Drugs Lowdown

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Illegal Drugs

1) Everyone tries drugs - what's the big fuss?
There are massive temptations to try illegal drugs, especially when mates or whoever tell you how good they feel, or when people are offering them to you. Also, they've got a cool image in a lot of ways. It's not a fact that everyone tries them - a lot do, a lot don't. The effects they have can be fun, but they can also be well risky. Drugs mostly get used for 'recreation' but they still contain powerful chemicals, some of which can do you serious damage. So before you're tempted to try them, you need to know the low-down. If you've already had stuff, you need to know what you've taken and what the risks are. And if you want to stop taking them, you need to know where to go for more info and support. So gen up on what's in them, what effects they can have and what the risks are to you. Then you can make some informed decisions without getting persuaded by other people.

2) Aren't Legal Drugs Just As Harmful As Illegal Ones?
It's a good point. Cigarettes are legally sold to anyone over 16, yet tobacco is massively harmful and the nicotine in it is strongly addictive, making it very hard to give up. Plus, cigarettes have loads of other damaging chemicals. Alcohol is also legal but it can wreck people's bodies, mental abilities and emotional lives. It is the cause of loads of deaths and plays a part in a lot of violent incidents. Even caffeine (the drug in coffee and tea) is drunk for its stimulating effects – keeping you awake and alert – but it can be bad for your health and people can have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if they stop having it.

So, there are arguments about which drugs should and shouldn't be legal or illegal and which ones do the most damage. But the message is, anything powerful you put in your body has risks, sometimes mega ones. Even if something's not banned by law, that doesn't mean it's safe to use - it can still mess you up. So have respect for yourself - be wary of getting into smoking and binge drinking like you're wary about ecstasy, dope and heroin, and don't be ignorant about any of them. (See also separate factsheet on Smoking.

3) Which drugs are illegal?
There's a whole list. Here are the ones you're more likely to come across or hear about:
cannabis, ecstasy, speed, cocaine, crack, heroin, LSD, solvents, magic mushrooms, poppers.
See individual sections too for more information on each drug.
Remember, if you get caught with illegal drugs, you can be arrested and punished under the law (the Misuse of Drugs Act). Depending on how old you are, what type of drug it is and what you're doing with it, the police and courts can do various things, but it's a serious situation. If you need to know more about this, contact the National Drugs Helpline or Release's helpline (see Contacts).

Important:
*You can be arrested for supplying drugs (dealing) even if you are only collecting some for the evening with money pooled by you and your friends, or if you're carrying just a few Ecstasy tablets. Supplying drugs to other people is seen as extremely serious under the law.
*You can be arrested for allowing other people to use your home for drugs, even it's just a couple of pals smoking a joint.

4) What's a 'Class A' drug?
In the UK, drugs that are illegal are controlled under a law called the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. That law says drugs are class 'A', 'B' or 'C', depending on how dangerous they are considered to be. Class 'A' drugs are considered the most dangerous, 'C' the least. Ecstasy and heroin are examples of Class A drugs. Cannabis is usually B. Tranquillisers and anabolic steroids (allowed with a doctor's prescription only) are Class C. Most illegal drugs are A or B. Cigarettes, alcohol etc. are not given a 'Class' because they are allowed under the law. Any time a drug of any Class is used in a syringe and injected (instead of swallowed etc.), it is then legally seen as a Class A drug. Individual sections under Question 8 tell you whether drugs are Class A, B or C.

5) So what are the health risks, and how do you feel?
Different drugs do different things. Some give people an energy buzz, a high; others make people feel dreamy or relaxed or giggly. People talk about getting 'stoned' or 'wrecked' or 'trashed' on drugs (or other words), which is just a way of describing how different from normal you feel while you're taking it. Here's some general info, but see individual drugs below (after Question 8) for more detail of how you might feel.

Some drugs are 'stimulants', some are 'depressants', some are 'hallucinogens', some are 'analgesics'. Some drugs are more than one of these things. These titles tell you something about the effects each drug has on you.

Speed, cocaine, crack and ecstasy are all 'stimulants' - they speed up your body functions, get your heart racing etc. - so can cause various problems when your body can't cope with the extra pace. Stimulants can be extra dangerous for anyone who already has health complications (asthma, heart, diabetes etc.). It can also mean you overheat and dehydrate (lose too much body fluid and minerals through sweating etc.), which can be fatal.

