DRUGS

DRUGS,THE STATS

● An estimated 1 in 3 adults (36.5%), around 12 million people, had ever taken an illicit drug in their lifetime.

○ 3 Million people (8.9%) had done so in the last year.

○ 1.7 million people (5.2%) had done so in the last month.

● Drug usage is consistently higher for young people than for the whole population.

○ For people aged 16-24, 2.5 million people (37.7%) had ever taken an illicit drug in their lifetime;

○ 1.3 million (19.3%) had done so in the last year.

○ 700,000 people (11.1%) had done so in the last month.

● 10 million adult cigarette smokers in Great Britain

● In 2011, 79,100 people died in England from deaths caused by smoking. This was 18% of all deaths of adults aged 35 and over.

● 40 million are social drinkers

● 10 million are " at risk" drinkers

● 1 million problem drinkers

● 200,000 are totally dependent drinkers

● Alcohol abuse alone costs the NHS 3 BILLION a year

● Drug abuse costs the NHS 488 MILLION a year

● Drug related crime costs society 13.9 BILLION a year

SO WHAT IS A DRUG?

A Drug is simply any chemical that affects the way your body works.

This could be anything from Caffeine to Methamphetamine

SO WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

● Sungazing while tripping

● LSD makes you go insane

● Natural drugs are better than synthetic drugs...

● Legal drugs or prescription drugs aren’t bad for you

● Theres no harm in mixing drugs

● Ecstasy rots holes in your brain

● I feel better after taking my prescribed medicine, should I stop?...

● Should I always take medication on an empty stomach?...

● Antibiotics are the cure...

TYPES OF DRUGS

AlcoholCaffeineCocaine (Coke)Mephedrone (drone, MCAT)Amphetamine (speed)TobaccoSolventsCrackEcstasy (MDMA, E)RitalinAdderallMethamphetamine (Crystal)

Modafinil

AlcoholMagic mushrooms (Shrooms)LSD (Acid, Lucy)Ketamine (Special K)Research chemicalsDXM (cough syrup)PCP MescalineLaughing gas / NOS / NitrousN-Bomb (25i, 2-c-i)

AlcoholHeroin (Dope)Cannabis (Weed)RohypnolTramadolMorphineBenzodiazepinesOpiumCodeine

STIMULANTS DEPRESSANTS HALLUCINOGENS

STIMULANTS, WHAT DO THEY DO?

SHORT TERM ● Euphoria● Increased alertness and

wakefulness● Lots of energy● Excessive amounts of talking● Decreased appetite● Insomnia● Big pupils● Raised blood pressure, heart

rate and breathing rate● Increase in body temp

LONG TERM● Anorexia● Irritability● Aggression● Impulsivity● Psychosis● Paranoia● Delusions● Tolerance● Dependance

In 2011, 17 people died from cocaine use alone.

122 people died from using cocaine in combination with something else

DEPRESSANTS,WHAT DO THEY DO?

SHORT TERM● Relaxation● Calmness● Anti-anxiety● Slow brain function● Slowed pulse and breathing● Lowered blood pressure● Poor concentration● Confusion● Fatigue● Dizziness● Slurred speech● Fever● Visual disturbances● Dilated pupils● Disorientation, lack of coordination

LONG TERM:

● Depression● Chronic fatigue● Sexual dysfunction● Chronic insomnia● Respiratory depression and arrest● Addiction● Dependance

In 2011 104 people died from Heroin use alone.355 people died from taking heroin and another drug

HALLUCINOGENS,WHAT DO THEY DO?

SHORT TERM (varies with the trip, good or bad)

● Visual, auditory and other hallucinations(Hearing voices, seeing colours and psychedelic patterns)

● Euphoria● Heightened sensations● Temporary psychosis● Agitation● Paranoia● Distorted perceptions● Nausea, loss of appetite● Irregular heartbeats● Anxiousness● Mixed emotions● Hugely dilated pupils● Raised heart rate● Rapid mood and behaviour changes● Sweating● Altered sense of reality

LONG TERM● Persistent psychosis● Permanently altered sense of reality● Flashbacks● Depression● Paranoia● Delusions● Mental disturbances

WHY DO PEOPLE TAKE DRUGS?

