Class A: - The maximum for possession is 7 years imprisonment with an unlimited fine. For supply life imprisonment and unlimited fine.

Class B: - The maximum for possession is 5 years or a fine or both. For supply 14 years imprisonment or a fine or both.

Class C: - Possession could result in a two-year prison sentence. The sentence for supply or intent to supply has increased to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment, plus a fine.



Psychological dependency: - When a drug has been used habitually and the mind has become emotionally reliant on its effects, either to elicit pleasure or relieve pain and does not feel capable of functioning without it. Its absence produces intense cravings, often brought on or magnified by stress.

Physical dependency: - When a drug has been used habitually and the body has become accustomed to its effects. The person must then continue to use the drug in order to feel normal, or its absence will trigger the symptoms of withdrawal.




Name: - 2CB & 2-CT-7

Class: - Both Class A

Type: - Hallucinogenic

Other Names: - Nexus, CB, bromo, T-7, 7-up, seventh heaven, Tripstacy.

Both of these drugs are hallucinogenics, their effects are somewhere between ecstasy and LSD and so they can act as a stimulant and cause changes in your emotions. Both of these drugs are relatively new so there’s little information on them at the moment. They are not however the type of drug you are likely to become physically dependant on.

The effects: -
• A small amount of either 2CB or 2-CT-7 feels like ecstasy- it’s a very energetic experience.
• Heightens senses- users become really aware of colours, sounds and smells.
• The body feels hypersensitive and lots of people get aroused.
• The effects usually last from two to four hours.

The risks: -
• Both can cause hallucinations
• Users may become depressed
• Can bring on headaches, nausea, vomiting and panic attacks. Higher doses may cause serious confusion, agitatation or even a delirious state.
• Evidence from similar drugs suggests regular use can leave people tired, disorientated and anxious.
• It is not yet known if there’s any long-term damage.




Name: - Alcohol

Class: - Alcohol does not have a class but the law is-

Under 5 – It’s illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under 5 except in certain circumstances (e.g. under medical supervision).
Under 14 - A person under 14 can't go into a bar or pub unless the pub has a 'children's certificate'. Without this certificate they can only go into parts that aren't licensed and where alcohol is either sold but not drunk (e.g. a sales point away from the pub), OR drunk but not sold (e.g. a beer garden or family room).
14 or 15 – They can go anywhere in a pub but can't drink alcohol.
16 or 17 – They can buy (or be bought) beer or cider so long as it's bought to eat with a meal, but not in a bar (i.e. only in a place specifically set aside for meals).
Under 18 – With the exception of having a meal in a pub, it's against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-license or supermarket. It's also illegal to buy alcohol in a pub for someone who's not 18.
Anyone over 18 can buy and drink alcohol legally in licensed premises in Britain.

Type: - Depressant

Other names: - Booze, Bevvy

Alcohol is seen by many as a more socially acceptable drug, but that’s not to say its any less powerful than other drugs. Technically speaking, it's a nervous system depressant, which means it slows down your body's responses in all kinds of ways. Just enough can make you feel great, too much and you’ll have a hangover the next day. For most people drinking within sensible limits for regular drinking its ok, but for some people drinking gradually gets out of control and results in regular binge drinking, heavy harmful drinking or alcoholism.

The effects: -
• Alcohol will often exaggerate whatever mood you’re in when you start drinking.
• Alcohol is a relaxant so, in moderation, it can reduce feelings of anxiety and inhibitions, making you feel more sociable.
• It takes your body an hour to process one unit of alcohol.

The risks: -
• One drink too many can leave you feeling out of control- like slurring your words, losing your balance and vomiting.
• Official guidelines recommend that men shouldn’t regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day and women shouldn’t regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day because of the harm this may cause. The guidelines also recommend that after an episode of heavy drinking, it’s advisable to refrain from drinking for 48 hours to allow the tissues to recover.
• Psychological and physical dependence on alcohol can creep up on you. Tolerance gradually increases the more you drink excessively on a regular basis, so you may find you’ll need more alcohol to reach the same state.
• Alcohol can make you mouthy, argumentative and aggressive. There’s no way of knowing beforehand if you’re going to turn into a nasty drunk.
• Serious overindulgence can lead to alcohol poisoning which could put you in a coma or even kill you.
• Alcohol is blamed for contributing to all kinds of problems in Britain, from violent crime to domestic violence and to car-related deaths.
• Long-term excessive use of alcohol causes illnesses such as live damage, stomach cancer and heart disease.




Name: - Poppers

Class: - Currently the use and possession of poppers is not illegal. They can be sold as ‘room odourisors’ but not as inhalants- this would classify them as a medicine and would require a pharmacy to dispense them.
If caught selling poppers as inhalants you would be committing a civil offence and would be prosecuted.

Type: - Stimulant

Other names: - Amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, Ram, Thrust, Rock Hard, Kix, TNT, Liquid Gold, Locker Room.

Poppers are small bottles filled with liquid chemicals called alkyl nitrates, these dilate the blood vessels and allow more blood to get to the heart. Poppers are not physically or psychologically addictive.

The effects: -
• An initial head rush that lasts a couple of minutes.
• Sniffing poppers during sex can make orgasms feel like they last longer.

