Truth About All Drugs

8/2/2019 Truth About All Drugs

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the truth about drugs

KNOW THE SCORE


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Drugs lots of them lots to know about them

Acid [LSD]Base [Speed]Bhang [Cannabis]Billy [Speed]Black [Cannabis]Blow [Cannabis]Brown [Heroin]

Charlie [Cocaine]Christine[Methylamphetamine]Coke [Cocaine]Crazy medicine[Methylamphetamine]Crystal Meth

[Methylamphetamine]Dope [Cannabis]Draw [Cannabis]Dust [Cocaine]E [Ecstasy]Flash [LSD]Freebase [Crack cocaine]

Ganja [Cannabis]Gear [Cannabis and Heroin]Glass [Methylamphetamine]Grass [Cannabis]H [Heroin]Hash [Cannabis]Herb [Cannabis]

Ice [Methylamphetamine]

Junk [Heroin]Liberties [Magic mushrooms]Liquid Gold [Poppers]Lucy [LSD]Marijuana [Cannabis]MDMA [Ecstasy]Meth [Speed]

Mushies [Magic mushrooms]Percy [Cocaine]Pills [Ecstasy]Puff [Cannabis]Resin [Cannabis]Rock [Crack cocaine]Shrooms [Magic mushrooms]

Skag [Heroin]Skunk [Cannabis]Smilies [LSD]Snow [Cocaine]Spliff [Cannabis]Tab [LSD]Tina [Methylamphetamine]

Toot [Cocaine]Trips [LSD]Wash [Crack cocaine]Weed [Cannabis]White [Cocaine]Whizz [Speed]Yaba [Methylamphetamine]


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Think everyone takes drugs?Most peopledont. And many talk up what theyve reallydone. So how do you know whats fact andwhats fi ction?

This A-Z booklet gives the lowdownon lots of the more commonly usedlegal and illegal drugs.

It tells you about their effects andtheir risks and also gives you info

on other things to do with drug usethat you might find interesting. Likewhat to do if youre worried abouta mate. Or what happens when youmix drugs.

talktofrank.com 01

There are also stories from people whovebeen there, done that. And details on whereto go for help and advice so that, when it

comes to drugs, you know the score.


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02 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

Looks like: Beer, lager,alcopops, cider, wine,spirits and shots.

Highs: In small amounts

alcohol can help yourelax and feel moresociable. It makes youremotions more intense,which is OK if youre in agood mood, but not so

great if youre feeling low.Lows: Too much alcoholand youll start slurringyour words and getclumsy or fall over. Youmight start crying or

getting angry or dosomething you regret.Mixing with other drugscan be dangerous, anddrinking too much in onego can lead to alcohol

poisoning which can

make you unconsciousor even kill you. If youdrink alcohol a lot, youcan end up feeling

depressed. A long-termdrinking habit can causeliver, heart and stomachproblems. You can alsoget addicted andbecome an alcoholic.

If youre under 18, it isillegal for someone tosell you alcohol. Andillegal for someone elseto buy it on your behalf.

AAlcohol


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Looks like: Tablets thatare swallowed or aliquid that is injected.

Highs: Steroids help build

up muscles if you takethem as part of a strictexercise programme.They might also helppeople recover fasterfrom strenuous exercise.

Lows:Steroids can makeyou aggressive, even ifyou are normally calm.They can also stop yougrowing properly.

> blokes you can geterection problems,grow breasts, developacne or your testiclescould shrink

> girls you can getextra facial hair, adeep voice and yourbreasts could shrink

You might start gettingparanoid, confused orhave trouble sleeping.Longer term, they can

give you high bloodpressure and liver or heartproblems. After you stoptaking them, you mightfeel tired or low for awhile. Theres a risk of

damaging your veinsor muscles if you inject.

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Anabolic steroids(Class C)


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Ben, 15When I think of dealers I

think of big time gangsters

or people outside clubs.

Not me. All I did was try

to sort a few friends outwith some pills and a

bit of whizz. The police

havent told me whats

going to happen yet. I

could get a reprimand or

a formal warning. I mighteven have to appear in

court. Mum was in a state

of shock when she turned

up at the police station.