Other drugs like heroin and solvents are depressants or 'downers' - they slow your body systems down – brain, breathing, heartbeat etc. There are differences between different downers, but nausea and dizziness are common reactions. Mixing downers or overdosing can be fatal because your body systems can stop working, which is why users can go into a coma. Alcohol is a depressant/downer, so mixing it with heroin, for example, is well dangerous.

Some drugs are hallucinogenic (they make your mind see things that aren't there, or see the world in a distorted way). If this scares the user, they may freak and do something to hurt themselves or someone else. Analgesic drugs are drugs that kill physical and emotional pain. Heroin is analgesic as well as depressant.

With most drugs, you feel down or tense after the main effect wears off. Some drugs, like heroin (and nicotine), will get you strongly physically hooked/addicted (so your body reacts badly if you don't keep taking them). Others get you emotionally dependent on them. How easily you get dependent is different with different people – it depends on your personality and emotional situation. With some drugs, your body becomes 'tolerant' the more you take them. In other words, you need bigger doses each time to give you the same effects. This means you're taking more risky amounts each time.

Injecting a drug into your veins adds to the dangers as it's much easier to overdose (take too much) this way. Also, sharing needles or using non-sterilised ones can mean catching life-threatening infections such as HIV and hepatitis.

6) What do I do if a mate gets ill from taking something?
Hopefully you won't be in this situation, but it's better to be prepared just in case, and it's always a good idea to know some basic First Aid anyway. If someone gets ill from taking drugs, their symptoms depend on what the drug was.

Generally:
*Don't panic, try and keep cool and clear-headed yourself
*If the person is panicking, try to calm them down and reassure them they'll be OK
*Try and take them somewhere quiet, not too cold and if possible not too bright
If they're breathing quickly, try and get them to slow down (breathing slowly with them can help)

*DO NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE – they could faint, hurt themselves, be sick, wander off, panic, anything

*Someone may overheat and dehydrate, perhaps while dancing, (like from ecstasy). Then they may feel faint and nauseous, get headache, get cramp and other signs. In this case, get them to sit and rest and sip some water very slowly (that's important). The Health Education Authority says about a pint, slowly sipped. You can also splash a little cool (not freezing) water on their face to cool them down.
*If the person seems faint or sleepy, don't let them sleep – they could be sick and choke or go into coma

*NEVER GIVE THEM COFFEE TO WAKE THEM UP – it can make the effects of the drugs worse

*If the person seems really sleepy or about to fall unconscious, you can put them in the 'recovery position'. This is where you first lie them down on their back, then put their left arm with the elbow bent so you can hold the back of their left hand against their right ear. Then roll them gently onto their right side, making sure their right arm isn't caught under their body and their left hand is still under ear to support their head. Make sure there's no tight clothing around their throat.

Basically, if they pass out at all or seem in a bad way or you're at all worried, don't hesitate to call an ambulance (just dial 999). Even if you're not sure how bad they are, it's always better to do that than risk your pal getting really ill or dying. If you're on your own with them and you have to go and find a phone, put them in the recovery position first.

The above is just a guide, and it's not possible to give detailed First Aid info here. The Red Cross and St. John Ambulance run short First Aid courses where you can learn more about what to do in emergencies, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and the recovery position. Your local branches will be in the phone book.

7) Does everyone react the same to a drug?
With taking any drug, several things affect how each person may react. For example:
*how much and how often they take it
*how 'pure' the pill/resin etc. is (like if it's been mixed with something else - a lot of cheap junk is mixed in with drugs so you can't be sure of what you're getting)
*whether they're also drinking alcohol (can be very dodgy)
*whether they have any health problems (or medication) which might make the effects stronger or more life-threatening (asthma, epilepsy, heart probs etc.)
*how much they weigh (lighter people often get affected more)
*how they're feeling emotionally - being tense, insecure, depressed or not comfortable with the people you're with can mean a bad reaction

8) So you can't know exactly how you'd feel?
No, but here are some useful facts on the different drugs, what they do to you and how you might feel. (In brackets are some of the other names they are known by - you might also hear different ones.)