The risks: -
• The effects do not last long and can leave people feeling sick, faint and weak, particularly if taken while dancing.
• Some men have trouble getting an erection after sniffing poppers.
• Can give you an extreme headache.
• Some people get a rash around their mouth.
• Poppers are toxic and can kill you if you swallow them.
• Taking poppers is a dangerous idea for anyone with chest or heart problems, anaemia or glaucoma.
• It is not advisable to take poppers if you’re on medication to reduce your blood pressure or taking Viagra as it can cause your blood pressure to drop to a dangerous level.
• Poppers can burn your skin on contact.
• They’re highly flammable- especially if you dip cigarettes into a bottle. Lighting these cigarettes could take your eyebrows off.




Name: - Anabolic Steroids

Class: - C To be sold by pharmacists with a doctor’s prescription. It is legal to possess them if they are for your own use. However possession or importing with the intent to supply is illegal and could lead to 14 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Type: - Stimulant

Other names: - Sustanon 250, Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol, Anavar, Stanozolol.

The mail hormone- testosterone is an anabolic steroid. The other anabolic steroids are very often similar to the effects of testosterone. They can be used in medicine to help treat anaemia and muscle weakness after surgery.
A user can very quickly become psychologically dependant. After stopping, withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, lethargy and depression.

The effects: -
• Sports enthusiasts claim steroids make them able to train harder.
• If taken during a strict exercise regime, they can help build muscle mass.
• They can also help users recover from strenuous exercise faster.

The risks: -
• Users claim the drug makes them feel more aggressive. People who are normally calm can become irritable, aggressive even violent.
• People can experience dramatic mood swings.
• Abuse of anabolic steroids at a young age can cause you to stop growing properly.
• Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene particularly with dirty needles. Sharing needles and injecting works can help the spread of HIV and hepatitis virus infections.
• If you’re male, regular use can lead to erection problems, growing of breasts, becoming sterile and developing acne. It can also make your testicles shrink.
• If you’re female you can get acne, extra facial hair, a deep voice, shrinking breasts, an enlarged clitoris, and increased risk of menstrual problems and change in sex drive.
• Can cause paranoia and confusion along with trouble sleeping.
• Steroids can give you high blood pressure and increase your risk of liver failure, stroke or heart attack.




Name: - Cannabis

Class: - C If you’re caught with cannabis the police will always take action.

Type: - Hallucinogenic

Other names: - Bhang, black, blast, blow, blunts, Bob Hope, bush, dope, draw, ganja, grass, hash, hashish, hemp, herb, marijuana, pot, puff, Northern Lights, resin, sensi, sinsemilla, ****, skunk, smoke, soap, spliff, wacky backy, weed, zero.
Some names are based on where it comes from... Afghan, homegrown, Moroccan etc.

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in Britain, it’s made from parts of the cannabis plant, it’s a naturally occurring drug. It is a mild sedative, often causing a chilled out feeling or actual sleepiness, as well as being a mild hallucinogen.

The effects: -
• Some people may feel chilled out, relaxed and happy, while others have one puff and feel sick.
• Some get the giggles and may become talkative.
• Hunger pangs are common are known as ‘getting the munchies’.
• Users may become more aware of their senses or get a feeling of slowing of time, these are due to the hallucinogenic effects.
• A stronger ‘joint’ (e.g. skunk or sinsemilla) may have more powerful effects.

The risks: -
• Even frequent smokers can become anxious, panicky and suspicious.
• It affects your coordination, which is one of the reasons drug driving is just as illegal as drink driving.
• Some people think because it is a plant it is harmless, this is not true. Cannabis, like tobacco has lots of chemicals in it, which can cause lung disease and cancer with long term or heavy use, especially as it’s often mixed with tobacco.
• It can also make asthma worse.
• Cannabis is risky for anyone with a heart problem as it can increase the heart rate and can affect blood pressure.
• There is increasing evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health problems such as schizophrenia. If you’ve a history of mental health problems, depression or are experiencing paranoia, then taking this drug is not a good idea.
• Frequent use of cannabis can cut a mans sperm count and suppress ovulation in women.
• Smoking while pregnant may harm the baby.
• Regular, heavy use makes it difficult to learn and concentrate. Some people begin to feel tired all the time and cant seem to get motivated.
• Some users may want to buy stronger herbal cannabis to get ‘a bigger high’ but unpleasant reactions can be more powerful when you use stronger strains, and stronger varieties may lead in time to more severe dependence or more severe mental health effects.




Name: - Cocaine

Class: - A

Type: - Stimulant

Other names: - Coke, Charlie, C, white, Percy, snow, toot

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant with short-lived effects. Stimulants temporarily speed up the processes of your mind and body. Cocaine when snorted, is absorbed more slowly than ‘Freebase’ cocaine which is smoked and is therefore stronger and much more addictive. However when cocaine is prepared for injection it can also reach the brain rapidly in high doses and so can be very addictive to.
Cocaine is very addictive, it can be difficult to resist the craving and strong psychological dependence due to changes in the brain. Recent evidence suggests possible long-term changes to the nervous system.
Although psychological dependence is more of a problem than physical withdrawal symptoms- low moods and feeling very rough soon after stopping can tempt people to take more coke.

