drugs and alcohol

People take drugs for all sorts of reasons. It may seem cool, make you feel funny or just for a laugh. Whatever the reason, the reality is you never know what the actual affects may be and what danger you are putting your body in. Drugs affect people in different ways and whenever you take any drug you are taking a serious risk. It can also depend on what mood you are in, the atmosphere and the strength of the drug, so even if you have taken a drug once it may have a completely different affect on your body the next time.

Alcohol

Slang names booze, juice, sauce
What does it look like? Liquid – different colours and consistency
How is it taken? Drunk
What are the effects? People can feel happy, loud and confident.
What are the risks? One can feel very sick, vomit, dizzy and do things they may not remember or regret at a later date. Alcohol also causes people to become aggressive and violent. ‘Hangovers’ can last a long time and can make one feel sick and have headaches. Alcohol is a depressant drug, it can make people feel very low. Long term drinking can cause psychological problems, obesity, brain damage, skin problems and mood swings
What does the law say? It is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18. It is illegal to drink and drive. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to enter a bar without being accompanied by an adult. They may only drink non-alcoholic beverages.
A 16-17 yr old may enter a pub with an adult, and is able to drink beer/alcohlic cider if bought by an adult -only.

Cocaine

Slang names Charlie, coke, C, booth, blow, railers, snow, ringer, divits, toot, cola, rocks, blast, white dust, ivory flakes, nose candy
What does it look like? Cocaine is a white powder, derived from the leaf of the coca plant that grows up in the mountains of South America.

How is it taken? Sniffed, snorted, injected
What are the effects? People feel more energetic, Confident, Happy, Increased blood pressure, Constricted blood vessels, Dilated pupils, Mental alertness, Increased energy, Increased heart rate, Decreased appetite, Increased temperature
What are the risks? After about 20 minutes the user suffers a ‘come down’ this can consist of anxiety, paranoia, inability to sleep so people often take more and more. Other affects are nausea, high blood pressure, cold sweats, moodiness, chronic sneezing and nosebleeds. Snorting the drug can damage the membranes lining the nose and the structure separating the nostrils.
What does the law say? Class A - illegal to produce, supply, or possess. Class A drugs are considered by law the most 'dangerous'.
For posession of a Class A drug you can get: 7 years + fine and for Supplying a Class A drug: Life + fine

Ecstasy

Slang names E, doves, disco biscuits, smarties, magic beans, rolexes, echoes, hug drug,




What does it look like? Ecstasy usually comes as small round tablets in various sizes and colours. Most often it is a white tablet. The tablets usually have a small motif embossed on one side. Occasionally, ecstasy may come as a capsule, which can be yellow, pink or clear and very rarely as powder.
How is it taken? Ecstasy is 'swallowed'.
What are the effects? Increases energy levels and feel that they have lots of friends. The initial rush (usually 20-40 minutes after taking a tablet ) is often followed by the user feeling calm, loving, confident and alert. All senses become much more sensitive. The energy buzz can last between 3-6 hours.
What are the risks? As the effects start, the body goes through loads of changes. This can appear through sweating, nausea, nervousness. The drug is usually taken when clubbing, and dancing for many hours in a hot place, which can lead to the body over heating and dehydrating. This is very dangerous and can kill you if you are not aware of it. After the drug has worked off, people can become very tired but are unable to sleep and can become depressed. People have died after taking ecstasy once and the long term effects include mental illness and possible brain damage.
What does the law say? Class A – supplying can result in life imprisonment.

