Alcohol
(booze, bevy etc.)

Alcohol is a depressant that can effect people in a huge variety of ways - some folk are pleasantly relaxed by the drug, others lose their inhibitions completely while for the less fortunate it can turn them into mumbling, dribbling bores or crazed psychotic nutters.

Alcohol depletes vitamin B from the body so take vitamin B supplements.

If you drink, having several alcohol-free days each week will reduce the risk of harm.

Do not mix your drinks.

Do not use with any other substances as you may feel more in control than you actually are!

Drink no more than 14 units a week, which means no more than a pint of larger or 2 pub measures of vodka a day.

Remember many of the alcoholic coke, lemonades and other fizzy drinks available contain as much alcohol by volume as beer or cider.

Be careful of getting your drink spiked. Never let your drink out of your sight or accept a drink from a stranger.

Always tell someone where your going or who you are with.

Never leave somebody who is very drunk. Make sure they are lying on their side so they do not choke if they are sick.

Make arrangements for how you are getting home BEFORE you go out.

Drink non-alcoholic drinks in between alcoholic ones throughout the night.

Drink your drinks slowly DO NOT down them.

Drink a large glass of water before bed to help with dehydration.

Always take a condom out with you, as this will stop the chance of unprotected sex if you end up with somebody.


Back to top

Cannabis
(spliff, marijuana, ganja, weed, hash, skunk, blow, puff, 'erb etc.)

Cannabis is a naturally occurring substance that can act as a relaxant and mild hallucinogenic.

Don't breathe in too deeply or hold smoke in your lungs – You don't get any more stoned you just increase the amount of tar and chemicals in your lungs.

Clean your weed - stems, leaves and seeds should be taken out.

Don't mix cannabis with tobacco – its addictive and causes death.

Don't use cigarette filters for tips. They increase the amount of tar to THC by 30% and reduces the amount of THC getting through by 60%

Use plain card not coloured for a tip as the ink gives off dangerous fumes and use a long roach.

Don't use too many papers as you want to cut down the amount of burning paper you inhale.

Smoke a spliff through cupped hands. Your mates' germs are all over the wet roach.

Bongs and buckets – avoid using plastic, bottles, aluminium, rubber hoses, PVC or foil as toxic fumes are given off when they are hot. Use glass, steel or brass pipes as they give off less unpleasant fumes than wood or plastic.


Back to top

Cocaine
(charlie, C, snow, coke, toot, rocks, stones)

Cocaine used to be the drug of choice for rock stars and the rich, but recent price cuts and increased imports have resulted in a massive rise in usage and availability. A gram will cost you around £40-£60 for a paper wrap, the contents of which are usually snorted.

If you can, avoid taking with other stimulants or with alcohol.

Expect to feel pretty bad the next day and plan on taking things easy.

When snorting it is advised that you use a nasal spray or water to clean your nostrils to reduce the damage to your nose.

Use a small piece of a straw (and keep it to yourself) to snort NOT a rolled up note as this reduces the chance of passing on infection.


Back to top

Crack
(rocks, stones, freebase cocaine)

Crack is cocaine baked into a small rock or street quality freebase cocaine.

Usually smoked through a water pipe, it produces a rapid, ultra-intense high which lasts for about 2 minutes, followed by a pleasurable buzz which usually lasts around 20 minutes before a long low or crash. Because the hit is so strong, some people get hooked on the sensation and end up blowing all their cash trying to repeat the high, or overdosing.

It is suggested that when smoking you have your own pipe BUT not a glass one also be aware of using:

Tin Cans – The paint from the can will burn and can end up in your lungs. You can breathe in bacteria from dirty cans you can also easily cut yourself on the can.

Water Bottle – You might get water or ash in your lungs or inhale plastic fumes.

Glass – You might get water or ash in your lungs also you could burn your face if the crack spits off the foil, or the glass itself could explode.

