If you or somebody you know is taking drugs there are many services and helplines which may be of use.

One popular service is run by Frank, you can phone their helpline on 0800 77 66 00 or alternatively, email them using this link.

Useful links directory



Penalties for possession and dealing



Drug Fact Files

Cannabis

Name: Cannabis (AKA hash, ganja, weed, marijuana, skunk, blow, spliff, wacky backy etc)

What is it? Cannabis is an hallucinogenic drug, meaning that it can alter people's perceptions of reality. Cannabis can be smoked, eaten, taken as a drink or vapourised.

How is it legally classified? Cannabis is a class C drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to 2 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Reforms in 2009 are likely to see the classification of cannabis to go from C to B.

Risks: Short term effects include experiencing paranoia, increased heart rate, sickness, lacking focus/concentration, anxiety and thirst. Longer term problems may include tiredness, memory deterioration, a potential increase in the risk of mental illness, psychosis, respiratory problems, reduced sperm count in men and suppressed ovulation in women. Taking cannabis during pregnancy can cause harm to both themselves and their unborn child.

Recognising cannabis addiction: Cannabis users may show physical signs of addiction, including dilated pupils, a dry mouth, bloodshot eyes as well as food cravings and fatigue. Behaviour of addicts may include shying away from social interaction, becoming withdrawn and isolating themselves from others. In terms of psychiatric signs of addiction, individuals may appear depressed, suffer from mood swings, act in an anxious or paranoid manner or experience delusions.

What you can do: If somebody you know has admitted to cannabis addiction, or you believe that they are an addict, the initial step is to talk to them. The individual themselves may not actually be aware of how reliant they have become on the substance. Offer the person your support and encourage them to seek professional help. Reassure them that you are there for them and ensure you do not behave in a non-confrontational way, as this may push the individual further into addiction. If you are recognising signs of addiction in yourself and want to seek help, contact an advice line such as Frank (0800 77 66 00), visit your GP or alternatively search here for your nearest counselling/support centre.
Crystal Meth

Name: Crystal Meth (AKA ice, glass, crystal, amp, white crunch etc.)

What is it? Crystal Meth is a stimulant which can temporarily increase people's level of alertness. It is often smoked, injected or snorted.

How is it legally classified? Crystal Meth is a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Risks: Short term effects can include convulsions, tremors, increased blood pressure and irregular heart rate, suppressing the individual's appetite, convulsions and tremors, mood swings, feelings of anxiety, paranoia and insomnia as well as violent and unpredictable behaviour. Pregnant women using crystal meth can lead to birth defects to their unborn child such as cleft palate and/or they may give birth prematurely. Crystal meth is known to be both physically and psychologically addictive. Longer term effects include brain damage, strokes, falling into a coma and even death.

Recognising crystal meth addiction: Recognisable physical effects of long term crystal meth use include cracked/decaying teeth, weight loss, body sores, experience of hallucinations and psychosis.

What you can do: If you want to seek help, for either yourself or someone else, you can contact a helpline such as Talk to Frank and/or search online for a local help service (e.g. on this site)
Magic Mushrooms

Name: Magic Mushrooms (AKA magic mushies, shrooms, liberties, liberty cap etc.)

What is it? Magic mushrooms are an hallucinogenic drug, meaning that they alter people's perceptions of reality. They have similar psychadelic effects to LSD and are often eaten raw or can be dried out and stored for later use.

How is it legally classified? Magic mushrooms are a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Risks: Short term effects include the distortion of sound, objects and colour, some people report mixing up their senses (e.g. "hearing" colours). They can also make you feel more sensitive emotionally, those on a trip lack control over what they are doing as their perception of reality is distorted. Magic mushrooms have been known to cause nausea and stomach cramp when ingested. There is also a great risk of eating poisonous mushrooms by mistake which can result in death. With regards to long term effects to mental health, they can make existing mental illness worsen.

Recognising Magic mushroom addiction: Individuals who take magic mushrooms may appear to be lacking a sense of reality whilst on a trip, they are likely to be very spaced out and detached from the world around them.