The effects: -
• Taking Cocaine makes users feel on top of the world. Its effect is like Speed but is stronger and doesn’t last as long.
• People taking it feel wide-awake, confident and on top of their game.
• Cocaine is a stimulant so it can raise the body’s temperature, make the heart beat faster and stave of feelings of hunger.
• When snorting coke the effects only last for 20-30 minutes, when smoking it the hit is even shorter, lasting only about 12 minutes.

The risks: -
• After a big night on cocaine its not unusual for people to feel they’ve got flu.
• Some people are over confident on it and so take very careless risks.
• The hit from coke doesn’t last long, when the effects start to wear off there can be a very strong temptation to take more, particularly with the long ‘come down’, the crash period can happen days later.
• Cocaine users have died from overdoses. High doses can raise the bodies temperature, cause convulsions and respiratory or heart failure.
• Cocaine is highly risky for anybody with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Perfectly healthy young people can have a fit or a heart attack after taking too much coke and you may not know you have an existing heart condition.
• Those you get into cocaine very often find they begin to crave it more, and because the effects wear off so quickly, cocaine can become an expensive habit to keep.
• Using cocaine a lot makes people feel depressed and run down.
• People who use coke regularly often develop serious problems with anxiety and paranoia. It is a known cause of panic attacks.
• Frequent use of coke tends to decrease or stop sexual desire.
• Cocaine can bring previous mental health issues to the surface. If a close relative has serious mental health problems there may be increased risk for you.
• Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene particularly with dirty needles. Sharing needles and injecting works can help the spread of HIV and hepatitis virus infections.
• Cocaine is a local anesthetic and so it deadens the pain at the injection site. This makes it harder for users to notice the damage they may be doing.
• Using cocaine with other drugs or alcohol can substantially increase the risk of side effects.
• Alcohol and cocaine together can be particularly dangerous as the substances interact in the body to produce a toxic chemical. The risks further increase if other drugs are also taken.
• Injecting s mixture of cocaine and heroin, known as a ‘speedballing’ is a dangerous ****tail with potentially fatal results.
• Taking cocaine when you're pregnant can damage your baby. It may cause miscarriage, premature labour and low birth weight babies. Babies born to mothers who keep using throughout their pregnancy may experience a withdrawal syndrome after delivery.




Name: - Crack

Class: - A

Type: - Stimulant

Other names: - Rock, wash, base freebase, gravel, stones, Charlie washed-up.

Crack is a form of cocaine; it is a powerful stimulant with very short-lived effects. Stimulants temporarily speed up the processes of your mind and body. Crack is normally smoked so it can reach the brain very quickly in high dosages. Crack is much stronger and more addictive than powder cocaine. As well as being smoked it can also be injected which also reaches the brain quickly and can also be very addictive. Crack is very addictive; it can be difficult to resist the craving and strong psychological dependence due to changes in the brain. Recent evidence suggests possible long-term changes to the nervous system.
Although psychological dependence is more of a problem than physical withdrawal symptoms- low moods and feeling very rough soon after stopping can tempt people to take more crack.

The effects: -
• Taking crack makes users feel on top of the world. Its effect is like Speed but is stronger and doesn’t last as long.
• People taking it feel wide-awake, confident and on top of their game.
• Being a stimulant it can raise the body’s temperature, make the heart beat faster and stave of feelings of hunger.
• The effects of smoking crack are virtually immediate, peaking for about two minutes and lasting only about 10 minutes.

The risks: -
• The risks of crack are very similar to those of cocaine.
• Crack users can become increasingly aggressive and paranoid if they become dependant on the drug.
• The comedown experience includes feelings of nausea, restlessness, sleeplessness and exhaustion.
• Crack is highly addictive and very expensive.
• Using can result in fatal heart problems, it can lead to convulsions, cause damage to the lungs and create chest pains.
• Heavy regular use can affect mental health, making users restless, confused and paranoid.
• Some people are over confident on it and so take very careless risks.
• The hit from crack does not last long, when the effects start to wear off there can be a very strong temptation to take more, particularly with the long ‘come down’, the crash period can happen days later.
• Crack users have died from overdoses. High doses can raise the body's temperature, cause convulsions and respiratory or heart failure. Risk of overdosing increases if crack is mixed with heroin, barbiturates (sedatives) or alcohol.
• Those you get into it very often find they begin to crave it more, and because the effects wear off so quickly, cocaine can become an expensive habit to keep.
• Using crack a lot makes people feel depressed and run down.
• People who use crack regularly often develop serious problems with anxiety and paranoia. It is a known cause of panic attacks.
• Frequent use of crack tends to decrease or stop sexual desire.
• Crack can bring previous mental health issues to the surface. If a close relative has serious mental health problems there may be increased risk for you.
• Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene particularly with dirty needles. Sharing needles and injecting works can help the spread of HIV and hepatitis virus infections.
• Crack is a local anesthetic and so it deadens the pain at the injection site. This makes it harder for users to notice the damage they may be doing.
• Using crack with other drugs or alcohol can substantially increase the risk of side effects.
• Alcohol and crack together can be particularly dangerous as the substances interact in the body to produce a toxic chemical. The risks further increase if other drugs are also taken.
• Taking crack when you're pregnant can damage your baby. It may cause miscarriage, premature labour and low birth weight babies. Babies born to mothers who keep using throughout their pregnancy may experience a withdrawal syndrome after delivery.
• Heavy crack users may take heroin to try to dull their cravings. As a consequence, some crack users have become dependent on heroin as well.
• Regularly smoking crack can cause breathing problems and pains in the chest. Smoking anything damages the lungs.