In all cases be careful that you do not burn your face so make sure you hold the lighter far enough away.

Can also be injected but if you choose to use, please remember that you can reduce the risk of getting HIV and other blood-borne diseases.

Try and have a couple of days off a week in order to gain sleep.


Back to top

Ecstasy
(E, pills, doves, MDMA, MDEA, MDA etc.)

Ecstasy is a powerful stimulant and mood changer that speeds up your body system and alters your perception of the world.

Take half a pill first, so that you can check the strength.

Take one pill at a time. DO NOT double or triple drop.

Avoid taking ecstasy if you're on anti-depressants.

Try to avoid wolfing down cans of Super Tennents as the alcohol will dehydrate you - as well as weaken the effects of the E.

Ecstasy puts a tremendous strain on your heart, liver and kidneys, and it's important to take time out in a chill-out area during the night.

Most of the dangers come from people overheating and not replacing enough fluids while dancing, so it is essential to keep drinking water if you're dancing. I can't stress this fact enough.

BUT also be careful not to drink too much - about 1 pint an hour is right if you're on the dance floor. Sip it DO NOT down it.

Remember that water is not an antidote to E, it just helps combat the dehydrating qualities of the drug.

Always make sure that you can get home safely before taking E, and don't try to drive.

Because E is a stimulant, the comedown is much like that from speed. Once you've come down you might feel a bit depressed, anxious, hungry and tired with some people getting it worse than others, so be in a safe environment.

You might also notice a laxative effect. Long-term frequent users often get run-down from exhaustion and suffer colds, sore throats and flu.

Women can be susceptible to cystitis and thrush.

Do not wear hats or excessive clothing in hot clubs due to heat exhaustion.

If you feel sick do not take ecstasy for a while, until you feel well again.


Back to top

Heroin
(smack, skag, brown, H etc...)

Heroin is a powerful and addictive substance that can be sold in the form of a powder, pill, or a liquid. It's growth in the UK is of epidemic proportions, with children as young Health risks: Most of the dangers of heroin use come from using shared or dirty needles which can considerably increase your chances of contracting diseases like HIV, hepatitis, septicaemia, gangrene and pneumonia as well as developing body sores and ulcers

Safety: Always use new sterile needles. Sharing any drug injecting equipment (works) can easily lead to HIV and other diseases carried in the blood (such as hepatitis B and C) being passed on. Works are not just the needle and syringe but include spoons, mixing dishes, filters, water and citric acid. As a last resort, works can be shared with careful preparation. Always dispose of the needles safely.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS:
Never reuse or share syringes, water, or drug preparation equipment.

Try and eat nutritious meals as often as possible.

Try a little of the heroin first to check strength.

Use a new syringe every time you inject.

Get new syringes from a reliable source (pharmacy or needle exchange).

Use clean water.

Use a new disinfected container ("cooker").

Use a new filter ("cotton").

Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab.

If you have been clean for a while your “tolerance” would have lowered so be even more careful with how much you use.

Safely dispose of syringes after one use.


Back to top

LSD
(tabs, trips, acid, blotters, microdots)

Acid is a powerful hallucinogenic drug that alters your perception of the outside world.

Because of the unexpected and random effects of taking acid, it's always best to take it somewhere you feel comfortable and safe, preferably surrounded by friends you trust.

If you're out clubbing, make sure you've got somewhere to go to afterwards as it can be quite a challenge trying to work out a night bus timetable when all you can see is a set of oscillating black blobs.

Avoid taking acid if you're already feeling in a bad mood as this could result in a bad trip.

People have been known to harm themselves under the influence of acid, so be sure to have responsible friends around you. This is often hard when all your friends are on Acid too.

Be careful not to take more acid when you're waiting to come up - some acid can take a long time to take effect and it's rare to get duff gear.


Back to top

Magic Mushrooms
('shrooms, mushies, liberty caps)

Magic mushrooms are a powerful, naturally occurring hallucinogenic.