CURIOSITY

PEER PRESSURE

TO COPE

DEPRESSION

ILLNESS

FIT IN

GRIEF

MAKE FRIENDS

STRESSEXPERIMENTATION

RELAX

TO GET THAT MIND ALTERING EXPERIENCE

BOREDOM

REBEL

ADDICTION

TO PARTY

TO ESCAPE

SOCIAL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE

● Drug abuse won't just affect your physical health● It affect all aspects of your life, social, mental and physical● Abusing drugs can lead to behavioural changes

○ Loss of motivation■ leads to lack of productivity

○ Reduced libido○ Reduced social skills○ Loss of concentration and focus○ Lowered inhibitions○ Increase of decrease in determination

● Social changes○ Loss of interest in friends/family○ Loss of integrity and compromised principles (will do anything for the next hit)○ Lose touch with reality and morality○ Loss of friends and respect from other people○ Relationship breakdown

■ Adds stress to a relationship○ Failure to achieve life goals

OVERDOSING

● This is when you take so much of a drug that it becomes toxic and can seriously harm health.

● Most overdoses are accidental● Overdoses are not just caused by “Bad”

drugs.● Paracetamol overdoses are the most

common● Depressant overdoses are also very

common, especially when taken in combination

● Overdosing doesn't mean certain death

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU OVERDOSE ON STIMULANTS?

● Erratic heart beat● Bleeds in the brain● Seizures and convulsions● Stroke● Respiratory failure● Heart failure● Brain damage● Coma● Death

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU OVERDOSE ON HALLUCINOGENS

● Convulsions, seizures● Brain bleeds, that could cause stroke● Brain damage● Psychosis

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU OVERDOSE ON DEPRESSANTS

● Difficulty breathing● Slow pulse● Delirium● Muscle cramps● Coma● Death

ADDICTION AND DEPENDENCE

Psychological Addiction

Four stages● Initiation - Start of addiction (first

encounter with drug)● Maintenance - Roots of addiction founded● Cessation - Breaking addictive behaviours● Relapse - Inevitable re-initiation of

addictive tendencies, start back at maintenance stage.

● Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the drug they can be anything from a bad headache to sudden death.

● The exact cause of dependence is not known. Many factors are involved

○ A person's genes○ The action of the drug○ Have depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety

disorders, and schizophrenia○ Have easy access to drugs○ Have low self-esteem, or problems with

relationships○ Live a stressful lifestyle, economic or

emotional○ Live in a culture where there is a high

social acceptance of drug use

Addiction is the compulsive use of a drug despite its negative or dangerous effects

You can have one without the other, and an example would be cocaine, it causes addiction but not dependence

Drug dependence means that a person needs a drug to function normally. Abruptly stopping the drug leads to withdrawal symptoms.

THE LAWClass Drug Possession Supply and production

A Crack cocaine, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), heroin, LSD, magic mushrooms, methadone, methamphetamine (crystal meth)

Up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both

Up to life in prison, an unlimited fine or both

B Amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis, codeine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones (eg mephedrone, methoxetamine)

Up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both

Up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both

C Anabolic steroids, benzodiazepines (diazepam), gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), ketamine, piperazines (BZP)

Up to 2 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both

Up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both

Temporary class drugs* NBOMe and Benzofuran compounds

None, but police can take away a suspected temporary class drug

Up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both

We are not here to stop you from doing drugs, and while we advise you not too, we are here to educate you on the risks and effects that drug use can bring. It’s a decision that only you can make.

DRUG SAFETY

If your mind is made up about it and you are going to take drugs, please be aware of the associated risks such as

● Sharing needles and the risks of HIV or Hep C

● The impurities in the drug you are taking and the dangers this can bring, e.g MDMA, coke

Whilst we do not condone or encourage drug use, your health and safety is our main concern.

Good advice to remember when taking drugs

● Stay hydrated (With MDMA be careful as too much or too less and be extremely dangerous)

● Try to eat something before● Do it in a safe environment

whenever possible● If you decide to “trip” get a sober

friend to “trip sit”● Never take more than you need.● Never double dose● Know your limits and practice

moderation● Don’t take drugs from random

people● Do some research, know what you

are getting into

Don’t just take drugs because all your friends are doing it

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFO

Talk to Frank: http://www.talktofrank.com/worried-about-a-friend

Drugscope: http://www.drugscope.org.uk/

Childline https://www.childline.org.uk/talk/Pages/Talk.aspx

NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/drugs/Pages/Drugshome.aspx

Drug Aware http://drugaware.com.au/Stay-Safe.aspx

Email us: Health4youths@gmail.com

Just one risky action can have life-long consequences.

Questions?