Cannabis

Slang names Ganja, grass, weed, dope, spliff, hash(eesh), marijuana, solid, pot, draw, wacky backy, reefer, toke, skunk,
What does it look like? It comes in a solid dark lump known as 'resin'. The Leaves, stalks and seeds look like green leafy tabacco
How is it taken? Rolled into a ‘joint’ usually with tobacco. It can also be smoked ‘pure’ through a pipe or eaten in food. Cooking and eating cannabis makes the effects of the drug much more intense and harder to control
What are the effects? Getting ‘stoned’ makes people feel relaxed, more sociable and talkative. Users can also feel tired and lack energy. Some people get the giggles and get very hungry. It also heightens your senses especially when it comes to taste, music and colours
What are the risks? Users can get paranoid and think everyone is talking about them. It can affect ones short term memory and ability to concentrate. You can get confused and clumsy, become panicky and anxious. It can cause heart diseases and lung cancer. People that are stoned usually have blood shot eyes, a dry mouth and can feel dizzy or sick
What does the law say? Class C. Posession of Cannabis - 2 years jail plus an unlimited fine. Supply or the intent to supply is 14 yrs jail and an unlimited fine.

Gases, Glues, Aerosols

Slang names Glue sniffing, solvent abuse,
What does it look like? Lighter gas, aerosol cans (eg: hairspray, deodorant), assorted paint and petroleum products, dry-cleaning fluids, surgical spirit, cleaners
How is it taken? Placing solvents in a plastic bag and sniffing or breathing them in, by putting the plastic bag over your face
What are the effects? People can feel like they are drunk or ‘high’, laughing and talking a lot. Some users even experience hallucinations. You may also feel more confident to do things they would not otherwise.
What are the risks? People can feel sick and vomit, become dizzy and lose control of their balance. Sniffing substances can cause damage to the nasal membrane and breathing. Spraying solvent into the mouth can cause almost instant death. Users can suffocate themselves if they put a plastic bag over their head. Sniffing kills one person every week.
What does the law say? It is illegal to supply solvents to anyone under 18 if they know, or suspect, that the product is intended for abuse

Poppers

Slang names rave, rush, ram, liquid gold, locker room, TNT
What does it look like? Liquid (clear or gold) in little bottles
How is it taken? Inhaled
What are the effects? A rush of energy as the blood rushes to the brain and heart. Light-headedness, giddiness or the feeling of time slowing down. After a couple of minutes users are left with a headache.
What are the risks? Headaches, nausea, dizziness, passing out. Regular use can cause skin problems around the mouth and nose. If it is swallowed it can kill. It is especially dangerous for people with anaemia, breathing or heart problems.
What does the law say? Possession is legal, but supply can be an offence

Magic mushrooms

Slang names shrooms, sillies, mushies, happies, m&m's,






What does it look like? Dried up mushrooms which grow in the wild.
How is it taken? Eaten raw, dried, cooked, boiled
What are the effects? They are similar to LSD but the ‘trip’ is usually not as intense. People may feel spaced out and experience visual and/or sound distortions.
What are the risks? Users usually feel sick and vomit. People get very confused and clumsy and cause accidents. Bad ‘trips’ can happen and there is nothing you can do about it. If you eat the wrong type of mushroom (ie: poisonous) you can get seriously ill or even die
What does the law say? Class A – when raw, dried, cooked ie: prepared to be used as a drug. Illegal to possess or eat. Supplying your friends (or anyone) with magic mushrooms can get you life imprisonment.

Heroin

Slang names Smack, H, Horse, Junk, Brown,Skag
What does it look like? Off-white/brown powder
How is it taken? Snort, smoke, inject
What are the effects? Gives users a sense of warmth and calm. It slows people down and makes them feel like they are observing situations rather than living them.
What are the risks? First time users may feel sick or vomit. People can become addicted very easily, and it can be very hard to stop when addicted. Excessive use can cause comas or death. Injecting holds the biggest risks. Sharing needles can cause HIV, hepatitis and other serious infections.
What does the law say? Class A – possession and supply is illegal

Amphetamines

Slang names speed, uppers, sulphate, base, ice, glass
What does it look like? Dirty white, grey or yellowy powder or tablet
How is it taken? Snorted, dissolved in liquid to inject or drink, swallowed as pill.
What are the effects? Speed makes the heart beat faster and the user becomes more lively, energetic, talkative and confident.
What are the risks? It can make people moody, loose their appetite, anxious and tense. When the drug wears off people become very tired but can’t sleep and can become irritable and depressed. If used for a long time one can become confused and sad. Memory and concentration are affected. When people take a lot of speed it puts a huge strain on the heart and can even kill.
What does the law say? Class B but carry Class A penalties if prepared for injection.