Shes said shell stand by

me but I know she feels

let down.

See THE LAW [pages24-25] for more info onwhat could happenif you supply drugs tofriends even if yougive them for free.

B

04 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00


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Its the way you feel after taking a drug. It

depends on what the drug is and how much

youve taken. And it depends on how you are

feeling, where you are taking it and who youre

with. But you might

Buzz

1. Get highSome drugs make you feelmore alert and energetic.= cocaine; crack; ecstasy;

poppers; speed; tobacco

2. Calm downSome drugs slow you down.They can make you feelcalm and sleepy. = alcohol;cannabis; gases, gluesand aerosols [also knownas volatile substances];GHB; tranquillisers

3. Trip outSome drugs affect your

mind. They distort theway you see, hear,

feel and smell things.= cannabis; ecstasy;ketamine; LSD; magicmushrooms

4. Get knocked outSome drugs block outphysical and emotionalpain. = heroin

But if the high was the

only thing that happened,wouldnt everyone betaking drugs?

See COMEDOWN[page 11] and checkout the LOWS throughout

this leafl et.


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06 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

Looks like:

> hash = blacky-brownlump made from resin

> grass or weed = the

dried, chopped leaves.Often called herbal

> skunk = a type ofherbal cannabis. Canbe 2-3 times strongerthan other varieties

Usually mixed with tobaccoand smoked as a spliff orjoint. Can also be used tomake tea or can be bakedin hash cakes and cookies.

Highs: Smoking a spliffmakes a lot of peoplehappy and relaxed andthe effects can last afew hours. Some peoplehave one puff and getthe giggles. It can make

colours and sounds seembrighter and sharper.

Lows: Some people throwup, especially if theyve

been drinking. Somepeople get anxious orparanoid. Smoking itincreases your chances ofgetting diseases like lungcancer and bronchitis.

Regular users have anincreased risk of mentalhealth problems, includingschizophrenia. This couldbe worse if you smoke alot, are young and smoke

strong cannabis, like skunk.You shouldnt take cannabisat all if youve a history ofmental health problems,depression or paranoia.

CCannabis(Class B)


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Long-term use may affectmemory and concentrationlevels, which can hinderperformance in school,

college or work in somecases causing peopleto give up or drop out.Cannabis has also beenknown to drain peopleof energy, leaving users

tired and lazy and morelikely to sit around thanget on with things.

fiction:Justbecauseitsnaturaldoesntmeanitwontharmyou.SeeLowsabove.Anddontforget,cannabisisillegal.

fact or fiction?

Its OK to smoke

cannabis because

its natural.


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08 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

Drugs cost. If you take pills every weekend,

you could easily end up spending quite a

chunk of cash in a year just on the drugs. A

coke habit can cost up to 100 day. Stealing

to pay for drugs can land you with a conviction.

Cash

It was getting crazy.

Each time I did it, I

just wanted more. I was

blowing all my cash on

it and always looking

out for a chance to score.

My girlfriend was getting

fed up with me having no

money so I decided I had

to face up to what what

drugs were costing me.

And there are othercosts too:

> to your health [page 18]

> to your safety [page 36]> to your goals [page 22]

Drugs can cost you evenmore. Check out THELAW on pages 24-25.


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The costs are not just fi nancial. Sociallyand environmentally, drugs take their toll.Because drugs dont just affect the peoplewho use them: they impact on the lives ofpeople who become victims of drug-relatedcrime, and on those who have to live withthe mess that drug users leave behind. Theyalso affect workers in other countries whogrow the raw materials, and the people who

are involved in smuggling and transportation.

Remember


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With drugs like cocaine, speed and ecstasy

the high is followed by a comedown where you

might feel tired, depressed or physically low.

With ecstasy, the comedown following

weekend clubbing can last a few days,and some clubbers call it mid-week flu.

With crack cocaine the comedown is more

of a crash and you might crave more of the

drug. When they crash, some people can

get irritable or aggressive.