Name: - Crystal Meth

Class: - A

Type: - Stimulant

Other names: - Ice, glass, Tina and Christine, yaba.

Crystal meth (methylamphetamine) is one of a group of stimulants called amphetamines that act on the brain and nervous system. Like cocaine and amphetamines, crystal meth has stimulant properties but is much longer acting. The crystalline form- sometimes called Ice can, like crack cocaine, be easily smoked and can rapidly lead to high blood levels. Its also long-acting compared to crack, so its an extremely powerful and addictive.
Extended use can lead to psychological and physical dependence. Injecting the drug intravenously or smoking it is highly addictive. The greater potency of the 'ice' form, particularly when smoked, makes it a more dangerous drug than other forms of methylamphetamine.
The effects: -
• It can bring on a feeling of exhilaration and produces increased arousal and activity levels.
• People feel more awake and it suppresses appetite.
• Smoking the pure crystalline form produces very intense ‘rush’ similar to that produced by crack cocaine but longer lasting- between 4 and 12 hours.

The risks: -
• The drug can cause a raid heart rate and a rise in blood pressure. The higher the dose, the greater the effects.
• Other acute effects include agitation, paranoia, confusion and violence.
• Methylamphetamine-induced psychosis has been widely reported in countries where there’s epidemic use. Psychosis is a serious mental state where you lose touch with a sense of reality. There is some evidence of long-term brain changes that may gradually improve after sustained abstinence.
• In cases of overdose- stroke, and lung, kidney and gastrointestinal damage can develop, coma and death can occur.
• Methylamphetamine use can be associated with injecting and with sharing of paraphernalia with attendant risks of HIV and hepatitis virus infections.
• Using the drug may also increase libido and risky sexual behaviour thereby increasing further risk of blood borne virus transmission.




Name: - DMT

Class: - A

Type: - Hallucinogenic

Other names: - Businessman's Lunch, Dimitri
DMT is a powerful hallucinogen that kicks in very quickly and can produce a very strong trip that usually lasts between 10-30 minutes. It is a natural drug, found in a variety of plants and seeds; it can also be produced synthetically.
DMT is generally sniffed, smoked or injected.

The effects: -
• DMT gives you a feeling of exhilaration and confusion.
• People who smoke DMT have described feeling rapidly propelled into an intense alternate reality.
• Users have described seeing the face of god to various experiences from visiting other worlds to having conversation with aliens.
• There is an abrupt return to reality and most users will experience disorientation when they come round.

The risks: -
• It is not uncommon for people who take DMT to suffer psychological and emotional difficulties for weeks afterwards.
• The smoke of DMT can cause throat and lung irritation.
• Integration of the trip into daily life can cause anxiety, difficulty focusing on daily tasks, preoccupation with the experience, and insomnia.
• Causes your heart rate and blood pressure to increase dramatically.
• Some people are overcome by the strength of the drug, it is important to feel safe and relaxed in your enviroment, preferably with a friend to look out for you.
• Some people become very scared and paranoid after taking DMT.
• The effects can be very disorientating, resulting in panic and confusion.
• If you’ve got high blood pressure or heart problems taking DMT is not advisable.




Name: - Ecstasy

Class: - A

Type: - Stimulant

Other names: - E, pills, brownies, Mitsubishi's, Rolex's, Dolphins, XTC.

Ecstasy is often known as the original designer drug because of its synonymous relationship with rave culture in the early 90’s. Clubbers took ecstasy to stay awake and dance for hours. The effects take about half an hour to kick in and tend to last between 3 to 6 hours, followed by a gradual comedown.
It is possible to build up a tolerance to E, which means people take more to get the same buzz. You may also develop a psychological dependence (the desire to keep on using even in spite of potential harm.)
There’s some uncertainty about the long-term side effects of Es, but evidence suggests it can cause damage to the brain causing long term problems- like depression, personality change and memory loss.

The effects: -
• An E gives people an energy buzz that makes them feel alert and alive.
• Ecstasy makes people feel in tune with their surroundings- sounds and colours are more intense.
• Users often feel great love for the people they’re with and the strangers around them. On its own, it’s not a drug that makes people violent.
• Lots of people feel chatty on E (These chats don’t always make sense to people who aren’t on E.