CANNABIS (also known as dope, spliff, black, shit, grass, marijuana, weed, blow, hash, ganja, and more. Also, different varieties have different names – skunk and sensimilla, for example, are just types of cannabis).

What/how?
It's taken from the cannabis plant and can come as a solid lump of resin ('resin', 'black' etc.), as dried leaves and seeds ('grass', 'weed' etc.), or as a sticky oil. Generally it's rolled in cigarette papers (usually with tobacco) and smoked, or smoked in a pipe, or eaten in food.

How does it affect you?
Cannabis can make you relaxed, talkative (or not), giggly, very interested in detail, introverted, slow to react, dreamy. It can be fun, but it can sometimes bring paranoia (when you feel very scared, insecure and unsafe). It doesn't boost energy but can give you cravings for food. It doesn't usually make people feel violent – only perhaps if mixed with alcohol. It can chill people out instead.

What are the risks?
Cannabis affects your concentration, short-term memory and body co-ordination. This can increase the risk of accidents – so don't drive or get a lift with someone who's stoned, even if they think they're OK.

Dope can sometimes make you feel paranoid and anxious, depending on your mood and where you are, and the type of stuff you're taking (some varieties are very strong - skunk, for example). It makes some people nauseous. It also stays in your body for days after you've taken it (it shows up in blood tests, and people have lost jobs this way). Some people experience 'flashbacks' - feelings of being stoned when they're not actually stoned. Long-term it can affect regular users' alertness (especially as it stays in their systems), so they feel a bit muddled a lot of the time. And, as with cigarettes, researchers believe it may cause lung problems. Recent news: Some people (including a number of medical professionals) feel that cannabis should be made legal. One argument is that it is helpful for reducing painful symptoms in people who suffer from certain illnesses. Another argument is that it is not as harmful as harder drugs (heroin, ecstasy etc.) are, and would be easier to control if legal. Other people think it should continue being illegal. One of their arguments is that smoking dope might encourage people to try other, harder stuff.

Is it addictive?
Some users become quite dependent on having dope and find it difficult to give up, but it's not physically addictive in the way heroin is.

Doesn't it make you go onto harder drugs such as heroin?
There's been no definite evidence to show this, but some people think so.

What's the law on cannabis?
Cannabis is a Class B drug (or Class A if cannabis oil).

ECSTASY (E, XTC, pills, doves, fantasy, hug drug, burgers and others, or known by the name of its main chemical, MDMA)

What/how?
It's a mix of drugs - the main one is a human-made chemical called MDMA. It is hallucinogenic (alters the way your mind sees the world) and also amphetamine (speeds up your body functions). It generally comes in tablet form (usually white).

How does it affect you?
E can make you more affectionate, more responsive to your surroundings, see colours etc. more intensely and have lots of energy for a few hours. People can have a good time with music and feel like dancing for hours. It can have a very sociable effect. It also speeds up your body's temperature control, making you hotter.

What are the risks?
It's unpredictable. When you buy a tablet you never know how much MDMA it contains or what else is in it. They sometimes contain cheap rubbish that's dangerous to swallow (like talcum powder and soap powder), or other hard drugs such as LSD, and for this reason using Ecstasy can be particularly dodgy. Your body can overheat, causing dehydration (especially if you're dancing in a crowded space). Dehydration (losing too much fluid through sweating etc.) is dangerous, so it's essential to sip water regularly (a pint an hour is recommended) and have fruit juice or isotonic drinks to keep up your body fluid and sodium levels. You also need breaks from dancing to cool down. You shouldn't drive etc. as your concentration and judgement are affected. After the 'up' effects wear off, you can feel tired and down for a few days. Some people feel weird and nervy on E and don't get the pleasanter feelings. There have been a few deaths from single doses.
Long-term: More research is needed, but scientists think taking Es may sometimes cause long-term brain damage and perhaps depression in later life.

Is it addictive?
It is not physically addictive and you would not get withdrawal symptoms from stopping taking it.

What's the law on Ecstasy?
It is a Class A drug, so the punishments are heavy.