Comedown


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12 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

Blood and mucus areeasily transferred ontostraws and notes andthese can spread

disease when you sharesnorting equipment.[And you probablydont want to thinkabout how the drugwas bought into the

country or the unhygienicplaces where lines getchopped out.] As wellas spreading diseasesif you share needles,injecting cocaine can

cause vein damage,ulcers and gangrene.

Looks like: Small lumpsor rocks about the sizeof a raisin, made out ofcocaine, baking powder

and water. Its calledcrack because it makesa crackling sound whenits being burnt. Usuallysmoked in a pipe, glasstube, plastic bottle or in

foil. Can also be injected.Highs: Same short-livedeffects as snortingcocaine, but muchstronger and a moreintense high.

Lows: Crack cocaine isextremely addictive andits an expensive habitbecause the effects

wear off so quickly. Itcan cause hallucinations,

mood swings and massiveparanoia. High doses canraise your temperatureand stop you breathingand, if you overdose, itcan be fatal. Heavy users

often get anxious andparanoid, have troublesleeping and feel sickquite a lot.

Crack cocaine (Class A)

Crystal Meth See page 30


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DDepression

Drug-driving

Feeling a bit low or moody the day after

or sometimes even longer is part of the

deal with most drugs.

You know that drink-driving is illegal. What

you might not know is that drug-driving is

illegal too.

Sometimes it gets moreserious. If things dont makesense any more and youwant to curl up and hide,you probably need to talkto someone who canhelp, such as your GP.

After a while I didntfeel like myself anymore.

I didnt know where the

old me had gone to.

Sammi, 18

You need co-ordination,anticipation, concentrationand good judgement todrive safely. And all ofthese things can go out

of the window if youreon drugs.

The police are usingroadside tests to findout whether motoristsare unfit to drive becauseof alcohol or drugs


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14 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

Looks like: Pure ecstasyis a white crystal powderwhich scientists callMDMA. Ecstasy sold on

the street usually comesin tablets and is unlikelyto be pure MDMA. Italso comes in all sorts ofcolours and designs, andcan sometimes be sold

as powder.Highs: You have loadsof energy. Sounds, coloursand emotions feel moreintense you might feellike you love everyone

around you.

Lows: Ecstasy can causeanxiety, panic attacksand confusion. It raisesyour temperature and

makes your heart beatfaster. There have beenover 200 reportedecstasy-related deathsin the UK since 1990. Insome cases E stops the

body producing urine,so if you drink too muchliquid too quickly, it caninterfere badly with yourbodys salt balance. Younever know what youregetting with an E or howyoull react.

See HARM [page 18]

Whats in your E?SeeX the unknown[page 44]

EEcstasy (Class A)


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FFRANKis here to give you friendly, confidential

advice on any subject related to drugs:

> what they are and what they do

> pressure from your mates

> looking after yourself

> what to do if things go wrong

> where to get help locally

FRANK is available in 120 languages, 24 hours a day,7 days a week. Calls are free from landlines and somemobiles. You can talk to FRANK confi dentially:

> on 0800 77 66 00

> by textphone [for the hard of hearing] 0800 917 8765

> by emailing [email protected]

> by going to www.talktofrank.com and adding the

FRANK Bot as a contact on your instant messenger


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16 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

Looks like:Gas lighterrefi lls, cans of hairspray,

deodorants, air fresheners,tins or tubes of glue,nail varnish andpetroleum products.

Highs: Makes youfeel dizzy and a bit like

being drunk. You loseyour inhibitions.

Lows:Volatile substancescan lead to coma andheart problems and cankill you instantly. People

have died the fi rst timetheyve used them.Squirting gas productsinto your mouth isparticularly dangerousand deadly. It makes your

throat swell so you cantbreathe and makes your

heart slow down. Itsimportant not to scare

or chase someone who ishigh on glue as a suddenshock can be fatal.

They can seriously affectyour judgment so youmight try something

stupid. At the very least,you could get a red rasharound your mouth, besick or pass out.

It is against the law for a

shopkeeper to sell ANYproduct to someone under

18 if they suspect they

might use it to get high.

GGases, Glues and Aerosolsand other volatile substances


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Looks like: A clear liquidwith no smell, which tastesslightly salty. It comes insmall bottles or capsules.

