How might drugs affect me?

Always remember that you are not alone and that you can get help

There are so many drugs around in Scottish society today that it can be difficult to know what is what! They can roughly be divided into three main types:

  • Stimulants – these make everything seem as if they are going faster, including thought, speech and the body.
  • Depressants – these slow everything down, including thoughts, speech and body.
  • Hallucinogens – These alter the way a person sees, hears and feel things, causing hallucinations and confusion.

These are the main drugs which fall into the above three categories:

Stimulants

MDMA, also known by a variety of street names such as the commonly-named Ecstasy or 'E', love hearts, doves etc.

It is sold in the form of white or brown tablets or capsules and because it is still relatively new the medical effects are not entirely clear.

Short-term effects:

  • Effects after 20 minutes
  • Can last for several hours
  • Cause body to overheat
  • Can lead to heatstroke, dehydration, even death
  • Important to drink plenty water (pint an hour)
  • Take rest if dancing
  • Alcohol to be avoided.

Long-term effects:

  • If used regularly can become anxious and confused
  • Sleep patterns become disturbed
  • Can cause liver damage
  • Trigger epileptic fits
  • Has caused death.

Amphetamine, known most commonly as speed, and also uppers, whiz or sulph. It is most commonly sold as a white or off-white powder in a specially folded scrap of paper.

Short-term effects:

  • Feel more confident
  • More energy
  • Lose appetite
  • Feel depressed when 'high' wears off
  • Can feel irritable and on edge.

Long-term effects:

  • Large amounts – risk of heart stopping under strain
  • Mental health affected – paranoia
  • Can cause liver damage.

Cocaine and Crack, also known as coke, snow and base. Cocaine is sold as a white powder and is usually sniffed but can be smoked. Crack is a very powerful form of Cocaine, comes as small crystals and is smoked – it's very addictive. Cocaine is expensive.

Short-term effects:

  • Similar to amphetamine but stronger
  • Feel on top of the world
  • Wears off quickly
  • More powerful – higher risk of heart failure.

Long-term effects:

  • Similar to amphetamine
  • If used a lot can cause dependency
  • Sniffing powder can damage nose
  • Smoking leads to breathing problems.

Amyl and Butyl Nitrates, also known as poppers. These are vapours that are inhaled through the nose or mouth. Amyl nitrate is controlled under the Medicines Act and its sale through clubs, bars and sex shops is illegal. There are no controls on the sale of butyl nitrates at present.

Short-term effects:

  • 'Rushing' sensation as blood vessels dilate
  • Headaches, vomiting, dermatitis
  • If a lot is used body can go into dangerous shock
  • Person can become unconscious
  • Deaths associated with amyl nitrates.

Long-term effects:

  • Used regularly people become more tolerant and inhale more which increases risk of dangers above.

Depressants

Heroin, also known as scag, 'H', junk, smack, brown. It comes in a light brown powder. Very occasionally it may be white. It can be injected, sniffed or smoked. It is when people inject that it is at its most dangerous because they also run the risk of HIV (the virus that leads to AIDS) from shared injecting equipment. Hepatitis C is also possible. An individual may also not be aware what other substances might have been mixed with the heroin before it was sold. If smoked it is also highly addictive!

Short-term effects:

  • Heart beat is slowed down
  • Feel drowsy and free from worry and pain
  • Risk of overdose due to not knowing strength
  • More dangerous if used with other drugs.

Long-term effects:

  • Need to take more for same effect if used for long time.
  • When withdrawing severe physical and mental symptoms.

Tranquillisers, also known as 'benzos', 'eggs', 'jellies' and 'norries'. These drugs such as Diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), lorazepam (Ativan) and temazepam are often described by doctors for people who are having difficulty sleeping or feeling very anxious. They come as tablets or capsules. Used as directed they shouldn't cause too much harm although some people who have been prescribed these drugs long term do become dependant on them and have great difficulty coming off them. They become dangerous when used as a so called recreational drug as an individual may mix them with alcohol or inject them. This has been a particular problem with temazepam. Some people also manage to use dihydrocodeine (DF118) and buprenorphine (Temgesic) normally prescribed by doctors for pain relief.

Short-term effects:

  • Calming effect
  • Stop you feeling anxiou.
  • Injecting extremely dangerous
  • With injecting risk of HIV, Hepatitis C.

Long-term effects:

  • Dependency
  • Depression
  • Aggressive
  • Unpredictable behaviour
  • Restlessness and anxiety in withdrawal.

Methadone. This is used to treat people who have become dependant on opiates like heroin. It is taken orally and is usually green or yellow in colour. It is prescribed to people on a daily basis. Some people are given a weekly prescription which they then divide up to take daily.

Short-term effects:

  • Longer effect than heroin.
  • Makes a person feel in control of emotions.
  • Causes drowsiness but person can have difficulty sleeping.
  • Can make people feel sick.

Long-term effects:

  • Similar withdrawal effects to Heroin
  • It leads to the body needing the drug as well as the person feeling dependant on it.

Volatile Substances, including Solvents. These are very easily available. Glues, aerosols, lighter fuel and cleaning agents have been inhaled by people attempting to get 'a high'. Retailers can be prosecuted for supplying these substances to young people.

Short-term effects:

  • Effects can last few minutes to half and hour
  • Person can feel high
  • Person may hallucinate
  • Risk of suffocation if plastic bags are used for sniffing substances
  • Choke on vomit
  • Heart stopping with aerosols.

Long-term effects:

  • Memory affected
  • Difficulty in concentrating.

Hallucinogens

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), also known as acid and trips. It is normally sold in small amounts which have been soaked onto blotting paper printed with various designs. People who use this then have hallucinations. The person usually starts 'tripping' after about an hour of taking it.