SPEED (whizz, amphs (from its official name, amphetamine), uppers, sulphate)

What/how?
The true name is Amphetamine, but Speed is more common. It comes as a powder - whitish, pale yellow, pinkish or grey - which is snorted (sniffed up the nose) or injected. Or as a tablet which you swallow.

How does it affect you?
It speeds up your body systems (heart etc.). It gives you a big boost of energy, makes you very awake, hyperactive, mega-talkative and socially confident for a few hours, before you start to 'come down'. It heats you up, so you need to sip water and either fruit juice or isotonic liquids to keep your body fluid levels up.

What are the risks?
Some people react badly to amphetamine substances, sometimes severely. It can increase your blood pressure, and if the vessels in the brain are affected, the results can be fatal. As you get hyperactive and your body systems speed up, you may dehydrate, especially if you don't drink enough water etc. As the effects wear off and you start to come down, you can feel irritable, restless, anxious and shaky, and unable to sleep. You may not be able to sleep at all for a couple of days, even though your body and mind are exhausted. Depression is also common after taking speed.

Long-term: Your body can become tolerant to speed/amphetamine, so you need more each time. You can develop serious long-term problems with your circulation - heart, blood pressure etc. - and with the stomach and gut. It stops hunger so you don't get sufficient nourishment. People who use it over a long time can develop mental illness problems - depression, paranoia, psychosis (severe mental disturbance).

Is it addictive?
Not physically, but you can become strongly emotionally dependent on its 'buzz' the more often you take it. If a regular user stops taking it, they may have an unpleasant reaction (depression, energy loss, food cravings).

What's the law on Speed?
It's a Class B drug, but if it's used as an injection, it is then treated as a Class A one.

COCAINE (coke, charlie, snow, C)

What/how?
It's a white powder made from the leaves of a South American shrub. It's expensive and doesn't last long, so it's often people with money who get into using it. Usually it's snorted (sniffed up the nose) but occasionally it's injected (sometimes mixed with heroin, which makes them both extremely potent). Cocaine can also be processed/cooked differently into a form that can be smoked - this is called Crack (see below).

How does it affect you?
It's a strong 'upper', like with speed/amphetamines, but the buzz is short, about half an hour. It speeds up your body systems - it can increase your body heat and give you heart palpitations (fast, irregular thumping). It can make you feel mega-confident and alert, and as if you are doing things well (even though you may not be).

What are the risks?
Cocaine can make your heart beat irregularly and your body overheat. It can set off breathing difficulties and convulsions (like fitting). It can make you feel depressed, anxious and sleepless after the brief buzz. It's possible to die from a dose of cocaine.
Long-term: Recent research suggests it may cause long-term heart disease in users. It can permanently damage the inside of your nose. It affects your general state of health.

Is it addictive?
Yes, it can be psychologically very addictive. A habit can form very quickly. The main effect (the 'high') is very brief, and regular users crave more as soon as they start to come down.
What's the law on Cocaine?
It's a Class A drug.

CRACK (rock, wash, stone)

What/how?
Crack is actually made from cocaine (see above), but with a different process which makes it into hard, small 'rocks'. These can be smoked (the name 'crack' is from the sound they make when smoked).

How does it affect you?
The effects are similar to that of cocaine, but because crack is smoked the 'hit' (the 'high') comes faster and is much stronger. It has a massive effect on both your mind and body. You feel mega-happy and confident, hyper-lively, pain-free etc., usually for about ten minutes. But you may also feel paranoid (scared and unsafe) and sometimes get aggressive and violent.

What are the risks?
Similar risks to cocaine (see above), but everything is more intense and powerful. There's also a risk of lung damage from smoking it. After the high, you may feel anxious, exhausted and depressed. Becoming aggressively paranoid is common, and there are a lot of violent incidents connected with crack. There have been deaths from overdose.
Long-term: The craving for more crack after the 'come-down' is even stronger than the cocaine one, and some users get into taking heroin in between to calm this craving. Heart, stomach and lung problems can develop, and your mental health can suffer.

Is it addictive?
Yes, it can become very addictive. The short hit and unpleasant come-down can mean people quickly start using it more frequently, sometimes together with heroin.

What's the law on crack?
Crack is Class 'A', the most dangerous category legally.

