What are Drugs?

To start with, a definition

Drugs are substances of natural or synthetic origin which can alter the emotional state, perception, body functioning or behavior of an organism. So say the World Health Organisation, and who am I to argue? Antibiotics are drugs which help us to fight infections; most people will think of this this kind of drug as 'positive', 'beneficial' or 'of therapeutic value'. 'Antidepressants' are prescribed in their millions by GPs and MDs, alleviating people's depressed moods and generally making life easier to bear, for those that find it a burden. Again, most people will think of this this kind of drug as 'positive', 'beneficial' or 'of therapeutic value'. Lots of us drink alcohol, even more of us drink Coffee (or tea). Outside of the growing group of people who turn their back on any drug use because of a religious belief, it's rare to find anyone who finds the non-prescribed use of these drugs to change our state of mind disagreeable on point of principle. It might also be worth noticing that other religious groups actually include the use of alcohol as part of religious ritual. The drugs which we're talking about here are drugs that are taken for pleasure. Drugs that alter people's perception. Drugs that change how people think-feel. Substances that have an action upon the mind, or psyche. Psychoactive substances.

Substance Misuse

There are lots of ways of describing and labeling people who develop a problem with their use of drugs. Many of the professional support services that have developed to support people experiencing some kind of drug-related difficulty refer to 'substance misuse'. 'Substance' is a catch-all referring to anything that's being used for effect, 'misuse' describes the use of drugs illegally, or without medical supervision. Lots of people misuse prescribed or over-the-counter medications. Misuse doesn't necessarily mean a problem, it just means not as directed by an appropriately qualified person. The use of any 'illicit' drug is invariably defined as misuse. And many people are prescribed diamorphine hydrochloride, heroin, and use it as directed. It's an interesting situation, where the use or misuse of a drug is defined by the law controlling that substance, and the law is dictated by political will. In the UK, current legislation enables the Home Secretary to add any named chemical to the list of currently controlled substances at will, and with immediate effect. When the Police Federation suggested in 1999 that the law pertaining to ecstasy and cannabis use should be softened to reflect current patterns of use and research investigating the harmful effects of these drugs, the government gave a clear indication that it thought the Federation had got it wrong. The language of 'substance misuse' reflects political imperatives more than actual behavior.

Drugs, drugs, drugs...

I'm still amazed at the number of well-intentioned, intelligent, rational people who seem to believe that 'drugs' are all on a continuum, like there's some kind of inevitable slide into the use of 'harder and harder' drugs, to 'get a new buzz' when the 'old' buzz just doesn't cut the mustard any more. This slide is usually described as ending invariably in 'addiction' and death. I'm even more amazed when the people who actually use the things start to fulfil the myth by living that lifestyle. Drugs have different effects. Let's face it, if you don't smoke cigarettes then you're hardly going to start trying to bum fags off the people around you when you've sunk your last pint/short/glass of wine/whatever of the evening, are you. are you? Or start hunting down all the abusable volatile substances in your (or your friend's) house and start to work your way through all the available aerosols. It seems a little unlikely. The drugs that are misused generally fall into one of the following categories:

Drug effects

STIMULANTS Sometimes called 'uppers', these substances stimulate the Central Nervous System. This category includes amphetamines, amyl nitrite, cocaine and crack and ecstasy

DEPRESSANTS Sometimes called 'downers', these substances depress the Central Nervous System. This category includes alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines like valium and temazepam, cannabis and GHB.

ANALGESICS Powerful pain killers that may be derived from the opium poppy, or synthetically produced. This category Includes morphine, diamorphine (heroin), methadone, pethidine and buprenorphine (temgesic).

HALLUCINOGENS Sometimes called 'psychedelics', these substances dramatically alter perception. This category includes LSD, psilocyn and psilocybin (magic mushrooms), cannabis and ecstasy, a hallucinogenic stimulant.

And you'll have noticed that some of these drugs are listed in more than one category - they produce the effects of several different categories.

Drug myths

We all love a good story, don't we. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who's been touched by drugs in some way. The way in which they were touched can become a little exaggerated along the way, amplified here, bits left out there. Add in the media's need to sell stories and the 'war on drugs' propaganda machine of the last forty years and drug use has produced some of the most potent, long-lived, outrageous and just plain daft urban myths of all the untruths that are out there, somewhere.