Short-term effects:

  • 12 hours for it to wear off
  • Might see bright colours, hear strange sounds, weird thoughts
  • Can have a 'good trip' or 'bad trip' – experience can vary a lot.

Long-term effects:

  • Flashbacks – might re-experience trip without taking drug.

Cannabis, also known as dope, draw, shit, smoke, grass and hash. Grass is the dried leaves of the cannabis plant. It is usually mixed with tobacco in a 'joint' or a 'spliff' or can be smoked in a pipe. 'Skunk' has appeared which has been specially grown for its strength.

Short-term effects:

  • Makes person feel relaxed.
  • Can cause anxiety.
  • Can affect short-term memory.
  • Less able to carry out complicated tasks.

Long-term effects:

  • Heart, lung or breathing problems, as with cigarettes.
  • May feel depressed and restless.

Magic Mushrooms, also known as 'Mushies'. They grow wildly throughout Scotland and are usually collected in the autumn. They are mostly dried and eaten and sometimes diluted to make a mushroom tea.

Short-term effects:

  • Similar dangers to LSD but not as strong.
  • May pick poisonous mushroom by mistake and eat it.

Long-term effects:

  • No serious long-term effects are known.

Top of page

What can parents/carers do?

The Health Education Board for Scotland identified the most common concerns as follows:

  • The pressure people get from their pals to be 'one of the crowd' which might lead an individual to experiment with drugs even if they are unhappy about doing it. No person wants to feel left out
  • You may often feel ignorant about the drug scene which has its own language etc. It is often difficult to understand what half the substances are if you have no experience of the drugs themselves
  • An individual may take a drug and not even realise what it is they have taken
  • Not being sure of the signs to look for which would tell us that our children might be experimenting with drugs is often a problem
  • You may be scared that if you discuss the subject of drugs with an individual your overall relationship could be damaged with that person.

The problem in telling if a young person is taking drugs is that, for the most part, the warning signs are also similar to the perfectly normal aspects of growing up. Some of these listed below could be warning signs in terms of drugs:

  • Sudden changes in mood
  • Aggressive and irritable behaviour
  • A loss of interest in school
  • A change of friends
  • Unusual sleep patterns
  • Unusually secretive behaviour or lying
  • Money going missing or belongings being sold
  • Unusual objects found such as powders, tablets etc.

If you notice any of the above it is important not to jump to conclusions as it may have nothing to do with drugs. As with so many other issues that come up for young people it is important that we attempt not to judge and to communicate openly.

If you are really worried and need to talk with someone there are many individuals and agencies who can offer advice and support. Informally you can approach an adult friend, a teacher at the school or your local Alcohol Advice Centre. There are contacts available on this website or indeed phone a special phoneline advisor at Breathing Space (0800 83 85 87) who will be happy to direct to you an appropriate source of help.

Top of page

Why it is hard to quit!

Above all it is important that we understand the difficulties a drug user faces. Some of the reasons it is difficult to stop using drugs are mentioned below.

  • People become so accustomed to being high that it becomes normal – both physically and emotionally. Being straight feels abnormal. Many of those who are trying to come off experience panic attacks, disorientation, anxiety, depression, mood swings and sleep disturbances. These can last a significant period of time
  • People find it difficult to cope with daily living when they are no longer using drugs. They may never have experienced life events without drugs e.g. shopping, family crisis and relationships
  • Cravings may be intense and last for years
  • Drug users often have other users as friends. Giving up drugs may well mean giving up friends
  • Being a current drug user is a full-time occupation
  • The 'just say no' mentality dismisses the complexity of the drug users issues. It is akin to saying 'cheer up' to someone with chronic depression
  • Drug treatment options are limited and often expensive and not readily available. Motivation for treatment is hard to maintain if treatment is difficult to obtain.

Top of page

Drugs and the law

The law divides drugs into three classes: A, B and C. Classification is based on the harm that specific drugs nay cause to individuals, families and society. Class A drugs include the most dangerous drugs like heroin and cocaine. Class B includes amphetamines and barbiturates. Class C includes drugs like tranquillisers and some steroids including Cannabis which was recently reclassified in 2004 from a Class B to a Class C there still remaining an offence albeit with less penalties.

Class A drugs carry the heaviest penalties for both possession and dealing. Possession means being caught with drugs you intend to use. Dealing means selling or giving drugs to others or being caught with drugs you intend to sell or give to someone else. Those found guilty of possession or dealing can be fined sent to prison or both.

It is an offence if you allow anyone to take, sell or supply drugs in your house. It is also illegal to supply or sell solvents such as cigarette lighter fuels, glue or aerosol sprays to anyone in the knowledge they will be abused.

It is illegal to grow or produce drugs.

Class 'A' drugs

Ecstasy, LSD, Heroin, Cocaine and Crack, magic mushrooms (if prepared for use), amphetamines (if prepared for injection).

  • Possession – Up to 7 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both
  • Dealing – Up to life in prison.

Class 'B' drugs

Amphetamines (Speed), Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Pholcodine.

  • Possession – Up to 5 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both
  • Dealing – up to 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.

Class 'C' drugs

Cannabis, Tranquillisers, some painkillers, GHB (Gamma hydroxybutyrate).

  • Possession – Up to 2 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both
  • Dealing – Up to 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.

Cannabis was classified from a Class B to a Class C drug early in 2004. This is not the same as legalisation or decriminalisation, and possession and supply of cannabis remain criminal offences. At the same time, the maximum penalty for dealing in Class C drugs was increased to 14 years in prison.

Top of page

First aid

It's important to look after yourself. For first aid advice and information on self care, please visit:
www.sja.org.uk/firstaid/info

Top of page

If you need help right now, visit the Immediate Help page.

Anyone can get depressed - Want to turn things around? Phone Breathing Space - 0800 83 85 87