Changing Patterns Changing Patterns and Habits of Drug and Habits of Drug

Use in the UKUse in the UK

Emma May & Ben GilchristEmma May & Ben Gilchrist

Harm Reduction PractitionersHarm Reduction Practitioners

Leeds Citywide Harm Leeds Citywide Harm Reduction ServiceReduction Service

Changing Patters and Habits of Changing Patters and Habits of Drug Use in the UKDrug Use in the UK

Recent trends of drug useRecent trends of drug use

What makes some drugs more desirableWhat makes some drugs more desirable CannabisCannabis KetamineKetamine Legal HighsLegal Highs Poly drug usePoly drug use

Taken in last Taken in last year (2009/2010)year (2009/2010)

Taken in last Taken in last year (2010/11)year (2010/11)

Class AClass A

Cocaine (Powder cocaine, Crack cocaineCocaine (Powder cocaine, Crack cocaine 813,000813,000 704,000704,000

EcstasyEcstasy 517,000517,000 452,000452,000

Hallucinogens (LSD, Magic mushrooms)Hallucinogens (LSD, Magic mushrooms) 161,000161,000 182,000182,000

Opiates (Heroin, Methadone)Opiates (Heroin, Methadone) 50,00050,000 76,00076,000

Class A/BClass A/B

Amphetamines (Amphetamines, Amphetamines (Amphetamines, Methamphetamine)Methamphetamine)

319,000319,000 345,000345,000

Class BClass B

CannabisCannabis 2,152,0002,152,000 2,222,0002,222,000

Class B/CClass B/C

TranquilisersTranquilisers 145,000145,000 143,000143,000

Class CClass C

Anabolic SteroidsAnabolic Steroids 50,00050,000 52,00052,000

KetamineKetamine 159,000159,000 207,000207,000

Not ClassifiedNot Classified

Amyl NitrateAmyl Nitrate 351,000351,000 313,000313,000

CannabisCannabis19891989• 70% Cannabis Resin70% Cannabis Resin

Wide range of imported Wide range of imported types availabletypes available

• 20% Imported herbal 20% Imported herbal cannabiscannabis - often from - often from Caribbean, commanded a Caribbean, commanded a higher pricehigher price

• 10% home grown, oil 10% home grown, oil etcetc – home growers on – home growers on very small scale, very small scale, hobbyists supplying hobbyists supplying themselves and friendsthemselves and friends

20092009• 70% + Herbal Cannabis70% + Herbal Cannabis

– Home grown; hybrids – – Home grown; hybrids – skunk strains White skunk strains White widow, purple power, widow, purple power, skunkskunk

• 20% Cannabis resin20% Cannabis resin – – Primarily ‘soap’Primarily ‘soap’

• 10% Imported herbal10% Imported herbal – – some from Europe, some from Europe, Caribbean, AfricaCaribbean, Africa

Cannabis PopularityCannabis Popularity

EffectsEffects: relaxing, sedating, moderately : relaxing, sedating, moderately hallucinogenichallucinogenic

Social statusSocial status: rebellious, risk taking, gift giving, : rebellious, risk taking, gift giving, barter, rite of passage, relationship buildingbarter, rite of passage, relationship building

Identity shapingIdentity shaping: accessorising, fashion and : accessorising, fashion and musicmusic

Coping mechanismCoping mechanism: escapism, avoid problems, : escapism, avoid problems, self medicatingself medicating

Cheap and availableCheap and available: cheaper and easier to : cheaper and easier to access than other drugs (and alcohol for under access than other drugs (and alcohol for under 18s)18s)

Cannabis CultivationCannabis Cultivation

Estimates that 60-70% of UK cannabis is Estimates that 60-70% of UK cannabis is now grown locallynow grown locally

Home-growing moving away from cottage Home-growing moving away from cottage industry and becoming a bigger gang-led industry and becoming a bigger gang-led industryindustry

Main crop is high-yield, fast maturing Main crop is high-yield, fast maturing cannabiscannabis

Cannabis CultivationCannabis Cultivation

Spend £419.99 on Spend £419.99 on setup.setup.Setup 14 plants in Setup 14 plants in tent provided.tent provided.Grow for 3 months.Grow for 3 months.Harvest 5oz per plant, Harvest 5oz per plant, a total of 70oz.a total of 70oz.Sell for £150 per oz.Sell for £150 per oz.Earn £10,500 which Earn £10,500 which equals £10,080.01 equals £10,080.01 profit.profit.

Spend £419.99 + 3 months = £10,500 Easy money!!