The risks: -
• Physical side effects can develop that include: dilated pupils, a tingling feeling, tightening of the jaw muscles, raised body temperature and the heart beats faster.
• Short-term effects of use can include anxiety, panic attacks, confused episodes and paranoid or psychotic states.
• There’s no way of telling what’s in an E until you have swallowed it. So there may be negative side effects from other ingredients in the tablet.
• E’s can make users feel a bit down after use.
• There’ve been over 200 ecstasy-related deaths in the UK since 1996. Ecstasy use is the cause of death in many of the cases but there have been some involving other substances sold Ecstasy e.g. PMA.
• Ecstasy affects the body’s temperature control. Dancing for long periods in a hot atmosphere increases the chances of overheating and dehydration. Take regular breaks from the dance floor to cool down.
• Watch out for other people- sometimes they don’t realise they’re in danger of overheating or getting dehydrated.
• Be careful with fluids though, drinking to much can also be dangerous or even fatal. Ecstasy can cause the body to release a hormone, which prevents the production of urine. Drink to quickly and it interferes with your body’s salt balance, which can be as deadly as not drinking enough water. Reduce the risks by sipping no more than a pint of water or non-alcoholic fluid every hour.
• Using Ecstasy has been linked to liver, kidney and heart problems. Anyone using too much can become paranoid and depressed.
• Some long-term users report getting colds, flu and sore throats more often. This may be attributed to staying awake for 24 hours, which puts your immune system under pressure.
• There’s research to suggest that the exhaustion and dehydration associated with Ecstasy can activate urine infections like cystitis in women.
• Anyone with a heart condition, blood pressure problems, epilepsy or asthma can have a very dangerous reaction to the drug.




Name: - GHB

Class: - C

Type: - Depressant

Other names: - GHB, GBH, Liquid Ecstasy.

Gammahydroxybutrate (GHB) is a dangerous drug with sedative and anaesthetic effects. It's hard to tell the difference between a dose that gives a pleasant buzz and one that leads to an overdose that could kill you. There’s limited evidence on this but there does appear to be some liability of GHB to cause withdrawal symptoms on stopping its regular use. There may be some tendency to keep using in some cases even in spite of potential harm (psychological dependence) but this is not well established.
The effects: -
• A small capful has a euphoric effect that makes users feel happy, sensual and uninhibited.
• As more is taken, it acts more like a sedative or downer and makes people sleepy.

The risks: -
• Too much and users feel disorientated and sick. Muscles can go numb or start to spasm (which can cause slight twitches or pulses).
• Its use can be fatal when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
• Users can lose consciousness, as it’s hard to know what strength the dose is.
• Because GHB can really knock you out it’s been linked to drug assisted sexual assault. Because its almost tasteless its easily slipped into a drink.




Name: - Heroin

Class: - A

Type: - Analgesic

Other names: - Brown, skag, H, horse, gear, smack.

Heroin is a natural opiate made from morphine (opiates dull pain). Morphine is extracted from the opium poppy. Like many drugs made from opium, heroin is a very strong painkiller. ‘Street’ heroin sold as ‘brown’ is sometimes used by clubbers as a chill out after a big night out. Brown is still heroin but some people mistakenly think its not as addictive. Heroin is highly addictive. Over time, effects of heroin on the brain cause 'craving' and a strong psychological desire to keep on using. Also tolerance builds and the desired effects reduce so much that users have to take more just to get the same effects and even more just to feel 'normal' or to avoid a very unpleasant withdrawal state.
Drugs have been developed to help treat heroin addiction. These include opiate substitutes for heroin such as methadone and subutex (buprenorphine) and also drugs like naltrexone that block the effects of heroin so you can't get a high once you have become drug-free.
The effects: -
• Heroin slows down body functioning and substantially reduces physical and psychological pain.
• Most users get a rush or buzz a few minutes after taking it.
• A small dose of heroin gives the user a feeling of warmth and well-being.
• Bigger doses can make the user sleepy and very relaxed.
• The first dose of heroin can bring about dizziness and vomiting.

The risks: -
• Deaths from overdoses occur. The risk increases after a period off the drug because the body’s tolerance for the drug goes down.
• Overdoses can lead to coma and even death from respiratory failure.
• If heroin is taken with other drugs, including alcohol, overdose is more likely. Other downers such as benzodiazepine tranquillizers are also associated with heroin overdose deaths.
• There’s also a risk of death die to inhaling vomit as heroin stops the bodies cough reflex working properly.
• Injecting heroin can do nasty damage to your veins and has been known to lead to gangrene and tissue infections.
• The risk of sharing needles and other works to inject are well-known, putting you in danger of infections like hepatitis B or C and HIV/AIDS




Name: - Ketamine

Class: - C

Type: - Hallucinogenic

Other names: - Green, K, special K, super K, vitamin k

Ketamine is a short acting but powerful general anaesthetic, which depresses the nervous system and causes temporary loss of body sensation. That’s why it has been used for operating on humans and animals. It also has powerful hallucinogenic qualities. You can become psychologically but not physically dependent on ketamine. You may need to take increasing amounts of ketamine to achieve the same effect.

The effects: -
• Ketamine can cause perceptual changes or hallucinations like LSD, in addition to its effects on reducing bodily sensation. Users can trip for up to an hour and may feel after-effects for some hours.
• It can give the user a floating feeling as if mind and body have been separated.

The risks: -
• Users may be physically incapable of moving while under the influence.
• Ketamine can cause panic attacks, depression, and taken in large doses, can make existing mental health problems worse.
• Because you don’t feel any pain when you’re on ketamine, you can injure yourself badly and not know you’ve done it.
• High doses, especially with other depressant drugs like alcohol, can dangerously suppress breathing and heart function and can lead to unconsciousness.
• Ketamine is very dangerous when mixed with ecstasy or amphetamines. It can result in high blood pressure.
• If high enough doses are taken, the anesthetic effect can result in death, for example due to unconsciousness and inhalation of vomit.



