDPV are Class B drugs under the Misuse o

Drugs Act 1971 rom April 2010.


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meThADOne

Common names: Mixture, meth, linctus,physeptone


Methadone is one o a number o snthetic opiates with similar

eects to heroin manuactured or medical use.

What des it k ike?

Prescription methadone is usuall a liquid that is swallowed, but can

also come in tablet or injectable orm.

Hw ure is it?

Prescribed methadone is subject to stringent controls, so is unlikel

to have been tampered with.

Hw is it used?Methadone is primaril used as a medication, to help people who

are dependent on opiates (usuall heroin) manage their withdrawal

smptoms. There is also some recreational use o methadone.

Hw many users?

13,000 1624 ear olds and 32,000 1659 ear olds are estimated

to have taken methadone in the last ear.

Hw much des it cst?

The street cost o methadone is around 1 per 10ml.

What are the eects?

Pure opiates in moderate doses produce a range o generall mild

phsical eects, apart rom analgesia, and a number o these have

medical applications. Like sedatives the depress nervous sstem

activit, including refex unctions such as coughing, respiration and

heart rate. The also dilate blood vessels (giving a eeling o warmth)

and depress bowel activit, resulting in constipation.

What are the risks?

Methadone users can become constipated. On high doses users

are at risk o alling into a coma or stopping breathing. Withdrawal

smptoms are slower to develop than with heroin, but last longer.

Flu-like smptoms appear up to 2 das ater last dose, peak ater

56 das and ade ater 14 das.


In 2009, the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths

report that 56 people died through the eects o methadone alone

and the drug contributed to the deaths o a urther 282 people. The

number o deaths in which methadone is implicated has been rising

over recent ears.

The aw

Methadone is a Class A drug meaning it is illegal to possess without

a prescription, give awa or sell.

A SHORT HISTORy

1939 Developed as a synthetic opioid in Germany or use as

a painkiller.

1947 Introduced into the USA by Eli Lilly.

1960s Research undertaken by Dole and Nyswander at

Rockeeller University in New York conrmed that methadone

could be used as a treatment or heroin dependency. This

changed the view that dependency was a character faw and

was in act a metabolic disease that could be treated.

1970s Methadone was the primary treatment or heroin

dependency in the UK, but doctors began to reduce the time

that users were being prescribed the drug.

1971 Methadone was controlled as a Class A drug under the

Misuse o Drugs Act.

1980s The advent o HIV/AIDS changed treatment practice:

the imperative was to stop the spread o disease rather


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The AZ o Drugs

than get people o drugs. Where appropriate, prescribing

methadone over longer periods o time became standard

practice, rom a public health point o view.

1990s-2000s Increasing numbers o people coming into

treatment saw a corresponding increase in the use o

methadone. Methadone treatment remained the treatment o

choice in the UK, as recommended by the National Institute

o Clinical Excellence (NICE). However it continues to be a

controversial treatment; criticisms are voiced that too many

people are let on methadone without enough being done to

help them become entirely drug-ree.

SOlvenTS

Common names: Thinners, volatile substances


Most solvents are available rom a large number o retail outlets and

can be ound in nearl ever household.

What d they k ike?

Solvents come in a variet o orms, including gas lighter rells,

aerosols containing hairspra, deodorants and air resheners, tins or

tubes o glue, some paints, thinners and correcting fuids, cleaning

fuids, surgical spirit, dr-cleaning fuids and petroleum products.

Hw are they used?

Solvents are snied rom a cloth, a sleeve or a plastic bag. Some

users put a plastic bag over their heads and inhale that wa. Gas

products can be squirted directl into the back o the throat.

Hw many users?

Recent studies have ound that between 710% o secondar

school pupils have tried solvents. 21% o 1516 ear olds have tried

the substance. 44,000 1624 ear olds and 57,000 1659 ear

olds are estimated to have used solvent in the last ear.

Hw much d they cst?

Butane gas can be purchased or as little as 1.50 to 2. Glues can

cost even less.

What are the eects?

The experience o solvent inhalation is like being ver drunk on

alcohol. Feelings o dizziness, unrealit and euphoria are common,

but some users might just eel sick and drows. Bod unctions

like breathing and heart rate are depressed, and repeated or deep

inhalation can lead to overdosing.

What are the risks?

Users can experience vomiting and blackouts, and heart problems

can kill even those tring the substance or the rst time. Squirting

the gas down the throat can cause it to swell and restrict breathing.

Suocation can also kill i users inhale with a plastic bag over their

head. Long-term use has been shown to damage the brain, liver

and kidnes.

Hw many ee hae died rm using these

substances?

Solvents cause a number o deaths each ear in the UK. Figures

rom St Georges Medical School show that in the 5 ears between

20032007, an average o 52 people died ever ear. The latest

gures, or 2008, show that at 36, the number o deaths was at

the lowest in over 25 ears. Most deaths occur as a direct result o

the toxic eects o the substances on the bod (especiall butane

lighter uel), rather than indirectl (i.e. through choking on vomit,

accidents through being intoxicated, or suocation).


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The aw

Under the Intoxicating Substances (Suppl) Act 1985, it is an

oence to suppl solvents to an person under the age o 18 i the

supplier has reason to believe the intend to misuse them. The

Cigarette Lighter Rell (Saet) Regulations 1999 makes it illegal to

sell butane to anone under the age o 18. Suppliers in Scotland

can be prosecuted or recklessl selling substances to an age

group i the suspect the will inhale them.

A SHORT HISTORy

1970s First accounts o solvent sning in the UK mainlyglues poured into small bags.

1980s Glue sning became a major media story usually

associated with teenage anti-social behaviour; around two

young people a week died rom solvent misuse, with the

number o deaths peaking in 1990 at 150 in one year.

1985 Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act passed. Oence

or a retailer to sell solvents to anybody under-18 i they have

reason to believe that the product will be misused.

1999 The Cigarette Lighter Rell (Saety) Regulations made it

an oence to sell lighter uel to anybody under-18 whatever the

intention. Most deaths caused by sning lighter uel.

2000s Young people still dying rom solvent misuse, but

deaths have been alling; 36 people died in 2008, the lowest

number in 25 years.

TRAnQUilliSeRS

Common name: Benzodiazepines includingdiazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan),temazepam.

Non-benzodiazepines (known as Z drugs) includingzapelon, zolpidem and zopiclone.

Jellies, benzos, eggs, norries, rugby balls, vallies,

moggies, mazzies, roofes, downers


There are no known illicit manuactures o benzodiazepines or

z-drugs specicall or the recreational market. Those circulating

on the illicit market are diverted, either b individuals selling on part

or all o their prescribed drugs, or thet rom pharmacies, hospitalsor wholesalers. There are also increasing numbers o countereit

products being sold online.

What des it k ike?

Tranquillisers come in the orm o a small tablet.

Hw ure is it?

Dierent tranquillisers come in dierent doses. Tpicall, tablets are

between 1mg and 10mg.

Hw is it used?

Usuall taken orall, but some users might also crush pills or

injecting.


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The AZ o Drugs

that the company withheld inormation about the addiction

potential. The case never reached a verdict because the legal

aid money ran out.

Documents

Media Guide to Drugs