A capful is a normal dose.Sometimes comes inpowder form.

Highs: Can make youfeel euphoric, sensual anduninhibited. Effects can

last up to a whole day.

Lows: You might feel sick,you can get muscletremors and you mightlose consciousness. It

can be fatal if its mixedwith alcohol or otherdrugs. Take too much andyoull start to feel sleepyand out of it. Because itsalmost tasteless, its easily

slipped into a drink soits sometimes used insex attacks like rape.We dont know what thelong-term effects of GHBare but you can becomephysically dependent onhigh doses.

GHB (Class C)


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18 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

HHarmSubstances are not safe and can cause long-

term harm. But, to reduce the amount of harm

they can do, anyone who takes drugs should:

> avoid mixing drugs see MIXING IT[page 31] for more info

> pace themselves itcan take a while forsubstances to kick in

> take a break if theyredancing, they shouldtake regular breaksto cool down, drinkwater and checkhow theyre feeling

> keep hydrated[especially if takingecstasy and speedwhile clubbing]. Itsbest to sip fruit juiceor isotonic sports drinks

regularly [no morethan a pint an hour]

> keep track of theamount theyre using to avoid an overdose

> stay with other people especially if they startto feel ill

> take it easy the morningafter to help theirbody recover. Thatmeans simple, healthystuff like water, toastand orange juice


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Haylee, 17The first time I took

coke I was at a party

and up for a good time.

I felt like I was IT after

Id done it. After a while,coke was ruling my

social life. But the highs

werent as good as they

used to be, so when

someone suggested

crack I decided to tryit. Before long, that was

what Id choose if I could

get my hands on it. The

only thing was, I always

felt really ill afterwards.

One night, a couple of

guys I was with were

smoking heroin to get

through the crash.

They said I should takesome. Id always seen

myself as someone who

took drugs to have a

laugh. This made me

realise I was in too deep.

Getting into heroin was

never part of the plan.


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20 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

Looks like: Pure heroinis white and is rarely seenon the streets. The streetheroin you are more likely

to come across can varyin colour from dark brownto yellowish off-white. Itcan be smoked, snortedor dissolved in water andinjected or heated and

inhaled [called chasingthe dragon].

Highs: Heroin slows yourbody down and stopspain. Most people geta big rush or buzz a few

minutes after taking it,which makes them feelgood about themselves.

Lows: Heroin is veryaddictive and your bodygets used to it very quicklyso you have to take more

and more just to feelnormal and avoidsevere withdrawals. Youcan get sleepy, dizzy orvomit; large doses canput you in a coma or

even kill you, especially iftaken with alcohol. If youtake it with other drugs including alcohol youare more likely to overdose.

See page 22 for infoon INJECTING

Also see UNCONSCIOUS[page 42]

Heroin (Class A)


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Wish you were here?

Weather is hot so theresmore chance of gettingdehydrated if youre

taking ecstasy or speed.Putting alcohol into themix can make thingseven worse.

Loads to do but dontget so off your head

you cant fi nd your wayback to your hotel orend up doing somethingyou regret.

New experiences different food, scenery,

clubs and people. Is itwise to experiment withsomething like drugswhen youre in an

unfamiliar place? Andthats without the risksyou face if you get

caught [see below].Friendly locals and youll be treatedlike a local if you getcaught with drugs. Somecountries have much

stricter laws than in theUK theres a deathsentence for some drugoffences in Thailand,Malaysia, Singapore,Indonesia, Iran and

Algeria. Some countrieswill not let you in in thefi rst place if you havea drug conviction.

Holidays


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22 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

IInjectingCocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and speed

are sometimes injected.

It takes the drug straight into the bloodstream so itgives people a quicker, bigger high.

But it can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangreneand spread HIV and viral hepatitis. Injecting aspeedball cocaine and heroin can be deadly.

JJobs

Drugs can make a job or school or college really hard work.

They can mess up the way you act, how well you canfocus, what you remember and how you deal withpeople. And a drug conviction might stop you gettingyour dream job.


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Looks like: Usually comesas a grainy white powderwhich is snorted or boughtas a tablet.