HEROIN (smack, gear, brown, junk, H, horse, skag and others)

What/how?
Heroin is made from the opium poppy, which is also used for morphine and codeine, strong pain-killing drugs. If pure, it's a white powder, but it's often not pure and looks dirty. It can be smoked, or dissolved in water and injected.

How does it affect you?
It is a 'downer' - it slows your body systems. You feel a buzz almost immediately, then feel warm, content, perhaps drowsy (especially with bigger doses), and like you haven't got pain or worries. You may feel sick if you're not used to it.

What are the risks?
Heroin often has rubbish like oven cleaner mixed in with it. There is a big risk of overdosing because doses are hard to judge, especially because of not knowing how much pure heroin is in it. Because heroin slows down your body systems, you can fall into a coma. It is often injected, which adds risks of serious infection. Needles and syringes should always be sterilised and never be shared (but this isn't usually the case). Mixing heroin with other drugs (including legal medicines) can be lethal. Long-term: Users become tolerant (when you need bigger, riskier doses each time to get the same effect), which increases the likelihood of overdose etc. Hunger may disappear, so you become malnourished.

Is it addictive?
It can be very addictive, especially when taken by injection, although people don't usually get hooked immediately. To come off heroin, long-term users go through a tough physical reaction (pain, sweating etc.). This improves after a few days, although in can be some time before you feel really OK again.

What's methadone?
It's a drug similar to heroin, prescribed by doctors in a number of countries (including the UK) to people addicted to heroin. Methadone is a strong and addictive drug in itself, but because it is not being mixed with rubbish by drug dealers, GPs can control the dose. Prescribing it in regular doses can help stop the person's heroin withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and also decrease the dangers of trying to find a drug supply. If the person wants to become drug-free, the dose can gradually be decreased to help with this.

What's the law on Heroin?
It is a Class 'A' drug.

LSD (acid, tabs, dots, blotters)

What/how?
It's a chemical made from a fungus, and has only been around since about 1940. Nowadays it usually comes as a small pill (microdot) or soaked into tiny pieces of paper (tabs), sometimes with a picture on.

How does it affect you?
It's strongly hallucinogenic (you see the world in a totally different way and may see/hear things that aren't there at all). It's a 'psychedelic' drug - hippies used it a lot in the '60s to experience its vivid, mind-altering effects. About half an hour after taking it, the effects start – this is called a 'trip'. Things and people may seem hilarious or terrifying, colours and sounds become intense, time goes weird, objects may seem to move. You can experience a good or bad trip, depending on how you're already feeling, because LSD makes sensations and feelings extreme. You may feel paranoid or scared. Trips last six to 12 hours or even longer, and you can't stop them in the middle. If someone is going to take acid/LSD, it's important to be totally relaxed and OK in their surroundings.

What are the risks?
Accidents can occur because you're not in touch with reality. During a trip, you may feel paranoid or anxious, but particularly if you weren't feeling good before. Long-term, the main problems can be psychological - you can become disorientated, anxious or depressed. Flashbacks can also happen. This is where ages later - when you're not expecting it and you've not taken any LSD - you suddenly experience part of a trip all over again. If someone already has emotional or mental health problems, acid trips can worsen things and lead to more serious problems so should be avoided.

Is it addictive?
No – it's not physically addictive and people don't often become dependent on it either, partly because it stops having much effect if you take it frequently.

What's the law on LSD? It's Class A.

POPPERS

What/how?
Poppers, Rush (Butyl Nitrates, Amyl Nitrates)… they are liquid chemicals, sweet-smelling or rotten-smelling. They used to come in glass capsules which made a popping noise when opened – hence the name 'poppers'. Amyl Nitrate is stronger than Butyl Nitrate. In the UK, Butyl is used more than Amyl. Poppers are usually inhaled.

How do they affect you?
It's a quick hit – three minutes at most. They open the blood vessels and make your heart pump really fast. You get a rush of light-headedness and a really strong 'high' – possibly briefly losing body control so you fall over. There's often a brief feeling of everything being good, no probs etc., and a burst of the giggles.

What are the risks?
You can be sick, have a coughing fit or a headache. The effect on the blood and heart make them well risky for anyone with heart or blood pressure problems.
Long-term; Mostly, symptoms go if the person stops using poppers.