Anabolic Steroids

Slang names Stanozolol, Dianabol, Deca-Durabolin
What does it look like? tablets or liquid
How is it taken? tablets are swallowed or liquids can be injected
What are the effects? They can make people look more muscular if combined with exercise over a long period of time
What are the risks? They can damage peoples health as well as stopping young people developing and growing properly. Boys can also grow breasts and girls can become hairier and their voices may deepen
What does the law say? Class C drug - to be sold only by pharmacists with a doctor's prescription. It's legal to possess or import steroids as long as they're for personal use. But possession or importing with intent to supply (which includes giving them to friends) is illegal and could lead to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.

Crack

Slang names Stone, Wash, Rock,

What does it look like? Small crystals - The colour of crack ranges from white to a yellowish cream to a light brown. It has a crumbly texture, sometimes extremely oily, or sometimes a hard, almost crystalline nature.
How is it taken? Smoked
What are the effects? Similar to cocaine – a feeling of well being, energy and confidence. The effects only last for a very short time, about 10 minutes, immediately followed by the unpleasant comedown.
What are the risks? Similar to cocaine plus the smoking can cause lung damage too. Psychological dependence. High risk of overdose resulting in convulsions or death.
What does the law say? Class A

Prescribed Drugs

Slang names These are not slang names, but general names of prescription drugs that your doctor can prescribe for you and also other medication that you can buy over the counter at the pharmacy:
Codeine, Ibuprofen, Ritalin, cough-medicines,Temazepam, mild pain killers, anti-diahorrea tablets
What does it look like? A prescribed drug is medication that is prescribed specifically for you by your family doctor, or in some cases by your therapist, such as a psychiatrist. It can come in the form of a liquid or tablets.
How is it taken? orally: tablet or liquid form, some are injected (i.e insulin for diabetics)
What are the effects? most prescribed drugs help a person with pain from injuries, after surgery, strains and aches, such as headaches etc. They also make a person feel better as they become detached from their pain because of their medication.
What are the risks? Some people who take prescribed medication start to take more and more because they want to 'feel better' more often. After a while though, your system can become immune to the medication and you will start to feel your pain again. A person does not set out to become 'addicted' to prescribed drugs, but this can happen.
What does the law say? Have prescribed medication strictly for you, prescribed to you by your doctor is not illegal. You must only buy prescription drugs from a pharmacy. Your doctor must be registered in order to prescribe medication for you.

LSD

Slang names Trips, tabs, sugar, liquid, acid, Bart Simpson, Blotter
What does it look like? Small squares of paper, usually with pictures on
How is it taken? Sucked and swallowed
What are the effects? Users will experience a ‘trip’ which may last for 8-12 hours. People may see unusual figures, lights may seem very bright, strange noises will appear. Everything may slow down or speed up or become very lucid.
What are the risks? Once a ‘trip’ has started no one can stop it. Bad ‘trips’ can be terrifying and make people feel very panicky and worried . Users feel hot, dizzy or paranoid. ‘Flashbacks’ of the ‘trip’ can occur for a long time after the event. LSD can make any existing psychological problems much worse
What does the law say? Class A – illegal to reproduce, supply or possess

Tranquillisers

Slang names Valium, Temazepam, Ativan
.
What does it look like? Different colours and shapes capsules and tablets
How is it taken? Swallowed or injected
What are the effects? Relieve anxiety, drowsiness, relax people
What are the risks? Users can become very dependant on them and feel sick, get headaches, insomnia and become confused when they do not take them. If it is combined with other drugs, especially alcohol, it can cause death.
What does the law say? Class C penalties apply