This is at its most obvious in the media when any campaign is portraying the user as a helplessly depraved "drug addict". Many different governments' campaigns to prevent initial use have centered around fear of 'addiction' as a means to avert experimentation. Aside from missing a simple point about human health-related behavior during adolescence (I'm immortal, it won't happen to me and who wants to live to be older than 25 anyway) physical dependence is actually very rare, and not associated with the drugs that are most commonly used by young people. In the mid-1980's the UK's government scored a spectacular own goal with their "Heroin screws you up" campaign. The actor chosen to be the face of spotty, sweaty, disheveled, 20-something male heroin-dependent Britain was found to have scored a tremendous hit with the late-teen target group who either aspired to be just like him, or bed someone who looked just like him. Not the intention of the campaign, which was rapidly withdrawn.

Drugs screw you up, drugs are bad, people have a bad time, it's all about a gritty, shitty hell...and yet the reality for many young users is that they and most of their friends have a great time doing fun stuff and giving the finger to authority, which is, after all, a pretty important and virtually full-time job for many people at that age. It makes it difficult to engage in open and honest discussion about drug issues, as we're often starting off from a basis of misinformation. There are loads of parents contacting drug services every day because they've just found out their beloved son or daughter is 'in with a bad crowd', smoking something they call 'hash', maybe even taking 'pills' or 'speed' at the weekend and they're naturally worried that it'll end in a custodial sentence, homelessness and HIV at best, and maybe a lot worse. And if they can't find anyone else to blame, they're quick to blame themselves.

The horror of all of this is of course that some of those people really might end up contracting HIV (possibly whilst banged up, thereby enabling all potential employers and housing associations to turn them away upon the completion of their rehabilitation at Her Majesty's Pleasure), or worse. As well as its blatant lies, the 'myth' culture propagates massive generalisations.

All the drugs listed above either currently or at some time have been used therapeutically, within the medical field. Whilst no-one has yet been given crack on prescription, cocaine has a long history of use as an anesthetic. And lots of people do receive heroin on prescription. For many people who use drugs illegally, the drugs they buy are the medication that makes them feel better, and they will continue to use drugs until they discover other ways of taking control of their lives.

Why do people use drugs?

For many people, the reason for first-time use will simply be because they're there. These drugs are generally psychoactive, they affect the psychological state of the user. They change how people tink-feel, how they perceive the world around them. In my experience, it works with a very basic model of learnt behavior and reward. The first time that someone uses a drug, they do not know how they will feel or how they will be perceiving the experience and the world around them. The experience will be guided by what the person believes will happen, which is of course massively open to suggestion. A lot will depend on the user's emotional state, the environment that they are in and who they are with.

It's unusual to find someone who takes a drug for the first time thinking that they won't enjoy it.

If the person enjoys it enough the first time to want to do it again, the chances are that if they have the opportunity then they probably will.

The initial use of any substance is not always an enjoyable experience, and might be the only time that a person uses that drug. If someone doesn't enjoy the experience and uses it again, it seems likely that they still believe that there is a good time to be had, and they're even willing to believe that over their own experience, until they have the experience (or reach a threshold and give it up as a bad job).

We are all individual and unique, and everybody's experience of a drug is different; there are similarities and recognisable aspects of each experience. The perceptual changes that happen are individual.

The UK drug industry is thought to be worth at least £4 billion ($6.4 billion) annually. The people who are spending all that money are investing it with the intention of having a very good time indeed.

The long arm of the law

The information here refers to British law. The primary piece of legislation governing substance misuse in the UK is the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We have a 'drugs and the law' page that goes into more detail. For now, I thought it might be useful just to say that there are three 'Classes' of drug controlled by Act. Drugs included in 'Class A' were thought to be the most dangerous at the time of inclusion, and attract the heaviest penalties. The Maximum sentence for supplying a Class A drug is life imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Class A drugs

cannabis oil
cocaine and crack
ecstasy
heroin
LSD
methadone
psilocyn and psilocybin (magic mushrooms)

Class B drugs

Amphetamines
Cannabis

Class C drugs

Benzodiazepines (including diazepam - valium - and temazepam) Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works. You've probably heard that drugs are bad for you, but what does that mean and why are they bad?

Medicines Are Legal Drugs

If you've ever been sick and had to take medicine, you already know about one kind of drugs. Medicines are legal drugs, meaning doctors are allowed to prescribe them for patients, stores can sell them, and people are allowed to buy them. But it's not legal, or safe, for people to use these medicines any way they want or to buy them from people who are selling them illegally.

Cigarettes and Alcohol

Cigarettes and alcohol are two other kinds of legal drugs. (In the United States, adults 18 and over can buy cigarettes and those 21 and over can buy alcohol.) But smoking and excessive drinking are not healthy for adults and off limits for kids.