Name: - Khat

Class: - Khat is not illegal in the UK; it can be used or traded without penalty. Khat is illegal in the US, using or trading it there could result in a heavy prison sentence.

Type: - Stimulant

Other names: - Khat, quat, qat, qaadka, chat.

Khat is a herbal substance containing many different compounds. Its main effects are due to two compounds with stimulant properties similar to, but less powerful than amphetamines. Stimulants speed up your mind and body. Khat is mostly used in Africa but is becoming more common in Europe.
Khat can make a user psychologically dependent (with a desire to keep using in spite of potential harm). When they stop using they may feel lethargic or mildly depressed.

The effects: -
• Khat is a stimulant and chewing it can make people feel more alert and talkative, it can also produce feelings of elation.
• It can suppress the appetite.
• Although it’s a stimulant, many users report a feeling of calm if it’s chewed over a few hours. Some describe it as being ‘blissed out’.

The risks: -
• If used a lot you may develop insomnia, high blood pressure and heart problems and sexual problems like impotence. There’s also a longer- term risk of development of mouth cancers.
• It can give you feelings of anxiety and aggression.
• It can make pre-existing mental health problems worse and can cause paranoid and psychotic reactions (which may be associated with irritability, anxiety and losing touch with reality).




Name: - LSD

Class: - A

Type: - Hallucinogenic

Other names: - Acid, blotter, cheer, dots, drop, flash, hawk, L, lightening flash, liquid acid, Lucy, micro dot, paper mushrooms, rainbows, smilies, stars, tab, trips, tripper, window.
Sometimes LSD is known by the pictures on them e.g. strawberries.

LSD is a hallucinogenic drug, it originally derived from ergot, a fungus found growing on wild rye and other grasses. It is commonly known as acid, the experience is known as a ‘trip’ and these trips can be good or bad.
A trip can take from 20 minutes to an hour to start and usually last about 12 hours. Once its started you can’t stop it and until you take a tab of acid you cant tell strong it is or how it’s going to affect you. How the trip goes can be affected by who you are, how you’re feeling and how comfortable you are with the people you’re with.
There is no evidence LSD is addictive.

The effects: -
• A trip can appear to involve a speeding up and slowing down of time and movement.
• Colour, sound and objects can get distorted and you can experience double vision.
• Trips can heighten the mood you’re already in.

The risks: -
• LSD has very random and sometimes very frightening effects. Trips feed off a persons imagination.
• If manic sets it the experience can be scary and confusing. Bad trips can be terrifying.
• Flashbacks sometimes happen. This is when part of the trip is subsequently re-lived after the original experience. (This usually occurs weeks or months after the taking the LSD but can be longer).
• There is no evidence to suggest LSD does any long-term damage to the body or long-term psychological damage.
• Avoid taking LSD if you’re in a bad mood. People have been known to hurt themselves during a bad trip.
• LSD could have serious, longer term implications for somebody who had a history of mental health problems and may also be responsible for triggering a mental health problem that has previously gone un detected.




Name: - Magic Mushrooms

Class: - A- whether they are fresh or prepared.

Type: - Hallucinogenic

Other names: - Magic mushrooms, Liberties, magics, mushies, liberty cap, shrooms, Amani, agaric.

Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that grow in the wild; they produce similar hallucinogenic-type effects to LSD when you eat them. There are two main types and they’re quite different. The most common form is a species called psilocybe semilanceata or ‘liberty cap’ while the other more potent variety is amanita muscaria or ‘fly agaric’. There are deadly poisonous species of amanitas, so if you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s wise not to take them.
Magic mushrooms are not addictive although, like LSD, you can quickly become tolerant of the effects quite quickly.

The effects: -
• The effects for both mushrooms can take between 30 minutes to 2 hours to happen. The strongest part of the trip takes 4-10 hours and the after-effects usually last a further 2-6 hours. The more you take, the longer your trip could last.
• Both mushrooms can make you feel confident, relaxed and in good spirits.
• They can distort colour, sound and objects. One effect can be that your senses get mixed up so that, for example, you think you can hear colours and you can see sounds.
• They can also speed up and slow down your sense of time and movement. You may feel like you’re dreaming when you’re awake.
• You can feel more emotionally sensitive. Some people become creative and feel enlightened.

The risks: -
• Both types of mushrooms can make you feel sick, tired and disorientated but ‘fly agaric’ is much more potent and risky to take.
• ‘Bad trips’ are seriously frightening and unsettling. And you can’t tell whether you’re going to have a bad trip or a good trip. Also you can get flashbacks some time afterwards.
• You may be at risk when you’re not in complete control of what you’re doing. Your perception of your body and the world around you can be distorted.
• Eating the wrong kind of mushroom can make you seriously ill, and even kill you.
• Magic mushrooms can complicate any mental health issues you have.