What you can do: If somebody you know has admitted to using magic mushrooms regularly, or you believe that they are an addict, the initial step is to talk to them and make your concerns known. Offer the person your support and encourage them to seek professional help. If you are recognising signs of addiction in yourself and want to seek help, contact an advice line such as Frank (0800 77 66 00), visit your GP or alternatively search here for your nearest counselling/support centre.
Opium

Name: Opium (AKA black pill, black russian, Big O, black, black hash)

What is it? Opium is an opiate drug, known for causing users to experience euphoric states. Opium can be smoked, eaten or injected.

How is it legally classified? Opium is a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Risks: Short term effects of using opium include tiredness, vomiting, impaired vision, decreased libido, a suppressed appetite and increased sweating and urination. With regards to long term risks, an individual's mental health can be affected, they may withdraw themselves from others and users often experience mood swings and an inability to focus on things. In extreme cases, opium use can lead to death.

Recognising opium addiction: Symptoms such as malnourishment, contracted pupils, suffering from severe constipation, weight loss, increased susceptibility to infections, respiratory problems, irregular periods in females, organ damage and psychological health problems are all signs of an addiction to opium.

What you can do: If you suspect that a friend or someone you know is using Opium, or if you are a user yourself, the important thing is to seek help. The best thing to do is speak to the individual and ask if they want to talk about it. Ensure that they know and understand the physical and psychological effects of opium and encourage them to do something about their addiction. A good starting point would be to try and keep them away from situations which would actively encourage this behaviour. The next step is to make contact with a professional, or phone a helpline (see the useful links in the directory above).
Ecstasy
Name: Ecstasy (AKA 'E', MDMA, brownies, pills, love drug, rolex's etc.)


What is it? Ecstasy is an MDMA (stimulant) which is in pill form. E is usually swallowed however it can also be snorted or smoked.

How is it legally classified? Ecstasy is a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Risks:Short term effects can include states of paranoia, psychosis, anxiety and individuals may experience panic attacks. Physical effects include a higher than usual body temperature, a quickening of their heart beat, dilated pupils, a tingling sensation and dehydration (often caused from prolonged dancing). In the longer term, ecstasy use may lead to liver, kidney and/or heart problems. Other effects include depression, psychological and physical dependency, urine infections, insomnia and a lowered immune system meaning individual's are more likely to experience colds/flu.

Recognising ecstasy addiction: Individual's may begin to rely upon ecstasy to have a good night out, believing that their night will not otherwise be as fun. Those on ecstasy may appear to talk gibberish and not make much sense in conversation. Whilst on ecstasy an individual might experience rapid eye movement and the inability to focus on one thing. They may also appear to be sweating a great deal, experience chills or feel faint.

What you can do: In the case of an overdose, the following symptoms may be apparent: a dramatic increase in heart rate, panic attacks, seizures, muscle cramp, cardiovascular complications, feeling faint, high blood pressure, stroke and a loss of consciousness. If you suspect someone is overdosing then call an ambulance immediately.

With regards to seeking help for yourself or someone you feel has an ecstasy addiction, you are encouraged to seek out a health professional and/or contact a helpline such as Frank. Please see the directory of useful links above for further information.
Heroin

Name: Heroin (AKA smack, H, horse, Brown and Skag)

What is it? Heroin is an opiate which is made from morphine. Like other opiate drugs heroin is a strong painkiller and can produce feelings of euphoria. It can be injected or smoked.

How is it legally classified? Heroin is a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to seven years in prison.

Risk: The main risk of heroin use is that an overdose will be taken, if not treated this can lead to death or induce a coma. The risk of overdose is greater if heroine is taken with other drugs such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Heroine leads to reduced conscious which can make the user more likely to choke on their vomit which can lead to a serious pneumonia. One of the Long term risks of heroine injection is infection in both the veins that have been used to inject and in some cases the valves in the heart. As with any injectable drug if needles are being shared there is a risk of HIV, Hepatitis B and other viruses that can be transmitted in blood.