Illegal Drugs

When people talk about the "drug problem," they usually mean abusing legal drugs or using illegal drugs, such as marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, crystal meth and heroin. (Marijuana is generally an illegal drug, but some states allow doctors to prescribe it to adults for certain illnesses.)

Why Are Illegal Drugs Dangerous?

Illegal drugs aren't good for anyone, but they are particularly bad for a kid or teen whose body is still growing. Illegal drugs can damage the brain, heart, and other important organs. Cocaine, for instance, can cause a heart attack - even in a kid or teen.

While using drugs, a person is also less able to do well in school, sports, and other activities. It's often harder to think clearly and make good decisions. People can do dumb or dangerous things that could hurt themselves - or other people - when they use drugs.

Why Do People Use Illegal Drugs?

Sometimes kids and teens try drugs to fit in with a group of friends. Or they might be curious or just bored. A person may use illegal drugs for many reasons, but often because they help the person escape from reality for a while. If a person is sad or upset, a drug can - temporarily - make the person feel better or forget about problems. But this escape lasts only until the drug wears off.

Drugs don't solve problems, of course. And using drugs often causes other problems on top of the problems the person had in the first place. A person who uses drugs can become dependent on them, or addicted. This means that the person's body becomes so accustomed to having this drug that he or she can't function well without it.

Once a person is addicted, it's very hard to stop taking drugs. Stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as vomiting (throwing up), sweating, and tremors (shaking). These sick feelings continue until the person's body gets adjusted to being drug free again.

Can I Tell If Someone Is Using Drugs?

If someone is using drugs, you might notice changes in how the person looks or acts. Here are some of those signs, but it's important to remember that depression or another problem could be causing these changes. A person using drugs may:

• lose interest in school
• change friends (to hang out with kids who use drugs)
• become moody, negative, cranky, or worried all the time
• ask to be left alone a lot
• have trouble concentrating
• sleep a lot (maybe even in class)
• get in fights
• have red or puffy eyes
• lose or gain weight
• cough a lot
• have a runny nose all of the time

What Can I Do to Help?

If you think someone is using drugs, the best thing to do is to tell an adult that you trust. This could be a parent, other relative, teacher, coach, or school counselor. The person might need professional help to stop using drugs. A grown-up can help the person find the treatment he or she needs to stop using drugs. Another way kids can help kids is by choosing not to try or use drugs. It's a good way for friends to stick together.

Understanding drugs and why they are dangerous is another good step for a kid to take. Below, we've listed some words that may be new to you.

Words to Know

Addiction (say: uh-dik-shun) - A person has an addiction when he or she becomes dependent on or craves a drug all of the time.

Depressant (say: dih-preh-sunt) - A depressant is a drug that slows a person down. Doctors prescribe depressants to help people be less angry, anxious, or tense. Depressants relax muscles and make people feel sleepy, less stressed out, or like their head is stuffed. Some people may use these drugs illegally to slow themselves down and help bring on sleep - especially after using various kinds of stimulants. (See below.)

Hallucinogen (say: huh-loo-sun-uh-jun) - A hallucinogen is a drug, such as LSD, that changes a person's mood and makes him or her see, hear, or think things that aren't really there.

High - A high is the feeling that drug users want to get when they take drugs. There are many types of highs, including a very happy or spacey feeling or a feeling that a person has special powers, such as the ability to fly or to see into the future.

Inhalant (say: in-hay-lunt) - An inhalant, such as glue or gasoline, is sniffed or "huffed" to give the user an immediate rush. Inhalants produce a quick feeling of being drunk - followed by sleepiness, staggering, dizziness, and confusion.

Narcotic (say: nar-kah-tik) - A narcotic dulls the body's senses (leaving a person less aware and alert and feeling carefree) and relieves pain. Narcotics can cause a person to sleep, fall into a stupor, have convulsions, and even slip into a coma. Certain narcotics - such as codeine - are legal if given by doctors to treat pain. Heroin is an illegal narcotic because it is has dangerous side effects and is very addictive.

Stimulant (say: stim-yuh-lunt) - A stimulant speeds up a person's body and brain. Stimulants, such as methamphetamines and cocaine, have the opposite effect of depressants. Usually, stimulants make a person feel high and energized. When the effects of a stimulant wear off, the person will feel tired or sick.

JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS

WHAT ARE DRUGS?