Name: - Methadone

Class: - A

Type: - Analgesic

Other names: - Mixture, meth, linctus, physeptone

Methadone is one of a number of synthetic opiates that are manufactured for medical use and have similar effects to heroin. Methadone and Subutex are used as substitutes for heroin addiction.
Methadone doesn’t deliver the same degree of buzz or high as heroin. It allows people to tackle their psychological addiction and stabilize their lifestyle when used as a substitute for heroin. Such treatment may be continued for a long period of time in some cases. In treatment, opiate substitution therapy such as methadone, is usually aimed initially at obliterating withdrawal symptoms and supporting stabilisation of health and lifestyle. The dose can subsequently then be reduced slowly by agreement until the user is off the drug completely.
There are still problems with heroin withdrawal symptoms, but this method is much less severe than going ‘cold turkey’.

The effects: -
• Opiates are sedative drugs that depress the nervous system. They slow body functioning and reduce physical and psychological pain. The effect is usually to give a feeling of warmth, relaxation and detachment.
• Methadone can help relieve feelings of anxiety.
• See also the effects of heroin.

The risks: -
• Some people are sick the first time they take it and they can become constipated.
• With high doses, the sedation dominates and users feel sleepy. Too much and you can fall into a coma or stop breathing completely.
• Many women don’t have periods when they use opiates regularly. If they cut down, or stop, their periods may return. There’d a good chance of getting pregnant during this time if they don’t use protection.
• Opiates may possibly increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirths, opiate users may give birth to smaller babies. It’s not a good idea to stop using opiates suddenly if you’re pregnant as this can cause premature labour and miscarriage. Methadone may be continued throughout the pregnancy to minimize such risk.
• Your driving license is invalid on a methadone treatment programme unless agreed by the DVLA following receipt of supportive medical advice.




Name: - PMA

Class: - A

Type: - Hallucinogenic

Other names: - Chicken yellow, chicken fever, double stacked, mitsubishi turbo, red mitsubishi, killer, para-methoxyampethamine, paramethoxymethyamphetamine, PMMA.

This drug looks very similar to and has been sold as ecstasy. The effects are much the same as an E but PMA is much stronger and can cause a fatal rise in body temperature. The effects of PMA also take longer to happen. Some users have taken a fatal overdose by mistakenly taking pill after pill thinking nothing is happening. There are a number of ‘designer’ or ecstasy-like drugs on the market and others are likely to be developed. PMA provides a model as to how this may increase risks especially when substituted unknowingly for ecstasy with somewhat different properties. Such drugs are likely to have limited availability at certain times.
PMA is not particularly addictive but its possible to build up a tolerance. Some psychological dependence can probably develop (with an increased desire to keep taking the drug even in spite of potential harm).

The effects: -
• Similar to ecstasy.

The risks: -
• As little as quarter of a tablet is enough to significantly increase blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rates.
• PMA can cause muscle spasms and lots of people feel very sick after taking it.
• The long-term risks associated with PMA have yet to be studied but they’re likely to be similar to ecstasy.
• PMA is stronger than ecstasy so the risk of overheating is greater. If you feel your temperature soaring on the dance floor seek help immediately.
• PMA affects the body’s temperature control. Dancing for long periods in a hot atmosphere increases the chances of overheating and dehydration. Take regular breaks to cool down.
• Watch out for your friends, people can get so out of control that they don’t realise they’re in danger of overheating or dehydration.
• Be careful with fluids though, drinking to much can also be dangerous or even fatal. Ecstasy can cause the body to release a hormone, which prevents the production of urine. Drink to quickly and it interferes with your body’s salt balance, which can be as deadly as not drinking enough water. Reduce the risks by sipping no more than a pint of water or non-alcoholic fluid every hour.
• Anyone using too much can get paranoid and depressed.
• Some long-term users report getting colds, flu and sore throats more often.
• Anyone with a heart condition, blood pressure problems, epilepsy or asthma can have a very dangerous reaction to the drug.
• Not enough is known about the effects PMA can have on pregnancy.




Name: - Solvents

Class: - Solvent misuse isn’t illegal. Although, its illegal in England and Wales for shopkeepers to sell you intoxicating substances if they think you’re likely to be inhaling them.
In Scotland the law is different but the effect is similar. Under Scottish law you can be prosecuted for ‘recklessly’ selling substances to any age group if you suspect they’re going to inhale them.
It is against the law to sell gas lighter refills to anyone under the age of 18. This applies to the whole of the UK.

Type: - Depressant

Other names: - Thinners, volatile substances

Solvents cover a huge number of substances. When inhaled, solvents have a similar effect to alcohol. They make people feel uninhibited, euphoric and dizzy.
There’s no evidence that inhaling solvents can make a user physically dependent although a tolerance can build up within 2-3 days of continual use. Its possible to be psychologically dependent.

The effects: -
• Users say it’s like being drunk with dizziness, dreaminess and fits of the giggles. It can be difficult to think straight.
• Depending on what’s being inhaled, you can hallucinate. This can last for up to 45 minutes.
• The hit is quite short so users tend to keep repeating the dose to keep the feeling going.
• It can give people a ‘hangover’ afterwards, giving them severe headaches and leaving them tired.
• Depending on the substance, it can leave a red rash around the mouth.

