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' I don't use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough ' - M.C. Escher (1898-1970)
Introduction
We all know that the safest thing to do is not to take drugs at
all, but since many of you will use drugs, we have built this web
page to try to help you to reduce the risks you are taking.
This section covers many drugs - from the everyday caffeine to
prescription drugs such as anti-depressants to ecstasy.
Here you will find the latest information available on the effects
of drugs, the risks and ways to reduce them, how to deal with problems
(should they arise) and what the law says.
Much of the information contained here has come from the Drugscope website.
For more detailed information about a whole range of drug related
issues please visit the Drugscope website via the link below:
The Drugscope website where you can find out more about drugs and related issues. Information About Drugs
Alcohol
Alcohol is our most popular drug.
Over 90% of British adults drink alcohol.
On average men drink the equivalent of a pint and a half of beer a day, women about half a pint.
One in five men drink more than three pints of beer at least once a week.
Young people tend to get drunk more often, drink more in one session and drink stronger beers, lagers and ciders.
The last few years have seen new drinks coming on to the market which are targeted at the younger age group.
Extra strong lagers and ciders have been followed by alcopops' - drinks with high alcoholic strength which do not taste of alcohol.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a drug that is found in tea, coffee, cocoa, many soft
drinks such as colas and some chocolates.
It is also used in a wide variety of medicines especially cold
remedies.
On average in the UK, we drink nearly 123 million cups of tea per
day, each cup containing about 40mg of caffeine, but more if the
tea is left to brew longer.
Coffee is almost as popular with 90 million cups of coffee consumed
a day.
About 70 per cent of this is instant coffee containing around 60mg
of caffeine per cup
Cannabis
Cannabis is a plant found wild in most parts of the world and
is easily cultivated in temperate climates such as the UK's.
Different
forms of cannabis come from different parts of the plant and
have different strengths.
'Hashish' or 'hash' is the commonest form found in the UK.
It is resin scraped or rubbed from the dried plant and then
pressed into brown/black blocks.
It is mostly imported from Morocco, Pakistan, the Lebanon
and Afghanistan.
Herbal cannabis is made from the chopped, dried leaves of
the plant.
It is also known as 'grass' , 'bush' and 'ganga' and in America
as 'marijuana' and is imported from Africa, South America,
Thailand and the West Indies.
Some is 'homegrown' and cultivated in this country, sometimes
on a large scale to sell but usually by individuals in their
homes or greenhouses for their own use.
Changes in the law
- After reclassification on January 29 2004, it still remains illegal to possess cannabis.
- According to guidance issued to police by The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), there should be a presumption against arrest if people are found to have small amounts of cannabis in their possession.
- The implementation of this guidance is dependent upon the discretion of individual officers and the policing priorities of particular forces.
- Offences for supply and trafficking of all Class C drugs will increase to a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison
Cocaine
Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca shrub, which grows
in the mountainous regions of South America in countries such
as Bolivia, Colombia and Peru.
In Britain and America the most common form of cocaine is
as a white crystalline powder.
Most users sniff it up the nose, often through a rolled
banknote or straw, but it also sometimes made into a solution
and injected.
Crack Cocaine
Crack is a smokeable form of cocaine made into small lumps or
'rocks'.
It is usually smoked in a pipe, glass tube, plastic bottle
or in foil.
It gets its name from the cracking sound it makes when being
burnt.
It can also be prepared for injection.
Ecstacy
Ecstasy is an illegally-manufactured drug that comes in tablet
or capsule form.
The appearance varies considerably, ranging from brown, white
or pink tablets, to yellow, clear, red and black or red and
yellow capsules.
Some also have pictures, designs or logos on them.
The chemical name of ecstasy is 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine
or MDMA for short.
It is taken orally.
Heroin
Heroin (medical name diamorphine) is one of a group of drugs called 'opiates' which are derived from the opium poppy.
Opium is the dried milk of the opium poppy.
It contains morphine and codeine, both effective painkillers.
Heroin is made from morphine, and in its pure form is a white
powder.
The main source of street heroin in the UK is the Golden
Crescent countries of South West Asia, mainly Afghanistan,
Iran and Pakistan.
Today, street heroin usually comes as an off-white or brown
powder.
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is an hallucinogenic drug that
is derived originally from ergot, a fungus found growing wild
on rye and other grasses.
It is a white powder, but as a street drug, it is a liquid
either on its own or absorbed into paper sheets.
The sheets are cut into tiny squares like postage stamps
or transfers and often have pictures or designs on them.
LSD is also sometimes dropped on to sugar cubes or formed
into tablets or small capsules.
Only tiny amounts are needed to get an effect and the strength
of LSD can vary greatly.
It is usually taken orally.
Nicotine
Tobacco is the dried leaves of the plant that grow in many parts
of the world.
The main active ingredient is nicotine.
Most tobacco used in this country comes from America and
is sold as cigarettes.
Cigars and pipe tobacco are made from stronger, darker tobacco.
Snuff is powdered tobacco that is sniffed up the nose.
Tobacco is often used when making cannabis cigarettes or
joints.
Both rolling tobacco and tobacco removed from packet cigarettes
are mixed with resin or herbal cannabis and rolled into cigarette
papers.
Prescription Drugs
Tranquillisers
Benzodiazepines, minor tranquillisers and drugs such as an
diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan) , chlordiazepoxide (Librium),
nitrazepam (Mogadon), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)) and temazepam.
Minor tranquillisers are synthetic drugs which are manufactured
as an medicines mainly to treat anxiety and epilepsy and as
sleeping tablets.
Major tranquillisers are used for the treatment of long-term mental health problems.
For medical uses tranquillisers are usually swallowed as
pills or capsules.
They are also used in the same way as street drugs but some
forms can also be prepared for injection.
Speed
Speed is the street name for Amphetamine.
Like coke, it's a stimulant that people take to keep them
awake and alert.
It is Britain's least-pure illegal drug.
It's often taken along with E.
Appearance and use
Amphetamines like speed are usually sold in wraps like cocaine.
The powder is off-white or pinkish and can sometimes look like small crystals.
Base speed is purer and is a pinkish-grey colour and feels
like putty.
Crystal meth, or methamphetamine is processed speed that
looks like off-white rocks or crystals.
Drug Guidance for Schools
The following resource has been produced by DfES Publications.
"This guidance is based on the principles which underpin good practice
in drug education and managing drug incidents.
During its development
we have listened to young people and those working with them both in
and outside schools.
We have also taken account of the views of the
many people who responded to the consultation.
We recognise that schools are not acting alone.
They are part of a
broader prevention picture which includes parents/carers and a range of
partner agencies.
By working together, they can help children and young
people navigate their way through what is a complex social issue.
We
want to help schools so that they are effective in this area and I am sure
this guidance will help them formulate a planned, co-ordinated and
considered response to drugs."
Stephen Twigg MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools
Printed copies of this publication can be obtained from:
DfES Publications,
PO Box 5050,
Sherwood Park,
Annesley,
Nottingham,
NG15 0DJ.
Tel: 0845 60 222 60
Fax: 0845 60 333 60
Textphone: 0845 60 555 60
email: dfes@prolog.uk.com
Website: www.dfes.gov.uk/drugsguidance
Please quote ref: DfES/0092/2004
ISBN: PPCOLI/D35/0204/74
© Crown copyright 2004
Produced by the Department for Education and Skills.
Extracts from this document may be reproduced for non commercial
education or training purposes on the condition that the source
is acknowledged.
For more information please contact:
Karron Young, Healthy Schools' Co-ordinator
Tel: (01482) 392
E-mail: karron.young@eastriding.gov.uk
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