If you were to ask yourself, "what exactly are drugs and which ones are harmful?" it is possible you would say, Marijuana, Heroin and Ecstasy, and that these drugs could kill you. This is a narrow perception of what drugs there are and the effect they have on our society. Any substance which changes the way your body and mind works can be classified as a drug. There are many other types of drugs which are commonly used and which you may have used yourself at one time or another. Many drugs such as nicotine, caffeine, pain killers and alcohol, can cause serious damage to your health. We often don't classify these substances in the same way as other drugs, they are often called habits because they are legal and because they have been accepted in our society. In reality they are all drugs.

WHY DO KIDS EXPERIMENT WITH DRUGS?

CURIOSITY		EMOTIONAL FACTORS		PHYSICAL REASONS
	Young people are curious about most things.		Attempting to increase self esteem.		Attempting to feel relaxed.
	Wanting to try something different.		Trying to escape from an upset.		Blocking pain - increasing energy.
	Looking for new challenges.		Avoiding making decisions.		Getting a buzz or new sensation.
			Reducing anxiety.		Reducing sensations.
PEER PRESSURE		INTELLECTUAL REASONS		REBELLION
	Trying to fit in as one of the crowd.		Reducing boredom.		Wanting to assert adulthood.
	Overcoming shyness.		Attempting to understand self better.		Asserting identity.
	Escaping loneliness.		Satisfying curiosity.		Enjoyment/fun.
	Aiding communication.		Trying to see the world in a new way.		Doesn't want to listen to advice.

EFFECTS OF SOME ILLEGAL DRUGS

HEROIN

Heroin 'smack', 'skag', 'hammer', 'h'' or 'horse' is usually manufactured from morphine or codeine by a chemical process and can be a much stronger drug. Heroin found on the street is usually in powder form. Depending on purity and how it was refined the Heroin can be many different colours. white powder is generally more refined than brown or pink `rocks' which appear like a lumpy powder.

Immediate Effects

Heroin is a depressant drug, and causes the central nervous system to slow down. Some of Heroin's immediate effects include: sleepiness, shallow breathing, itching, vomiting or a feeling of nausea, the pupils of the eyes dilate (become smaller). With large doses of Heroin, the pupils of the eye narrow to pinpoints, the skin feels cold to the touch, central nervous system function and breathing will slow down to a very dangerous level, the person can easily fall into a coma and die. The heroin that is found on the street is more than likely mixed with other substances to reduce the strength of the Heroin. Many users suffer an accidental overdose or die because there is no way of knowing the strength or purity of the street Heroin. The major problem with heroin use is the way it is used. Heroin is usually injected and the sharing of injecting equipment such as needles and syringes, tourniquets,filters and spoons, greatly increases the chance of contracting infections such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV (AIDS) and blood poisoning.

Effects of long term use.

People who regularly use Heroin over a long period of time may experience serious health problems such as . . . Hepatitis B and C, abscesses, tetanus, damaged or collapsed veins, chest, bronchial and heart problems, severe loss of appetite,constipation, malnutrition, pneumonia. In woman constant use can lead to infertility and irregular menstruation, in men it can lead to impotence.

MARIJUANA The drug marijuana is the dried flower clusters, stems and leaves of the Indian hemp plant (cannabis sativa). It is otherwise known as "weed", "Maryjane", "ganja", "pot", "tea" as well as a number of other slang names.

Small Doses - Immediate effects

The reaction from the use of marijuana differs with each user, as some may become secluded, happy, silly, sad or talkative. Marijuana does relax the body and mind, however it slows the user's reaction time, which is why people under the influence of the drug take a huge risk at driving. Marijuana lowers sex hormone and fertility levels in both male and female, and also increases the heart rate by as much as 50%. Another effect of the drug is that colours seem brighter than usual and music becomes more intense. Users of the drug tend to experience mood swings quite frequently, panic, periods of depression, hallucination and fear of death can and do occur

Large doses - Immediate effects

Large doses of cannabis can produce: Anxiety or panic, a feeling of detachment from reality, hallucinations and confusion, restlessness, a feeling of excitement. Cannabis impairs short term memory, your ability to think logically, motor skills(movement), and your ability to perform complex tasks such as driving or operating machinery. Regular use of marijuana may play a role in causing cancer (particularly lung cancer) and problems with the immune or reproductive systems. Studies also show that someone who smokes five joints a day may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day.

Long Term Use of Marijuana

In the long run, marijuana users become psychologically dependent on the drug as it represents a way to avoid facing the problems and stresses of life. It also damages the brain, reproductive system, heart and lungs. The smoke from the drug irritates the lung tissue much more than the smoke of well-filtered cigarettes. It is able to do this much damage to the lungs as it contains more tar and benzopyrene (a cancer-causing agent), than tobacco cigarettes. Though most of the immediate and long-term effects of marijuana have been stated, scientists are still doing studies on the drug in order to detect any other harmful effects that it might possibly contain. Though marijuana is an extremely addictive narcotic, there are many victims who have recovered from the addictive use of the drug and have since remained abstinent.

