Bristol University Drugs Awareness

 

Aims of Today

• To look at common drugs that are popular with students in Bristol at present.

• Gain confidence engaging with students who use drugs and alcohol.

• Referral pathways within drugs services in Bristol.

Who are BDP?

• BDP is a charity, providing  free and confidential support for people living in the Bristol area.

• They provide a service for the over 18’s• We work with people to obtain their own goals. We support 

people to reduce their use or help them quit. We do not tell people what to do, we simply motivate people to make their own choices. 

• We take a holistic approach – looking at the factors which drive up drug use such as lifestyles, mental health, diets etc. ; as well as finding ways to help someone cut down or quit.

Referral routes

• Our two main referral routes are: Telephone: Call our helpline on 0117 9876000 Online: You can download our referral form on www.bdp.org.uk . Once you have completed the form please post to BDP, 11 Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8PE Students can also visit the address without referral Opening times: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm or Sat 10am-5pm.

Contact details

• Stacey Hitchcock• Kate Rodman• Lel Pender

0117 9876010

Festivals/Clubs

What the drugs do 

Cannabis• Two ingredients: THC, which gets you high, and CBD which

offers the mellowing effects. CBD also balances THC as an anti-psychotic.

• Hash as generally been more balanced in THC and CBD and the UK has been growing a lot more strains derived from skunk, with much higher THC content and a lower percentage of CBD over the last 20 yrs.

• Physical withdrawals include sleeplessness, night sweats, vivid dreams or nightmares. Psychological withdrawals can include, anxiety, irritability and depression. Most of this should improve after around 6/8 weeks after quitting.

• THC is fat soluble, meaning it is present and detectable in the system far longer than other drugs.

Pills/MDMA

• 1990s and 2000s the average MDMA content of tablets was between 50-80 mg. Average purity is closer to 125mg, whilst some “super-pills” are available in some countries with a reported range of 270-340mg.

• People will have different experiences even with equal dose of the same batch- depending on pre-existing mental and physical health

Cocaine• Cocaine Hydrochloride (Powder Cocaine) is the second most common drug

that people who come to the BDP use• Long term use can cause physical damage to the heart and liver as well as

nose and sinuses.• Can be psychologically addictive, cravings can be very hard to resist and

people can be moody, angry or depressed when not using. • Cocaine and alcohol are increasingly being used together as a

‘straightener’ to keep the night going, allowing people to drink more alcohol.

• When mixed with alcohol it creates another substance called cocaethylene. This can force your heart rate and blood pressure, to higher levels than cocaine would alone. Even for people who consider themselves to be healthy, this can increase the chance of seizures, heart attacks and strokes. For anyone with an underlying heart condition this is extremely risky.

Ketamine• Ketamine creates varying effects at different doses; smaller

doses, commonly known as a ‘bump’, can make the user feel euphoric, dizzy and distorts sounds and visuals.

• Large doses can cause a feeling of separation between the mind and the body often known as a ‘K-hole’ where users find it difficult to move which can leave you in very vulnerable state, always use in a safe space.

• Continued use can leave people suffering from anxiety and depression, can trigger existing psychosis and can cause issues with memory

• Ketamine can cause cramps, known as ‘k cramps’, and damage to the urinary tract. Urinating can be painful and increases in frequency. Due to scar tissue forming, the bladder loses ability to expand and contract.

Nos (Laughing Gas)• Illegal to sell for purpose of getting high, legal to sell as food preparation and legal to 

own. The Novel Psychoactive Substances Bill (May 2016) states it is illegal to own with intent to supply.

• Nitrous deactivates vitamin B12, associated with mental functioning. Lack of this vitamin can cause anaemia and possible nerve damage. This occurs when used excessively.

• A lack of B12 can cause numbing and tingling in hands.• Our harm reduction advice for nos is always use a balloon. Deaths have occurred 

through asphyxiation from passing out with a mask attached. Inhaling directly from a dispenser can cause freeze burns to the mouth and throat.

• Most deaths associated with nos are caused through accidents, be aware of your surroundings and have people you trust to look out for you.

True or False

1) “Ketamine is a horse tranquiliser.” 2) “Legal Highs are safe because they are legal.”

3) “Smoking Cannabis is safe as it’s a natural plant” 4) “Taking drugs is against the law” 5) “Ecstasy pills are stronger today then ever”

  

The Cycle of Change

Prochaska and Diclemente  Cycle of Change (1984,1986)

• Pre-contemplation  - The individual see’s no reason to change.

• Contemplation - Once some awareness of the problem arises, the person enters a period characterized by ambivalence: the “contemplation” stage. The contemplator both considers change and rejects it. The person weighs up the pros and cons of their use.  

• Decision /determination stage provides a window of opportunity, which opens for a period of time. If during this time the person enters into action the change process continues; if not the person slips back into contemplation….. 

 • During the determination phase the person makes a decision that they want to change and it’s 

the strength of the decision which determines how successful they are in making lasting changes.  •  Action stage -  here the person engages in particular actions intended to bring about a change.

• During the maintenance stage the challenge is to sustain the change accomplished by the previous action, and to prevent relapse. 

 • Finally, if relapse occurs, the individual’s task is to start around the wheel again rather than 

getting stuck in this stage. 

Why do students take drugs?

• Exercise - Turn to the person next to you and spend a few minutes discussing the reasons why students  use drugs or drink alcohol at university.

Why students take drugs/drink at University?

• To fit in• Have fun• Nervous about leaving home/wanting to make friends - sociable

• Rebellion• Experimentation• Stresshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg