Changing Patterns Changing Patterns and Habits of Drug and Habits of Drug
Use in the UKUse in the UK
Emma May & Ben GilchristEmma May & Ben Gilchrist
Harm Reduction PractitionersHarm Reduction Practitioners
Leeds Citywide Harm Leeds Citywide Harm Reduction ServiceReduction Service
Changing Patters and Habits of Changing Patters and Habits of Drug Use in the UKDrug Use in the UK
Recent trends of drug useRecent trends of drug use
What makes some drugs more desirableWhat makes some drugs more desirable CannabisCannabis KetamineKetamine Legal HighsLegal Highs Poly drug usePoly drug use
Taken in last Taken in last year (2009/2010)year (2009/2010)
Taken in last Taken in last year (2010/11)year (2010/11)
Class AClass A
Cocaine (Powder cocaine, Crack cocaineCocaine (Powder cocaine, Crack cocaine 813,000813,000 704,000704,000
EcstasyEcstasy 517,000517,000 452,000452,000
Hallucinogens (LSD, Magic mushrooms)Hallucinogens (LSD, Magic mushrooms) 161,000161,000 182,000182,000
Opiates (Heroin, Methadone)Opiates (Heroin, Methadone) 50,00050,000 76,00076,000
Class A/BClass A/B
Amphetamines (Amphetamines, Amphetamines (Amphetamines, Methamphetamine)Methamphetamine)
319,000319,000 345,000345,000
Class BClass B
CannabisCannabis 2,152,0002,152,000 2,222,0002,222,000
Class B/CClass B/C
TranquilisersTranquilisers 145,000145,000 143,000143,000
Class CClass C
Anabolic SteroidsAnabolic Steroids 50,00050,000 52,00052,000
KetamineKetamine 159,000159,000 207,000207,000
Not ClassifiedNot Classified
Amyl NitrateAmyl Nitrate 351,000351,000 313,000313,000
CannabisCannabis19891989• 70% Cannabis Resin70% Cannabis Resin
Wide range of imported Wide range of imported types availabletypes available
• 20% Imported herbal 20% Imported herbal cannabiscannabis - often from - often from Caribbean, commanded a Caribbean, commanded a higher pricehigher price
• 10% home grown, oil 10% home grown, oil etcetc – home growers on – home growers on very small scale, very small scale, hobbyists supplying hobbyists supplying themselves and friendsthemselves and friends
20092009• 70% + Herbal Cannabis70% + Herbal Cannabis
– Home grown; hybrids – – Home grown; hybrids – skunk strains White skunk strains White widow, purple power, widow, purple power, skunkskunk
• 20% Cannabis resin20% Cannabis resin – – Primarily ‘soap’Primarily ‘soap’
• 10% Imported herbal10% Imported herbal – – some from Europe, some from Europe, Caribbean, AfricaCaribbean, Africa
Cannabis PopularityCannabis Popularity
EffectsEffects: relaxing, sedating, moderately : relaxing, sedating, moderately hallucinogenichallucinogenic
Social statusSocial status: rebellious, risk taking, gift giving, : rebellious, risk taking, gift giving, barter, rite of passage, relationship buildingbarter, rite of passage, relationship building
Identity shapingIdentity shaping: accessorising, fashion and : accessorising, fashion and musicmusic
Coping mechanismCoping mechanism: escapism, avoid problems, : escapism, avoid problems, self medicatingself medicating
Cheap and availableCheap and available: cheaper and easier to : cheaper and easier to access than other drugs (and alcohol for under access than other drugs (and alcohol for under 18s)18s)
Cannabis CultivationCannabis Cultivation
Estimates that 60-70% of UK cannabis is Estimates that 60-70% of UK cannabis is now grown locallynow grown locally
Home-growing moving away from cottage Home-growing moving away from cottage industry and becoming a bigger gang-led industry and becoming a bigger gang-led industryindustry
Main crop is high-yield, fast maturing Main crop is high-yield, fast maturing cannabiscannabis
Cannabis CultivationCannabis Cultivation
Spend £419.99 on Spend £419.99 on setup.setup.Setup 14 plants in Setup 14 plants in tent provided.tent provided.Grow for 3 months.Grow for 3 months.Harvest 5oz per plant, Harvest 5oz per plant, a total of 70oz.a total of 70oz.Sell for £150 per oz.Sell for £150 per oz.Earn £10,500 which Earn £10,500 which equals £10,080.01 equals £10,080.01 profit.profit.
Spend £419.99 + 3 months = £10,500 Easy money!!