Respiratory Effects of Marijuana

When a person smokes marijuana tiny particles and gases are formed. Many of the substances found in Marijuana smoke are cancer-causing substances such as benzopyrene and benzanthracene, the concentrations of these substances is nearly double to that found in tobacco smoke. Smoking one cigarette of marijuana leaves 4 times as much cancer-causing tar deposits in airways as one tobacco cigarette. Marijuana users have an increased risk of developing acute and chronic bronchitis, injury to the airways, asthma and sinus problems. Marijuana is also a suspected cause of the lung disease emphysema. While users of marijuana usually smoke much less often than tobacco users, Marijuana 'joints' are not filtered and the smoke is held in longer and drawn into the lungs more deeply, this often causes chronic irritation to the lungs and airways.

Mental Illness

Mental effects caused by marijuana can include anxiety leading to panic, flashbacks, depression, paranoia, feelings of aggression, delusions, confusion, delirium, hallucinations induced by toxic psychosis, psychotic disorder (insanity), insecurity and depersonalisation. Recent research has indicated a strong link between the heavy use of marijuana and depression. The effects of habitual use was higher in young women. Daily users of Marijuana ran seven times the risk of suffering anxiety and depression. In the more severe psychiatric cases, users may have to be admitted to a hospital emergency room. The 1997 National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) study of 200 long-term marijuana users in Australia found 40% had been prescribed medication for a psychological problem, had consulted mental health professionals or had been admitted to a psychiatric hospitals.

Signs of Marijuana Use

Users of Marijuana will often display some of these `danger signals', recognising these may help you identify a drug problem in a family member or friend. * Drug paraphernalia such as bongs and pipes, cigarette papers, seeds, plastic bags and small tins. * A strong smoky pungent smell on the persons clothing. * Wearing sunglasses at inappropriate times, use of eye-drops, bloodshot eyes. * Loss of interest in activities such school, sport. * A noticeable change for the worse in the persons behaviour and general attitude, achievements at school or work. * Bursts of anger and hostility, sudden mood swings. * Rebellious behaviour * Withdrawal from friends, isolation, secretive behaviour. * Unexplained disappearance of valuables or money from the home. * Short-term memory loss, short attention span, difficulty concentrating.

More Information for Parents and Carers

(Advice for Parents)

(Alcohol)

(Tobacco)

(Caffeine)

Asthma

Child Abuse

Child Car Safety

Childsafe Furniture

Dangerous Creatures

Dental Health

Diabetes

Domestic Violence

Drugs-Alcohol-Tobacco

Home Safety

Infectious Diseases

Nutrition

Personal Safety

Poisons

Protective Behaviour

Safety Houses

SIDS

Drugs: what are the risks?

Research shows that children who feel they can talk to their parents about drugs will put off or avoid taking them more than those who do not.

What are the risks?

There are risks. And your child may not have thought of all of them. When you calmly talk through the situation with your child, you could outline the following possible dangers:

· the user can never be sure of exactly what they are taking

· what is bought is unlikely to be pure, and your child won't know what it has been mixed with

· not knowing the strength of what has been bought could lead to accidental overdose

· your child can't be sure what effect a drug will have, even if they have taken it before

· it is often extremely dangerous to mix different drugs, and this includes taking a drug and drinking alcohol

· if needles, syringes or other injecting equipment are shared there is a serious risk of dangerous infections being spread, such as HIV and hepatitis B or C, and injecting can also damage veins

· Information about the specific risks associated with different drugs Opens new window

What to do in an emergency

Amphetamines (speed), cannabis, ecstasy, LSD and magic mushrooms can sometimes make the user feel tense and panicky. If this happens:

· calm your child and be reassuring - try not to let them see if you feel scared or worried

· explain that the feelings will pass

· encourage them to settle in a quiet, dimly lit room

· if they start breathing very quickly, tell them to take long, slow breaths

Heroin, tranquillisers and misuse of gases, glues and aerosols can make the user feel very drowsy. If this happens:

· calm your child and be reassuring

· don't frighten or startle them, or let them exert themselves

· never give coffee to rouse them

· if symptoms persist, lie them on their side in the recovery position, so their tongue cannot fall back and prevent breathing

· call an ambulance if they don't start to become more alert