Drugs are everywhere around us and most parents worry about their child becoming involved with drugs. Parents often feel they don’t know enough about drugs to help prevent their child from coming to harm.
In this section of our site, there are basic details on the most commonly used drugs to help you to become better informed.
We also offer a variety of drug tests for the most common drugs. The tests are available with different testing strips so you can choose which drugs you want to test for.
Why
do young people take drugs?
Most parents
do not understand why children might want to take drugs and question
themselves. They usually believe that because their child is using drugs
or tried drugs that they must be having problems at school or home.
There are
many reasons why a child may take drugs, perhaps they enjoy the short-term
effects, their friends use them, curiosity or just as a part of growing
up. They want to break the rules and think it will be fun, without realising
the consequences.
What
are the different types of drugs available?
A drug
is basically something that changes the way you think or feel. Drugs
include alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and medical drugs. Drugs can be divided
into the following groups:-
- Analgesics
- drugs which kill pain e.g. heroin.
- Depressants
- drugs which slow everything down e.g. alcohol, gases, glues and
aerosols.
- Hallucinogens
- drugs which act on the mind, altering the way the user sees and
hears things e.g. cannabis, L.S.D. and magic mushrooms.
- Stimulants
- drugs which make everything seem as if they're going faster e.g.
cocaine, crack, ecstasy, poppers, speed and tobacco.
What
are some of the risks of taking drugs?
All drugs
carry risks and drugs affect different people in different ways but
the major risks involved with taking illegal drugs are as follows :
-
- The
user may never know exactly what it is they are taking. What
is bought is unlikely to be pure and you can never be sure what it
has been mixed with.
- You
can never be sure what effect a drug might have, even if it has been
taken before.
- If drugs
are injected and shared around you are then at risk of catching a
dangerous infection such as H.I.V. or hepatitis B and C.
- If you
mix different drugs this can be very dangerous and that includes mixing
alcohol with a drug.
- Women
who take drugs may experience heavier periods and some women’s periods have been known to stop.
Drugs
and the law
A major
risk with drug taking is that you could end up with a criminal record,
which may seriously affect your future, for example job prospects.
A first
offender who is caught in possession of an illegal drug and has admitted
that he/she has committed a criminal offence, may receive a formal warning
or caution from the police.
If found
in possession (being caught with an illegal drug for your own use) of
a class A drug (e.g. cocaine, ecstasy, heroin,
L.S.D.) there is a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison and/or a fine.
However, possession with intent to supply has a maximum penalty of life
imprisonment and/or a fine.
If found
in possession of a class B drug (e.g. amphetamines)
you may face a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine.
If caught in possession with intent to supply (which can include giving
and sharing drugs) it’s a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment
and/or a fine.
If you
have a drugs record obtaining a visa to travel to some Countries may
become difficult or even denied.
Drugs
in the workplace
According
to a new survey into drugs and alcohol at
work, many U.K. businesses are reporting cases of substance abuse by
their employees. The survey of 1,800 personnel professionals also found
that employees using illegal drugs are more likely to get the sack than
employees with an alcohol problem.
A lot of
firms in the U.K. are now operating a random drug test policy and in
most lines of work it’s completely justified. The main problem
drug is cannabis, which can stay in your system for over a month although
you're not intoxicated. Cocaine can stay detected in your system for
½ a day till up to 3 days, ecstasy and speed 1 to 3 days.
What
can I do if something goes wrong?
Sometimes
drugs can make people very drowsy or even unconscious, people sometimes
take drugs that make them panicky and as a result may start to hyperventilate,
feel sick and dizzy. If taking ecstasy or speed there is a risk of overheating
and dehydration.
If you
see someone who is drowsy or unconscious : -
- Make
sure they have plenty of cool, fresh air.
- Do not
frighten or startle them.
- Do not
throw water over them.
- Turn
them on their side and put them in the recovery position (on their
side).
- Phone
999 (U.K.) immediately, if
symptoms persist or they become unconscious. Make sure you tell the
ambulance crew that you believe drugs have been taken. If possible
give the drugs to them.
If someone
is getting panicky and breathing rapidly: -
- Try
to calm them down.
- Help
them to breathe slowly and deeply by counting each breath slowly in
and out with them.
- Keep
them away from loud noises and bright lights, if in a club get them
outside.
- Do not
give them anything to eat or drink except small sips of water.
- Talk
quietly and keep telling them the panicky feeling will go away and
that they will be okay.
Drug
abuse facts and figures in Britain
- Every
year 1 in 10 people aged between 16 and 59 use illegal drugs.
- 1 in
2 people in their late 20’s have tried drugs.
- Drug
use costs the economy and social system between £3-£4
billion a year in terms of crime, sickness and absenteeism.
- A Home
Office study found that 61% of people arrested tested positive for
at least one illegal drug.
Related topics
Drug Tests
The Detox Handbook
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