Recognising Heroin addiction: Heroine is a highly addictive drug an often people can become addicted quickly. Injections sites maybe noticeable if the drug is being used regularly these may not only be on the arms but all over the body. The person may also seem jittery and constantly on edge, they may lose enthusiasm for things that they used to enjoy. With long term use sometimes unusual markings and discolorations can appear on the skin however this is not always the case.

What you can do: If you or someone that you know requires help with a heroin addiction there are centres around the UK which you can contact for help, a full list can be found here. Your GP will also have information about support services in your area.

In the case of an overdose: If you suspect that you may have overdosed then it is important that you receive medical help as soon as you can so calling an ambulance is extremely important. If you discover someone who you believe may have overdosed call an ambulance and then if you feel comfortable doing so put them in the recovery position. You can learn how to do this by watching this video.

Cocaine

Name: Cocaine (AKA coke, percy, snow, toot, C and Charlie)

What is it? Cocaine is a stimulant which means that it makes the user feel that their mind and body have been sped up. It can be smoked, snorted or injected.

How is it legally classified? Cocaine is a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to seven years in prison.

Risk: There are both immediate and long term risks of using cocaine. People sometimes die from taking an overdose of cocaine as this can cause seizures and heart attacks; this is more likely to be a risk if the cocaine is taken with other drugs. When a person takes cocaine they may feel over confident and aggressive and this can put themselves and the people around them in danger. When “coming down” after taking cocaine people may experience flu like symptoms, this crash can sometimes not happen for a number of days. Long term use of cocaine can lead to problems with anxiety, paranoia and panic attacks; this is especially a risk in people who have a family history of mental illness. Other potential consequences of long term use are reduced libido and depression. If you take cocaine while pregnant there is a risk of miscarriage or early labour, babies of regular users may be born addicted to cocaine and have to go through withdrawal.

Recognising cocaine addiction: People who are addicted to cocaine may develop changes in their heart rate and complain of palpitations. You may notice and increase in complaints of nausea and vomiting as well as cold sweats. People who have been using cocaine are often more restless and anxious than they would normally be. The nose is often affected and people may be sniffing a lot and in some cases they may lose part of their nasal septum. As with most addiction one of the key things to look out for is personality change.

What you can do: If you or someone that you know requires help with a cocaine addiction there are centres around the UK which you can contact for help, a full list can be found here. Your GP will also have information about support services in your area. If you believe that you or someone else is in need of urgent medical attention following cocaine use please contact the emergency services .
Crack Cocaine

Name: Crack Cocaine (AKA crack, stones, base, freebases, wash and rocks)

What is it? Crack cocaine is a stimulant which means that it makes the user feel that their mind and body have been sped up. It can be smoked, or injected.

How is it legally classified? Cocaine is a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to seven years in prison.

Risk: Many of the risks associated with taking cocaine are also associated with crack cocaine use. Crack cocaine can lead to aggressive and over confident behaviour which can lead to dangerous activity. There is also a risk of heart attack and stroke following crack cocaine use. The come down from crack cocaine use much like cocaine use can be similar to the flu, people may feel weak. Long term use can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, paranoia and panic attacks as well as increased risk of heart attacks. Further general information on the risks of cocaine and crack cocaine use can be found in the cocaine section.
Crack cocaine also has specific risks associated with it as it is smoked. Crack cocaine users may develop painful and difficulty breathing, they may start bleeding into their lungs and cause long term lung damage. It is more common for crack cocaine users to start using heroine to ease their cravings and this often leads to the users also becoming addicted to heroin.

Recognising cocaine addiction: People who are addicted to crack may develop personality changes, they may become visibly more anxious and isolated than they had previously been. They also may complain of palpitations and have visible cold sweats. They may also experience weight loss. One of the potential signs specific to crack cocaine use is that they may develop a wheeze, cough or general problems breathing.