Highs: Ketamine makesyou hallucinate. You cantrip for up to 3 hours[depending on the dose]and you might have anout of body experience.

Lows: Its an anaestheticand stops you feelingpain, so youre in dangerof injuring yourself badly

without knowing youvedone it. Sometimespeople are physicallyincapable of moving.

It can cause panicattacks, depression and,

in large doses, can makemental health problemslike schizophrenia worse.Large doses can makeit diffi cult to breathe andcan cause heart failure.

If youre sick, theres arisk you could choke onyour vomit.

SeeSAFETY[page 36]

KKetamine (Class C)


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24 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

LThe lawThere are two offences police can chargeyou with if you are caught with drugs:

PossessionIf you are caught withdrugs the police willalways take action, evenif its only a small amount.What happens dependson the circumstances.

You might get a warningand have the drugconfi scated or, if itsmore serious, you willbe arrested.

The police will think its

more serious if:> youve been caught

with Class A drugs

> this isnt the fi rst timeyouve been caught

DealingDealing is much moreserious and includesbeing caught with drugsthat you were going toshare with your mates.

A drug dealer couldend up in jail for a longtime [see maximumpenalties overleaf].


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The three Classes of illegal drugsIllegal drugs are put into three categories: Class A,B and C. Class A are the most harmful and havethe biggest penalties.

A criminal record could affect your chancesof getting a job or going on holiday abroad.

Remember drug-driving is as illegal asdrink-driving and carries the same penalties.

DRUG

Class A cocaine, crackcocaine, crystal meth,ecstasy, heroin, LSD and

magic mushrooms

Class B cannabis,speed [Class A ifprepared for injection]

Class C anabolicsteroids, ketamine, illegalpossession of prescriptiondrugs like tranquillisers

MAXIMUM PENALTIES

carries the heaviestpenalties, includingup to seven years in jail

for possession and lifeimprisonment for supply

up to fi ve years in jail forpossession and 14 yearsfor supply

up to two years in jail forpossession and 14 yearsfor supply


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26 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

One E or a few spliffs will make you look

a bit out of it. But long-term drug use can

affect your appearance including your skin,

hair and weight. And your personal hygiene

might end up taking a back seat too.

Looks

I couldnt bear to look

in the mirror any more

I looked really old,

my skin was pasty and

spotty, my eyes were

black and I hadnt even

bothered to keep my

clothes clean. Stacey, 17


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Looks like: Tiny squaresof paper called tabs,usually with pictureson them.

Highs: A trip makesyou hallucinate [seeor hear things that arentthere] and feeds off yourimagination for up to12 hours. Colours and

sounds can be moreintense, and objects,time and movementare often distorted.

Lows: If you panic ona trip it can be scary

and confusing. A badtrip can be your worstnightmare come to life you could harm yourselfwhile having a bad tripand you might also get

fl ashbacks days or monthsafter the event.

Theres no evidenceto suggest LSD doesany long-term physicaldamage, but if you havemental health problems,

it can make them worse.If you have a history ofserious mental healthproblems in your family,it can be a bad idea totake LSD as it can bringunderlying problems tothe surface.

LSD (Class A)


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Looks like: Raw or driedmushrooms. The mostcommon is the LibertyCap which is small and

tan coloured.Highs:Like LSD, but the tripis often milder and shorterand typically lasts about4 hours. People feel gigglyand confi dent. Taking lots

of mushrooms can distortcolour, sound, objects,time and movement.

Lows: Mushrooms makesome people dizzy, sickor have diarrhoea. They

can make you hallucinate[which means you couldsee or hear things thatarent really there] andthis can be frightening.

You could get fl ashbackswhere you re-live partof the trip and, as withLSD, bad trips can be

terrifying. If you have amental health problem,magic mushrooms mightcomplicate it. And theresalways the risk of takinga poisonous mushroom

by mistake as they lookquite similar.

MMagic mushrooms (Class A)

28 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00


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Is it doing your head inas well as theirs? Youcould try talking to them.

Check out the tips below:

1. Decide what you wantto say before you begin.What do you think theproblem is and what doyou want them to do?

2. Pick your moment.Talk to them when yourecalm and when they arenot high.

3. Avoid asking why?

Instead, ask questionsthat start with how, when,what or where.