Side effects:
Much the same as acid.

Some users complain of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pains.

Like all hallucinogens, how good or bad your trip will be can be affected by who you are with, where you are and how you're feeling at the time.

It is important to be in a safe environment as some people can panic and get confused.

The hallucinatory effects of the drug can make people at risk of accidents, so be careful.

The biggest risk is of people mistakenly picking and consuming poisonous mushrooms - make sure you know what you're taking. If in ANY doubt, DON'T take them.


Back to top

Poppers
(amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, isobutyl nitrate, TNT, liquid gold, rush etc.)

Amyl/butyl nitrate (poppers) is a powerful drug that can give you an almighty burst of dizzy energy for a couple of minutes.

Amyl can deliver the mother, father and immediate family of headaches.

Never take amyl at work or at any place where there is a chance of physical danger - for the few moments that it kicks in you may well not be in control of your actions.

If you're having a bit of a session and finding that it's becoming less effective, take a break from it.

If you're snorting poppers while having sex, there's a chance that the heady, rush may make you lead you to risky sex - so slap on a condom before you break out the amyl.

Try not to take it with other stimulants (coke, speed, E etc.) as it could put too much strain on your heart.

The liquid is also highly inflammable so be careful if you're smoking!

Do not hold too close to the nose when inhaling. It is better if you open the bottle and leave in the corner of the room and not directly inhale.


Back to top

Speed
(whizz, billy, sulphate, grudge, dexys, blues, base, etc.)

Speed is a stimulant that can keep you awake for hours and jumping around like a nutter.

Speed can turn people into breathtaking bores. If you've ever been cornered by someone who's just snorted a gram, expect hours of pure tedium as they recall in great detail boring stories from their childhood. People often get a bit emotional and will constantly reassure complete strangers that they are their best mates for life. But they are just strangers and this can be very dangerous.

People often lose their inhibitions when drinking, and mixing alcohol with speed means that instead of nodding off after a few pints the speed keeps you going and there's a chance you may wake up with a stranger/horse/whatever in your bed the next morning. If you're going out on the pull be sure you keep those condoms to hand.

After a night wolfing down the sulphate, the next day (or the comedown) can be a dreadful experience. You might feel tired, weak and unwell, and if you've really been overdoing it, depressed and even paranoid, sometimes with hallucinations, so be in a safe environment.

Take loads of orange juice and vitamins, eat well and resign yourself to a few miserable moods over the next couple of days.

If you've high blood pressure or a dodgy ticker taking speed could be risky, as it puts strain on your heart, remember you might not know you have a bad heart!!

Try not to mix it up with drugs like poppers, coke or E as this could send your poor old heart AWOL.

Avoid taking speed if you're on anti-depressants, as this combination has been known to be fatal.

Don't take speed if you're pregnant.

Definitely try and avoid injecting the stuff – Who knows what it's cut with.

Avoid rubbing it into your gums as this can lead to gum and teeth problems.


Back to top

Solvents
(fast drying glues and adhesives, assorted paint and petroleum products, lighter fluid, dry-cleaning fluids, assorted aerosol sprays, surgical spirit, cleaners etc.)

Solvent abuse involves inhaling the fumes from domestic and industrial products creating a strong intoxication.

Do not use solvents on your own.

Put solvents on a piece of clothing do not sniff straight from container.

Do not spray directly into throat – this causes many deaths.

If somebody passes out put him or her on his or her side and call an ambulance. Do not worry about getting into trouble.

Solvent abuse can result in a dazed appearance, unsteadiness, slurred speech and unpredictable behaviour, so be with safe friends.

Under the influence of solvents, users can undertake dangerous and reckless acts and be at increased risk from accidents. Do not use in dangerous or isolated areas.

There is no evidence of physical dependence, although psychological dependence can develop. So be warned!

Solvent abuse accounts for a death rate of over 70 people a year, the vast majority being under 20 years old.


Back to top