Are they addictive?
Most people don't get hooked but a few people become dependent.

What's the law on poppers?
They're not forbidden under the law.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS

What/how?
They are mushrooms that grow wild which contain a trace of hallucinogenic (see LSD above) drug. They've been around a lot of centuries. People eat them – either dried and made into tea or just eaten.

How do they affect you?
In a similar way to LSD (above), although the 'trip' depends on how many you take and how strong they are. They're not generally as strong as LSD.

What are the risks?
As with other hallucinogenics, the effects can be terrifying, weird or hilarious, depending on how the taker is feeling before, etc. But the biggest problem in terms of risk is people picking the wrong type of mushroom by mistake – one of the poisonous varieties which you can actually die from. If someone's in any doubt, they should leave well alone.
Long-term Most people do not suffer long-term from magic mushrooms, particularly as they are not addictive. If someone has depression or mental health difficulties, though, any mind-altering substance could trigger unpleasant reactions.

Are they addictive?
No – like LSD, if they're taken a few days in a row, they stop working.

What's the law on magic mushroooms?
About to change in 2005 and make them a Class A offence.

SOLVENTS

What/how?
'Solvents' means a whole range of possible everyday substances like glue, aerosols, nail varnish remover, petrol, paint, butane gas etc. These all contain chemicals that alter out minds for a short while. They are usually sniffed in through the nose. This means they work dead fast, because they go straight from the lungs into the bloodstream.

How do they affect you?
They get you dizzy, kind of drunk, not in control of your body, possibly drowsy and confused, and distanced from anxiety. The 'hit' (the effect) only lasts about half an hour. You can also get sickness and bad headaches.

What are the risks?
It's difficult to know how much is being sniffed, and what chemicals exactly you're inhaling. With sniffing in a small, enclosed space, there's the danger of not getting enough air and your breathing stopping – this has killed some people. Also, butane gas or aerosols are mega-dodgy because spraying them into the mouth can seize up the throat and stop you breathing. Accidents can also happen because the user is not in control of their body – this is a worry if someone's doing it somewhere alone or where they might fall/drown etc. Long-term they can make you depressed and muddled, with headaches and sore mouth and nose – but these should go when you give up solvent-sniffing.

Are they addictive?
They're not physically addictive. Like with most drugs, you can start feeling you need them, but cutting down or stopping is usually not too bad to handle.

What's the law on solvents?
It's not actually to take solvents, but shops can be done for selling them to an under-18-year-old if they thought they were going to sniff.

Who Do I Contact?
If you have any worries or questions about drugs, don't keep them to yourself – the groups below are there to give support, info and advice, in confidence.

One of the best places to get information is:
Talk to Frank
CONTACTS
Numbers beginning 0800 are always free. Some other nos. may be cheap rate – for example, nos. starting 0345 are usually charged at local rate instead of national rates, wherever you're calling from in the UK. Other calls are charged at normal rates. You can ask a helpline to ring you back if it's too expensive.

Remember, if phone calls are not free, they will be listed on the phone bill, so if you don't want anyone to know, try to ring from a pay-phone. Most freephone (0800) calls are not free if you're calling from a mobile.

Most helplines will never ring you back or contact other organisations with your details unless you want them to. If you're at all worried that they might, you can ask them about this when you first speak to them. You do not have to give your name etc. to a helpline.

National Drugs Helpline
Offers free confidential advice about drugs.
Tel: 0800 77 66 00 (freephone, 24-hour)

ADFAM
Confidential support and information for families and friends of drug users.
Tel: 0202 7928 8900 (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm)
Release
Confidential helpline offering advice on drug use and legal issues. Tel: 020 7603 8654 (24-hour)
Website: www.release.org.uk >>

Release Drugs in Schools
a dvice, information and support for those concerned about a drug incident in school. Tel: 0345 36 66 66 (local rate, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm)

BBC
has a web site with plenty of info, including advice on emergency situations www.bbc.co.uk >>

Remember, if you're worried about drugs (for yourself or for somebody else), you can contact one of these organisations to talk in confidence. They will be sympathetic, non-judgmental and informative, and will either have experienced drug problems themselves or have a very good understanding of how drugs can affect people's lives.