4. Focus on them, notthe drugs. The drugsarent doing anything

to you your mate is.You need to explain howtheir behaviour affectsyou. Are they unreliable?Moody? Broke?

5. Listen to them. If theygo for help, offer to gowith them.

At the end of the day, ifyou cant accept theirchoices, you need to

decide whether you wantto carry on being mates.

If they need help [or youneed help to deal withthem], FRANK can help.Call 0800 77 66 00 or logon to talktofrank.com

Mates

talktofrank.com 29

Got a mate taking drugs?


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Methadone is amanufactured drug thathas similar effects to heroin,although it doesnt give

the same degree of high.It is used as a substitutefor heroin in the treatmentof heroin addiction.

Looks like: Its a type

of amphetamine thatcomes as a tablet,powder or crystals.

Highs: Gives a veryintense rush similar tocrack cocaine but lasting

between 4 and 12 hours.It suppresses the appetiteand keeps you awake.

Lows: Crystal meth is veryaddictive and peopleoften end up bingeing

on it. It can cause mentalhealth problems and

affect your appearance

big time. Your teeth andgums could rot away[known as meth mouth]and you could get nausea,vomiting and diarrhoea.Some people get skinulcers through pickingat bugs they imagine arecrawling under their skin.While on the drug, usersoften indulge in riskysexual behaviour.

Methadone

Methamphetamine (Class A)aka Methylamphetamine Crystal Meth

30 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00


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Mixing itAll drugs carry risks. But mixing them

can make things a lot more dangerous.

tranquillisers+alcoholDowner drugs like thisslow down your heart rateand breathing. Combiningthe two can make theeffect even stronger.

heroin+tranquillisers

or alcoholOverdose is much morelikely when these drugsare combined.

heroin +cocaineKnown as a speedball,

this can be deadly.cocaine+alcoholProduces a highly toxicsubstance in the bodycalled cocaethylenewhich affects your heart

and stays in your systemlonger than cocaine alone.

stimulants [like cocaineand speed]+alcoholThese both put pressureon the heart, increasingthe risk of heart attack.

stimulants+stimulantsSometimes the effectsdont kick in straight awayso people take somethingelse. This can give anunpleasant effect andcan put a serious strainon the heart.

ecstasy+cannabisSometimes people takecannabis to take theedge off an ecstasy trip.But instead of calmingyou down, it could makeyou anxious and paranoid.


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32 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

Wed been hanging out,

having a few drinks and

then went back to my

friend Pauls house. His

brother and a couple of

other mates had been

clubbing and had all

taken some Es. I dont

know what else theyd

had but they were all off

their heads. His brother

rolled a spliff and it

started doing the rounds.

Paul took a puff andpassed it to me. Id never

done cannabis before

so I tried it I didnt

want my mates to think

I couldnt handle it.

Not sure what to say ifyour mates are takingdrugs? Check out MATESon page 29.

NNick, 16


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O

P

Overdose

Panic

Theres no such thing as a safe amount to

take. But an overdose is when you take so

much your body cant cope. If this happens

youll need urgent medical attention.

With some drugs like cocaine and heroin, your tolerancecan build up very quickly, so you need more and moreto get the same high. And, after a break, your tolerancegoes down. Its easy to take too much.

When someones on

ecstasy, LSD, mushroomsor speed theres a riskthey might panic.

So how do you dealwith it?

> calm them down

and be reassuring

> steer them clear of

crowds, noisy musicand bright lights

> tell them to take longslow breaths

> if someones high[especially on volatile

substances], dont scarethem it could kill them


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Looks like: Poppers comein small bottles fi lled withliquid chemicals calledalkyl nitrites. They are

sold in sex shops, clubsand gay bars.

Highs:You get a headrush that lasts a couple ofminutes. Sniffi ng poppersduring sex can make

sexual organs feel biggerand orgasms last longer.

