DRUGS: THE LOWDOWN ON GETTING HIGH
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Cannabis
Cannabis comes from a relative of the hop plant, called Cannabis sativa. The main forms are cannabis resin, a dark or light brown solid, and marijuana, or grass, which is the dried leaves and flowers of the plant.
Smoking is the most common way to use cannabis, either combined with tobacco or on its own. It can be rolled in a joint or smoked in a pipe. Some people eat it, which produces slightly different effects.
Cannabis heightens all the senses. Vision, smell, taste and hearing all become very sensitive. Users get giggly, laid back and lethargic.
Cannabis doesn't generally lead to a come-down or to physical addiction. A small number of people develop dependence after prolonged periods of very heavy usage. Likewise, side effects are usually mild, but a minority of people may suffer from feelings of paranoia after taking cannabis. In some cases, it can trigger serious mental illness.
Cannabis is a Class C drug .It is illegal to possess and to supply cannabis. Possession of the drug carries a sentence of up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine, whilst supply carries up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the whole nervous system.
Amphetamine (speed) usually comes in the form of amphetamine sulphate, a dull white powder. Similarly, cocaine (coke) is a white or off-white powder. Both can be inhaled through the nose (snorted), swallowed or injected. Ecstasy (E) usually comes in the form of tablets with an embossed logo on them – commonly a smiley face, but it can be anything.
Stimulants increase heart and breathing rates and lead to racing thoughts, jaw clenching, constant chewing, large eye pupils, loss of appetite and an overall wakeful, energetic feeling.
Amphetamine is the most basic stimulant. Cocaine has a slightly more euphoric effect. Ecstasy is a basic amphetamine with MDMA attached to it, which gives the user an emotional high as well as speed-like effects.
A day, or several days, after taking a stimulant there will be a 'come-down'. Users feel washed out, tired and hung-over. Long-term users can experience mood swings, depression and mental illness as a result.
Regular users of stimulants may have to take more and more of these drugs to achieve the same high. This can lead to dependency and addiction.
Cocaine and ecstasy are Class A drugs. Possession carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Supply carries a maximum of life in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
Amphetamines are Class B drugs. Possession carries a maximum prison sentence of five years, an unlimited fine, or both. Supply of Class B drugs carries up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Amphetamines that are prepared for injection are treated as Class A drugs.
The young people
Neal is 27 and lives in Ipswich. His mum died when he was very young and his dad was an alcoholic. Neal started experimenting with drugs at the age of 14. His drugs of choice were speed and cannabis, which he used to block out traumatic times in his childhood – his mother had died and his father drank too much. At first, drugs gave Neal a new-found confidence but that soon turned to paranoia and psychosis. Unable to cope, Neal attempted suicide when he was 17 and was admitted to psychiatric hospital for a short spell. Following that he went to a rehabilitation centre in Bury St Edmunds. Neal has since trained as a massage therapist.
Dan is 19 and lives with his girlfriend, Jo, in rural Surrey. Dan started smoking cannabis in his early teens. From the very beginning, Dan used dope in a different way to most people. Instead of just having a chilled out time with his mates, Dan used heavily and on his own. By the age of 15 he was smoking morning to night on a daily basis and couldn’t manage without. Dan was trying to get away from depression caused by an unhappy home life. Of course, the cannabis made the whole situation worse and he ended up lifeless and extremely paranoid. Finally, Dan turned to Surrey-based Involve to help him overcome his addiction with drug counselling, anger management and careers advice. Today Dan is not smoking dope and has begun a motorbike mechanics course.
Londoner, Georgie is 24 and from an extremely wealthy family. Although she seems to have had a charmed life, Georgie always felt lacking in the looks department. As a teenager she suffered with low self-esteem. At 14 Georgie tried cocaine – she thought it was the coolest thing in the world and enjoyed showing off to her friends. From then on she used more and more heavily. When, at 17, she looked in the mirror and saw a wreck of a girl staring back at her, she begged her mother for help. Georgie was admitted to The Priory and was able to get drug free after several relapses and a long battle. Today, Georgie runs her own company advising people about the dangers of drugs.
As a teenager, Hannah, 22, had some family problems and went to a hostel for young people. At the time she felt quite angry and rebellious. When she was introduced to a social life that revolved ecstasy and clubbing she loved the party vibe. She didn’t care if it damaged her – she was doing what she wanted and it was fun. Regular club nights gradually eroded her ability to function, she was constantly absent from school and failed her A-levels in the end. At 22 years old, she fell pregnant with her little boy and pulled her life around. She hasn’t used E since. Hannah now works for Hope UK helping educate schoolchildren about drug use.
26-year-old Graham was a feisty, bored teenager. When he was introduced to the club scene he loved it and began taking a combination of ecstasy, cocaine and copious amounts of alcohol. Graham's parents couldn't cope with his lifestyle and asked him to leave home. After periods renting and sofa-surfing, Graham ended up homeless and spent a year living on Epsom Common. He reached his low one morning when he woke up shivering with two slugs on his head. He decided there and then that he had to change and with the help of charity Crisis, got a place in a hostel. Graham now has a job and lives in private accommodation in Birmingham.