The risk: -
• People can experience vomiting and blackouts.
• There’s a risk of fatal heart problems, which have been known to kill users the very first time they sniff.
• Squirting gas products down the throat is a particularly dangerous way of taking the drug. It can make your throat swell so you cant breathe and slows down your heart..
• You risk suffocation if you inhale from a plastic bag over your head.
• Sniffing can seriously affect your judgement and when you’re high there’s a real danger you’ll try something reckless.
• Long-term abuse of solvents has been shown to damage the brain, liver and kidneys.
• It can be hard to get the right amount. Just enough will give the desired high- a little too much can result in com.
• Solvent abuse killed 64 people in 2000. A quarter of these were people under 18.
• Using solvents in combination with alcohol can lead to increased risk of death.




Name: - Speed

Class: - B
Class A when prepared for injection.

Type: - Stimulant

Other name: - Phet, Billy, Whizz, Sulph, Base, Paste, Dexies.

Speed is the street name for a range of amphetamines. Like cocaine, amphetamines are stimulants that people take to keep them awake and alert. The effects of amphetamines kick in within the half an hour of ingesting it by mouth. If you inject it you’ll experience the effects quicker and these effects can last for up to six hours. The high is generally followed by a long slow comedown.
You can get strongly addicted to amphetamines. The more times you take it, the more you’ll need to get the same buzz.

The effects: -
• Speed makes people feel wide-awake, excited and chatty.
• Clubbers take it because it gives them the energy to dance for hours without getting tired.
• Amphetamines were once the main ingredients in diet pills because it stops people feeling hungry.

The risks: -
• Depending on how much has actually been used, it can be difficult to relax or sleep after taking speed.
• The come down can make users feel irritable and depressed and can last for one or two days.
• Speed users have died from overdoses.
• Speed puts a strain on your heart. Its not advisable for people with high blood pressure or a heart condition.
• Avoid taking speed with anti-depressants or alcohol. This combination has been known to be fatal.
• Taking a lot of speed can give your immune system a battering. You could get more colds, flu and sore throats if you use it a lot.
• Speed can lead to anxiety, depression, irritability and aggression as well as mental illness such as psychosis and paranoid feelings.
• Injecting heroin can do nasty damage to your veins and has been known to lead to gangrene and tissue infections.
• The risk of sharing needles and other works to inject are well known, putting you in danger of infections like hepatitis B or C and HIV/AIDS.
• Injecting speed may be particularly dangerous because it’s so impure.




Name: - Tobacco

Class: - It is illegal for shopkeepers to sell tobacco products to anyone under 16.

Type: - Stimulant

Other names: - Fags, rollies, smokes, ciggies

Tobacco comes from the leaves of the tobacco plant. It contains a drug called nicotine, which is highly addictive; it’s the nicotine that gives smokers their ‘hit’.
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. Smokers can get hooked very quickly and it can take years and a huge effort to kick the habit. Not many people are able to remain occasional smokers.

The effects: -
• Smoking any drug gets it to the brain quickly. When a smoker inhales, the nicotine reached the brain in around 8 seconds. Regular smokers say it helps them relax and feel less hungry.

The risks: -
• Nicotine speeds up the heart rate and increases blood pressure.
• First time smokers often feel sick and dizzy.
• Smokers are more likely to get coughs and chest infections.
• Long-term addiction could leave you with cancer, emphysema or heart disease.
• Smoking has been linked to the amputation of 2000 limbs a year.
• Its estimated smoking contributes to 120,000 premature deaths in the UK every year.
• Other people breathing in your smoke could end up with breathing difficulties asthma or even cancer.

Name: - Tranquilisers

Class: - Tranquillisers can only be prescribed by a pharmacist. They’re controlled under Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Its illegal to possess benzodiazepines without prescription.

Type: - Depressant

Other names: - ellies, benzos, eggs, norries, rugby balls, vallies, moggies, mazzies, roofies, downers.

Tranquillisers are manufactured drugs produced to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia. Prescribed by a doctor, they’re designed to reduce anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep. There are hundreds of different tranquillisers around but most common are the Benzodiazepines.
The chances of becoming are quite high, tranquillisers can cause psychological and physical addiction and, because tolerance increases over time, users have to keep increasing their dose to get the same hit.

The effects: -
• Tranquillisers have a sedative effect. They work by depressing the nervous system and slowing the body down.
• They relieve tension and anxiety and make the user feel calm and relaxed.
• Big doses can make a user forgetful and send them to sleep.

The risks: -
• Benzos in particular are highly addictive.
• Tranquilliers are a depressant and if taken with other depressive drugs like alcohol, can lead to accidental overdose.
• Some tranquilliers have been shown to cause short-term memory loss.
• Injecting crushed tablets or melted down gel capsules is extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal. The chalk in the capsules is a major cause of collapsed veins, which can lead to infection and abscess. Injecting gel capsules can also be fatal when the gel solidifies inside the blood vessels.
• Withdrawal can cause unpleasant symptoms like a pounding headache, nausea, anxiety and confusion. Some people report withdrawal symptoms after only four weeks’ use. This can be dangerous and require medical help.
• Sudden withdrawal after big doses or from some specific drugs can cause panic attacks and fits.
• There’s been a big increase in sex crime involving tranquillisers like rohypnol. Victims drinks are spiked with the drug, knocking them into an often paralysed stupor so they’re either unaware of or unable to prevent a sexual assault.