Know the Score - Drugs Information
The following infomration relates to the drugs that currently, most parents request information and advice on when they call the Know
the Score helpline
CANNABIS
Category: Hallucinogen
What it looks like and how it's taken: Comes as solid lump 'resin'; leaves, stalks and seeds called 'grass'; or sticky
dark oil. Can be smoked or cooked and eaten with food.
Immediate effects: Users feel relaxed and may have sharper sense of colours and sounds. Some feel urge to eat. If
taken in food, effects can be stronger and harder to control.
Risks:
- Short-term: Impairs ability to concentrate and conduct complex tasks. Can lead to tiredness and lack of motivation.
- Long term: Regular heavy use can lead to development or worsening of mental health problems including paranoia. Smoked with
tobacco, it increases health risks associated with tobacco use and can lead to nicotine addiction. Very heavy use can lead to
withdrawal symptoms. Can lead to heart and breathing problems.
Legal status:All Cannabis, including Oil, Resin and Grass are Class B.
COCAINE
What it looks like and how it's taken: Cocaine is a white powder that is snorted or dissolved and injected. Crack, a stronger version,
comes as rocks or stones and is smoked or injected.
Immediate effects: Cocaine acts fast and lasts about 30 minutes. Users feel confident, strong and alert, and may be left craving more.
Crack acts faster. More intense effects last about 10 minutes.
Risks:
- Short term: Some users may feel tense and anxious while using and afterwards many feel very tired and depressed. It can also
cause convulsions, chest pain and sudden death from heart attack or stroke. Sniffing can damage the inside of the nose. Smoking crack
can cause breathing problems and lung damage.
- Long term: Frequent use can lead to paranoia, hallucinations, aggression and weight loss. Cocaine and especially crack cocaine
are highly addictive. Chronic use also causes severe damage to heart and circulation, brain damage and severe mental health problems.
Legal status: Class A
ECSTACY
Category: Stimulant/Hallucinogen
What it looks like and how it's taken:
Tablets of different shapes, sizes and colours - often with a designer logo. Taken by swallowing
the tablet.
Immediate effects:
Within 20 minutes to one hour, increases energy and sense of well-being. Sounds, colours and emotions more intense.
Lasts up to 6 hours.
Risks:
- Short term: Use can lead to overheating and dehydration if users dance without taking breaks or sipping non-alcoholic fluids.
This can be fatal. Drinking a pint of liquid every hour and eating a salty snack from time to time are advised. Users can feel tired
and depressed for a few days after use.
- Long term: Ecstasy use has been linked to mental health problems, and liver, kidney and brain damage.
Legal status: Class A
SOLVENTS
Category: Depressant
What it looks like and how it's taken: Butane gas cigarette lighter refills, disposable cigarette lighters, aerosol sprays (hairsprays,
air fresheners), whipped cream cans and glue tins or tubes. Sniffed or breathed in through a cloth or sleeve. It has been known for Gas
to be squirted straight into the back of the throat.
Immediate effects: Similar to being very drunk. Users feel dizzy, giggly and light-headed. Some hallucinate. Effects last from a few
minutes to 30 minutes.
Risks:
- Short term: Hangover for a day or two. Nausea, vomiting, blackouts, bad cough, spots/sores around mouth, persistent cold and
heart problems. Inhaling with a plastic bag can cause suffocation. It is extremely dangerous to squirt gas into the mouth as this can
cause sudden death. Sometimes people's hearts stop beating if they have been sniffing solvents.
- Long term: Damage to brain, liver, kidneys, nervous system, lungs and reproductive organs.
Legal status: It is illegal for retailers to sell butane gas refills to anyone under 18. Also illegal for solvents to be supplied to
people of any age in the knowledge that they are to be abused.
HEROIN
Category: Depressant
What it looks like and how it's taken: Brownish-white powder. Some heroin comes in a brown/black form that looks like hard toffee.
Smoked, dissolved or injected.
Immediate effects: Slows the brain, heart rate and breathing. Effects can make the user relaxed, drowsy and numb, detached from worry,
and oblivious to pain.
Risks:
- Short term: There is a real risk of drug overdose, possibly leading to coma or death. Heroin is often mixed with domestic
household substances and other additives which can be harmful.
- Long term: Heroin is highly addictive and larger and more frequent doses may be needed to feel 'normal'. Injecting can damage
veins; sharing needles can spread hepatitis and HIV.
Legal status: Class A
For more information you can call the free, confidential 24-hour Know the Score helpline – 0800 587 587 9
Audio Features
Listen again to our on air features for this Life Matters article. Click on the 'play' link next to one of the titles to play that item.
PLAY > Drugs Information
PLAY > Drugs Information 2
PLAY > Drugs Information 3
PLAY > Drugs Information 4
PLAY > Drugs Information 5
PLAY > Drugs Information 6
Comments
There are currently no comments for this article - why not add one using the form below