Lows: The effects dontlast long and can leavepeople feeling sick, faintand weak. They can give

you a severe headache,or a rash around yournose and mouth. Theycan burn your skin if youspill them or kill you ifyou swallow them. Taking

poppers is a bad ideafor anyone with chestor heart problems, orif you are anaemic orhave glaucoma [an eyedisorder]. Some men saythey have trouble gettingan erection after sniffi ngpoppers. Poppers arenot addictive but theyare toxic. Using Viagraand poppers togethercan affect your heart.

Poppers

34 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00


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Q

R

Questions?

Recovery position

Dont keep them bottled up. FRANK can giveyou friendly, confi dential help and advice on0800 77 66 00. FRANK is available 24 hoursa day or by email [email protected]

If someones in a badway on drugs, put themin the recovery position

while youre waiting forhelp to arrive.


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No drug is completely safe. There are lotsof different risks:

> HARM see page 18> SAFETY see below

> LOWS these are different for each drug.See their individual pages for more info.

Risks

Your safety is at risk when you are on drugs:

> being reckless some drugs can make you feelinvincible, putting yourself or others at risk of injury.

> making bad decisions some drugs can cloud yourjudgement so you might do something you regret.

> being attacked make sure your drinks arenttampered with so youre not at risk of drug-assistedsexual assault.

> getting in with the wrong crowd you might endup getting involved in crime.

SafetyS

36 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00


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Some drugs makeyou less choosyVolatile substances[which include gases,

glues and aerosols], GHBand alcohol make youless inhibited, so youmight pull someone youwouldnt usually looktwice at.

Some drugs let you downAlcohol, tranquillisersand heroin can turn abig night of passion intoa big night of nothing.Regular heroin users

can lose their sex drivealtogether. You couldend up taking morerisks and do things youwouldnt normally do, orforget to use a condom.

Some drugs canbe deceptiveLots of people thinkcocaine, speed and

ecstasy are good forsex. They might makeyou feel horny, but youmight not be able tofollow through.

Some are bad news

GHB and rohypnol aresometimes used in sexualassault theyre slippedinto drinks to help knockpeople out.

At the time I thought

phwoar and couldntbelieve my luck. But

by four in the morning

I was starting to think

straighter. I definitely

wouldnt have taken it

that far if I hadnt beenso out of it.Jamal, 17

Sex


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Skunk is a very strongform of cannabis that isproduced using specialbreeding techniques.

It can be 2 3 timesstronger than hash. Itscalled skunk becauseof its powerful smell andit has a much strongereffect than hash or

traditional herbalcannabis. It has becomemore common in recentyears than the less potentforms of cannabis.

You need to watch out

for skunk, as it containsmuch more THC [thestuff that gets you high]than ordinary cannabis.So be aware: skunk canreally mess you up.

Mental health

If you smoke cannabisregularly, you have anincreased risk of developingserious mental healthproblems, includingschizophrenia. Smoking

skunk might increasethese risks even more.You just dont know howit will affect your mentalhealth in the future.

Skunk (Class B)

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Looks like: Usually sold inwraps like cocaine. Thepowder is off-white or pinkand sometimes looks likesmall crystals. Base speedis pinky-grey and feels likeputty. Speed is dabbedon the gums or sniffed inlines. It can also be rolled

up in cigarette paper andswallowed [a speedbomb],mixed in drinks or injected.

Highs: Speed makes youfeel wide awake, excited,chatty and full of energy

and stops you feelinghungry. It can causehallucinations if you sniff alot in a short space of time.

Lows: Speed puts a strainon your heart and taking

it with anti-depressants or

alcohol can be fatal.It can make you anxious,low, irritable or aggressive

and too much sniffi ngof it can damage yournose. If you use it a lot,you could get more colds,fl u and sore throats.Injecting carries the usual

risks associated withneedle use. The high isfollowed by a long, slowcomedown which makesyou feel irritable and canlast for one or two days.

When I decided totake speed my mates

told me what to expect.

But I checked things

out myself and what

theyd said was only

half the story. Dan, 16

Speed (Class B)[but Class A if prepared for injection]

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40 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

TobaccoLooks like: A brown,flaky mixture of driedand rubbed leaves ofthe tobacco plant, which

is smoked or chewed.Sometimes cannabis isadded to make a spliffor joint.