KetamineKetamine

AppearanceAppearance: Comes in liquid form which is : Comes in liquid form which is usually injected. The illegally produced version usually injected. The illegally produced version usually comes as a grainy white powder which is usually comes as a grainy white powder which is usually snorted but it may also be obtained as a usually snorted but it may also be obtained as a tablet. tablet. Classification and LawClassification and Law: Class C : Class C StreetStreet NamesNames :Green, K, special K, super K, :Green, K, special K, super K, vitamin k vitamin k PricesPrices: : average £10- £20 per gm: : average £10- £20 per gmMethod ofMethod of useuse: snort, swallow, inject: snort, swallow, inject

KetamineKetamine

EffectsEffects: Perceptual changes or hallucinations like LSD, : Perceptual changes or hallucinations like LSD, reduces bodily sensation. Trips can last up to an hour reduces bodily sensation. Trips can last up to an hour with after-effects for some hours. It can give the user a with after-effects for some hours. It can give the user a floating feeling as if the mind and body have been floating feeling as if the mind and body have been separated. separated. RisksRisks: Users may be physically incapable of moving : Users may be physically incapable of moving while under the influence. Can cause panic attacks, while under the influence. Can cause panic attacks, depression, and taken in large doses, can make existing depression, and taken in large doses, can make existing mental health problems worse. Suppresses breathing mental health problems worse. Suppresses breathing and heart function and can lead to unconsciousness. and heart function and can lead to unconsciousness. The anaesthetic effect can result in death, for example The anaesthetic effect can result in death, for example due to unconsciousness and inhalation of vomit. Serious due to unconsciousness and inhalation of vomit. Serious bladder and related problemsbladder and related problems

Ketamine Ketamine

Our service users find that ketamine helps with Our service users find that ketamine helps with cramps and pains they experience, so they start cramps and pains they experience, so they start to self medicateto self medicateDependence seems to grow with self medication Dependence seems to grow with self medication – service users have reported concerns in – service users have reported concerns in stopping their use and how to manage their pain.stopping their use and how to manage their pain.Over 30% of ketamine users in our service are Over 30% of ketamine users in our service are female. female.

MephedroneMephedrone

Other names: M-Cat, Bubbles, Drone, Meow Other names: M-Cat, Bubbles, Drone, Meow meowmeow

Appearance: white grainy powder, Appearance: white grainy powder, soluble/insolublesoluble/insoluble

Average price:£20 per gm Average price:£20 per gm

Effects: similar effect to synthetic stimulants, Effects: similar effect to synthetic stimulants, increased alertness, can cause hallucinations increased alertness, can cause hallucinations and paranoia, the high can be better and longer and paranoia, the high can be better and longer lasting than cocaine (self-reported).lasting than cocaine (self-reported).

Mephedrone continued:Mephedrone continued:

Difficult to estimate exact effects as many Difficult to estimate exact effects as many individuals take it with cannabis, ketamine, individuals take it with cannabis, ketamine, ecstasy and/or alcohol.ecstasy and/or alcohol.Health risksHealth risks: sweating, headaches, : sweating, headaches, tachycardia, palpitations, nausea, chest tachycardia, palpitations, nausea, chest pain, bruxism (teeth grinding), pain, bruxism (teeth grinding), agitation/aggression and paranoia, agitation/aggression and paranoia, significant nasal irritation, can be significant nasal irritation, can be addictive.addictive.

Jolly Green GranulesJolly Green Granules

Looks like little green ballsLooks like little green balls

Crushed up and snorted or dissolved in Crushed up and snorted or dissolved in water and drankwater and drank

£18 per gram£18 per gram

Stimulant effects like MDMAStimulant effects like MDMA

Benzo Fury (6-APB)Benzo Fury (6-APB)

Brown type coloured powderBrown type coloured powder

Also comes in pellets or capsulesAlso comes in pellets or capsules

Can be snorted, drank, or swallowedCan be snorted, drank, or swallowed

£35 for 5 pellets£35 for 5 pellets

Stimulant/hallucinogenic effects like Stimulant/hallucinogenic effects like MDMA/LSDMDMA/LSD

MethoxetamineMethoxetamine

Also known as MXE and MKETAlso known as MXE and MKET

Usually SnortedUsually Snorted

Cost £16 per gramCost £16 per gram

Similar effects to KetamineSimilar effects to Ketamine

Being marketed as a “bladder friendly” Being marketed as a “bladder friendly” alternative to Ketaminealternative to Ketamine

http://www.talktofrank.comhttp://www.talktofrank.com

Law around Legal HighsLaw around Legal HighsDrugs sold as ‘Legal Highs’ may contain substances that are illegal to posses The Government has introduced new powers, meaning they can place a temporary ban on any potentially harmful substance, while they await a recommendation from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), on whether it should be permanently controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971The temporary ban will come into immediate effect, but it will have to be agreed by Parliament within 40 days. The drug will not be Class A, B, or C, but called a temporary class drug. It would not be illegal to posses, but the police could confiscate it and destroy it.  It will be illegal to import, distribute and sell the drug , and anyone caught could be fined, sent to jail or both.

Drugs on the InternetDrugs on the Internet

How easy is it to buy drugs on the How easy is it to buy drugs on the internet?internet?

Search enginesSearch engines

Legal High Forums Legal High Forums

Websites like plant labz, party plant and e-Websites like plant labz, party plant and e-chemicals, erowid and many, many more!chemicals, erowid and many, many more!

Poly- substance usePoly- substance use

‘‘Recreational’ drug use and prevalence of Recreational’ drug use and prevalence of alcoholalcohol

Cocaine and Alcohol = CocaethyleneCocaine and Alcohol = Cocaethylene

combination of stimulants, legal highs and combination of stimulants, legal highs and ketamineketamine