What you can do: If you or someone that you know requires help with a crack cocaine addiction there are centres around the UK which you can contact for help, a full list can be found here. Your GP will also have information about support services in your area. If you believe that you or someone else is in need of urgent medical attention following crack cocaine use please contact the emergency services.
LSD

Name: LSD (AKA acid, lightening flash, L, Lucy)

What is it? LSD is a hallucinogenic drug which means that when this is taken people experiance and altered sense of reality. It is taken on a piece of edible paper.

How is it legally classified? LSD is a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to seven years in prison.

Risk: The main risks associated with LSD are when someone has a “bad trip” this is when they have negative hallucinations. This can causes people to get very frightened and they can sometimes put themselves in danger. If someone is depressed or is just feeling unhappy LSD can sometimes make these feelings worse and people have been known to harm themselves during a bad trip. Following use of LSD people may have flashbacks to bad trips. This usually occurs in the first few weeks after the trip but can go on for years afterwards. If someone has pre-existing mental health issues then there may be longer term implications of the drug use, LSD can also trigger an underlying mental illness in some people who may not know that they had it.

Recognising LSD addiction: While it is not thought possible to become physically addicted to LSD it is possible to become psychologically addicted. People may start using the drug more for its psychological effects and become distracted in everyday life.

What you can do: If you or someone that you know requires help following the use of LSD there are centres around the UK which you can contact for help, a full list can be found here. Your GP will also have information about support services in your area. If you believe that you or someone else is in need of urgent medical attention following LSD use, please contact the emergency services.
PCP
Name: PCP (AKA angel dust, supergrass, killer weed, embalming fluid and rocket fuel)

What is it? PCP is a hallucinogenic drug which means that it alters peoples perceptions of reality. It can come in pill, liquid or powder form and can be snorted, swallowed, injected or smoked.

How is it legally classified? PCP is a class A drug. This means that if charged with possession the sentence can be up to seven years in prison.

Risk: PCP creates symptoms similar to schizophrenia, it can cause the user to feel strong and invulnerable. It also creates extreme image distortion. The user can be violent and therefore a danger to themselves or those who are around them. It is not uncommon for users to become depressed and even suicidal whilst using the drugs. Following PCP use users may have unpleasant flashbacks. When PCP is used during teenage years it can negatively affect the hormones which are associated with normal growth and development. This can lead to a halt in the learning process. High doses of PCP can lead to seizures, coma and in some cases death. Long term users of PCP may develop memory loss, speech and though difficulty and depression.

Recognising LSD addiction: As with most addiction one of the key things to look out for with is personality change. People who are using PCP may also display symptoms similar to schizophrenia so they may become detached and disorientated and their behaviour may become erratic.

What you can do: If you or someone that you know requires help following the use of PCP there are centres around the UK which you can contact for help, a full list can be found here. Your GP will also have information about support services in your area. If you believe that you or someone else is in need of urgent medical attention following PCP use, please contact the emergency services.
Alcohol

Risks:It is sometimes easy to forget that alcohol is also a drug which can be very dangerous. While it is legal to drink alcohol in the UK when you turn 18 it is important that you remember the risks associated with alcohol consumptions. The immediate risks are as a result of being intoxicated, this may change your behaviour and lead to you take risks that you otherwise wouldn't and become a danger to yourself or others. You may become agressive and lash out at the people around you which could cause you to hurt yourself and also potentially get you in trouble with the law. Longer term it is possible to become addicted to alcohol which can lead to a large number of potential health risks including cancer and liver disease. Binge drinking has been linked to memory problems in adults and it is likely that the full dangers of binge drinking will not be known for a number of years yet.

What can I do?One of the most important things is that you try to stick to the government recommendations for alcohol consumption, this is 21 units of alcohol a week for an adult man and 14 for an adult woman. A unit of alcohol is half a pint of weak beer or half an alcopop. If you feel that you or a friend have a problem with alcohol the recovernow have a helpline which you can call on 0845 6306530. If you feel that you may have drank too much or you and your friend need urgent help as a result of alcohol please contact the emergency services.

A useful website for alcohol related concerns is the Alcoholics Anonymous GB website