KetamineKetamine
AppearanceAppearance: Comes in liquid form which is : Comes in liquid form which is usually injected. The illegally produced version usually injected. The illegally produced version usually comes as a grainy white powder which is usually comes as a grainy white powder which is usually snorted but it may also be obtained as a usually snorted but it may also be obtained as a tablet. tablet. Classification and LawClassification and Law: Class C : Class C StreetStreet NamesNames :Green, K, special K, super K, :Green, K, special K, super K, vitamin k vitamin k PricesPrices: : average £10- £20 per gm: : average £10- £20 per gmMethod ofMethod of useuse: snort, swallow, inject: snort, swallow, inject
KetamineKetamine
EffectsEffects: Perceptual changes or hallucinations like LSD, : Perceptual changes or hallucinations like LSD, reduces bodily sensation. Trips can last up to an hour reduces bodily sensation. Trips can last up to an hour with after-effects for some hours. It can give the user a with after-effects for some hours. It can give the user a floating feeling as if the mind and body have been floating feeling as if the mind and body have been separated. separated. RisksRisks: Users may be physically incapable of moving : Users may be physically incapable of moving while under the influence. Can cause panic attacks, while under the influence. Can cause panic attacks, depression, and taken in large doses, can make existing depression, and taken in large doses, can make existing mental health problems worse. Suppresses breathing mental health problems worse. Suppresses breathing and heart function and can lead to unconsciousness. and heart function and can lead to unconsciousness. The anaesthetic effect can result in death, for example The anaesthetic effect can result in death, for example due to unconsciousness and inhalation of vomit. Serious due to unconsciousness and inhalation of vomit. Serious bladder and related problemsbladder and related problems
Ketamine Ketamine
Our service users find that ketamine helps with Our service users find that ketamine helps with cramps and pains they experience, so they start cramps and pains they experience, so they start to self medicateto self medicateDependence seems to grow with self medication Dependence seems to grow with self medication – service users have reported concerns in – service users have reported concerns in stopping their use and how to manage their pain.stopping their use and how to manage their pain.Over 30% of ketamine users in our service are Over 30% of ketamine users in our service are female. female.
MephedroneMephedrone
Other names: M-Cat, Bubbles, Drone, Meow Other names: M-Cat, Bubbles, Drone, Meow meowmeow
Appearance: white grainy powder, Appearance: white grainy powder, soluble/insolublesoluble/insoluble
Average price:£20 per gm Average price:£20 per gm
Effects: similar effect to synthetic stimulants, Effects: similar effect to synthetic stimulants, increased alertness, can cause hallucinations increased alertness, can cause hallucinations and paranoia, the high can be better and longer and paranoia, the high can be better and longer lasting than cocaine (self-reported).lasting than cocaine (self-reported).
Mephedrone continued:Mephedrone continued:
Difficult to estimate exact effects as many Difficult to estimate exact effects as many individuals take it with cannabis, ketamine, individuals take it with cannabis, ketamine, ecstasy and/or alcohol.ecstasy and/or alcohol.Health risksHealth risks: sweating, headaches, : sweating, headaches, tachycardia, palpitations, nausea, chest tachycardia, palpitations, nausea, chest pain, bruxism (teeth grinding), pain, bruxism (teeth grinding), agitation/aggression and paranoia, agitation/aggression and paranoia, significant nasal irritation, can be significant nasal irritation, can be addictive.addictive.
Jolly Green GranulesJolly Green Granules
Looks like little green ballsLooks like little green balls
Crushed up and snorted or dissolved in Crushed up and snorted or dissolved in water and drankwater and drank
£18 per gram£18 per gram
Stimulant effects like MDMAStimulant effects like MDMA
Benzo Fury (6-APB)Benzo Fury (6-APB)
Brown type coloured powderBrown type coloured powder
Also comes in pellets or capsulesAlso comes in pellets or capsules
Can be snorted, drank, or swallowedCan be snorted, drank, or swallowed
£35 for 5 pellets£35 for 5 pellets
Stimulant/hallucinogenic effects like Stimulant/hallucinogenic effects like MDMA/LSDMDMA/LSD
MethoxetamineMethoxetamine
Also known as MXE and MKETAlso known as MXE and MKET
Usually SnortedUsually Snorted
Cost £16 per gramCost £16 per gram
Similar effects to KetamineSimilar effects to Ketamine
Being marketed as a “bladder friendly” Being marketed as a “bladder friendly” alternative to Ketaminealternative to Ketamine
http://www.talktofrank.comhttp://www.talktofrank.com
Law around Legal HighsLaw around Legal HighsDrugs sold as ‘Legal Highs’ may contain substances that are illegal to posses The Government has introduced new powers, meaning they can place a temporary ban on any potentially harmful substance, while they await a recommendation from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), on whether it should be permanently controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971The temporary ban will come into immediate effect, but it will have to be agreed by Parliament within 40 days. The drug will not be Class A, B, or C, but called a temporary class drug. It would not be illegal to posses, but the police could confiscate it and destroy it. It will be illegal to import, distribute and sell the drug , and anyone caught could be fined, sent to jail or both.
Drugs on the InternetDrugs on the Internet
How easy is it to buy drugs on the How easy is it to buy drugs on the internet?internet?
Search enginesSearch engines
Legal High Forums Legal High Forums
Websites like plant labz, party plant and e-Websites like plant labz, party plant and e-chemicals, erowid and many, many more!chemicals, erowid and many, many more!
Poly- substance usePoly- substance use
‘‘Recreational’ drug use and prevalence of Recreational’ drug use and prevalence of alcoholalcohol
Cocaine and Alcohol = CocaethyleneCocaine and Alcohol = Cocaethylene
combination of stimulants, legal highs and combination of stimulants, legal highs and ketamineketamine