Highs: Regular smokerssay it helps them relax

and feel less hungry.Lows: Nicotine is a highlyaddictive drug. It speedsup the heart rate andincreases your bloodpressure. Smokers get

hooked very quicklyand it can take yearsand a huge effort to kickthe habit. (For friendly

advice on giving up,call the NHS smokefree lineon 0800 022 4332). Long-term addiction can lead

to cancer and seriouslung and heart problems.Smoking has been linkedto 2,000 amputations and106,000 premature deathsa year in the UK.

Smoking when pregnantcan put your baby at risk.

From 1 October 2007it became illegal forsomeone to sell you

cigarettes and tobaccoproducts if you areunder 18.

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Looks like: Tranquillisers areprescribed by doctors totreat anxiety and insomnia.They can come as tablets,

capsules, injections andsuppositories [tablets youput up your bum].

Highs: Tranquillisers calmpeople down. Somepeople have them on

prescription. They makeyou feel more relaxedand less anxious but bigdoses can make yousleepy and forgetful.Theyre often used as

chill-out drugs on theclub scene.

Lows: Some cause short-term memory loss. If youtake tranquillisers withother downer drugs

like alcohol you mightaccidentally overdose.Injecting crushed tabletsor melted-down capsules

can block veins and maykill you. You can becomedependent quite quickly some people getaddicted after using themfor just four weeks and

withdrawal can causepounding headaches,sickness and confusion.

Tranquillisers (Class C)

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42 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

UUnconsciousIf someones gone overboard with alcohol, volatilesubstances, heroin or poppers, theres a risk they mightlose consciousness. Call 999 immediately and placethem in theRECOVERY POSITION [see page 35].

Vicky, 18We were celebrating

Beckys birthday and

ended up at a club.

Wed all been so intothe music and dancing

that, at first, we didnt

notice that Danni was

missing. We found her

slumped on a sofa

completely out of it and

not breathing properly.

We got someone from

the club to help. While

we were waiting for the

ambulance, they gaveher mouth-to-mouth

and put her on her side

so she wouldnt choke

if she was sick. Shes

OK now but we were so

lucky we found someone

who knew what to do.

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If you or your mates take drugs regularly

or over a long period, look out for signs

that suggest the drug use is becoming

a problem. Such as:

> losing interest in things you used to enjoy

> things not going so well at home

> not being able to concentrate

> skipping school, college or work

> not caring how you look

> feeling depressed

> feeling jittery

> becoming a drug bore

> losing touch with your true friends> only going out somewhere if theres

a chance you will score drugs

Warning signs

W

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44 call FRANK 0800 77 66 00

X

Whats in it:> with cocaine you

might get a wrappadded out with sugaror talcum powder

> you wont know for surewhat an Es got in it. Itsoften mixed with caffeine,speed or other chemicals

> most heroin boughton the street is impure.Some people haveoverdosed on pureheroin because theirbody is only used toan impure dose

> batches of skunkhave been found thatcontain very tiny glassbeads which you cantsee. Inhaling hot glassis not a good idea

How you react to it:> lots of drugs affect

the heart and bodytemperature. The waythat your body takesthe strain will affect howyou are feeling

What happens that night:> if youre on LSD and

youre not in a goodmood or somethingstrange happens,the trip could turninto a nightmare

X the unknownTheres always an element of the unknown with drugs.


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Y

Y

Your life, your future

ZZZZZZZZZ

Its up to you to set your own limits when it comesto drinking and drugs. Take it easy and makesure you know what the risks are. And dont bepersuaded by other people to do things youre not

sure about. But remember, most people dont dodrugs. Its your life shouldnt you be in control?

Zoned out..zonkedzombie

Drugs might make you high. But they canalso make you tiredand boringand helpyou achieve a big fat zero.

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C

rownCopyright2009200kApr09293987

0800 77 66 00talktofrank.com

FRANK is available in 120 languages,24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calls arefree from landlines and some mobiles.You can talk to FRANK confidentially:

> on 0800 77 66 00

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> by emailing [email protected]

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FRANK can also tell you what servicesare available in your area.

Truth About All Drugs

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Transcript of Truth About All Drugs