WHAT ARE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL?
Drugs and alcohol are substances that change the way we think, feel and act. They can change the way our bodies work for certain amounts of time.
There’s a lot of different drugs; some come as pills, some as powders, and some as liquids. They have good effects and bad ones, too – the type of effects and how strong they are depends on the type and amount that is taken.
‘Drugs’ can also refer to legal substances, like paracetamol and cough medicine. Usually though, when people talk about drugs, they’re talking about illegal substances that people take for enjoyment or other non-medical reasons. Using drugs this way is sometimes referred to as ‘recreational drug use’.
It’s so important that you’re aware of the risks involved with taking drugs. The more someone uses drugs, the more likely it is that they’ll experience bad side effects – some of which can be extremely serious.
If we know what to do when this happens, we’ll be able to look after ourselves and each other.
WHAT DO DRUGS MEAN TO ME?
If you’re taking drugs and alcohol, it’s important to understand why you’re doing it. Knowing this will make it easier to get help if you need it.
For example, some people use drugs to forget about their problems; they might be having trouble at home, at school or with friends, or they might use drugs to relax and deal with mental health issues like anxiety or depression. Using drugs to escape problems is only a temporary solution – the ‘good’ effects of drugs will only last for a short while, and they won’t solve the problems that person is having. Using drugs regularly can lead to addiction, which can make those issues worse.
If your friends are experimenting with drugs, you might feel like you need to join in, or your friends might be pressuring you to do so. It can be very hard to say ‘no’ to your mates, and it can be scary if they’re trying to get you to do something you don’t want to do. The best way to deal with this is by being assertive – this way, you can say how you really feel without hurting anyone’s feelings.
Read more about standing up to peer pressure by clicking here
HOW DO I KEEP SAFE FROM TAKING DRUGS?
There are plenty of things you can do to protect yourself around drugs. Let’s take a look at some of them.
If you use a drug regularly, you’re likely to build up a tolerance to it, which means the effects won’t be as strong. If you stop taking that drug for a while, that tolerance will decrease.
If you start using that drug again, you might think to take the same amount (or dose) as you did before. However, because your tolerance will have decreased, that dose will have a stronger effect and you may have an adverse reaction to it (meaning unpleasant side effects). In extreme cases, this could even lead to an overdose. If you’re planning to use the same drug again after a break, plan to take less of it.
If you’re offered drugs, or you find yourself around drugs and you plan to use them, make sure you’re in the right headspace to take them. Everybody’s mental health situation is unique, and everyone’s relationship to substances will be different. Avoid taking drugs if you’re suffering from mental health issues like anxiety or depression – using drugs in these situations can make them worse.
It’s also important to remember that you might be in a different headspace than when you last used drugs. For example, some people might have been comfortable with crowds and large spaces when they took drugs before, but they might find them overwhelming now, which can lead to anxiety.
Where are you and who are you with? Can you get home safely? Using drugs in an unfamiliar setting can change how you react to them – if you take drugs, make sure to stay with people you trust and establish a meeting point in advance so you know where to head to if you get lost. Keep your phone charged and make sure to stay in contact with anyone who becomes separated from the group or gets lost.
Stick to using one drug at a time. Mixing drugs with other drugs or alcohol is very dangerous and increases the risk of negative side effects. Each drug has its own side effects, and they vary in strength and duration – combining these drugs can lead to unpredictable consequences.
Recreational drugs can also interact with mental health medication, which can further increase the risk of negative side effects. Stopping taking your mental health medication to use recreational drugs can also be risky – talk to your GP or your prescriber if you’d like to reduce or stop taking prescription medication.
Use a small amount of a drug to identify how you react to it. Take time between doses – this way, you can fully understand how the drug makes you feel mentally and physically before deciding whether or not to take more.
It’s always important to stay hydrated, but if you’re using MDMA, it’s important to pace your hydration and drink no more than a pint of water an hour. MDMA can confuse your body temperature; it makes you feel warm and thirsty, and it can make urination difficult, even if you’re well-hydrated.
You might be tempted to drink more water to cool down and urinate, but you may accidentally consume too much water, which can lead to ‘water intoxication’ – it can dilute your blood and flush out essential electrolytes that keep your body and brain working.
There are several symptoms that could be a sign of a drug overdose, and it’s very important to know what they are. They include:
- A temperature
- Hot flushes or sweaty skin
- Muscle pain or spasms
- Breathing difficulties
- Confusion
- Headache
- Seizures
- Chest pain
- Rigid muscles
If you or someone you know start feeling some of these symptoms, call 999. Even if you’re in doubt as to whether it’s an overdose or not, it’s better to be safe, so call 999 and ask for help with a possible overdose or bad side effects. An ambulance or paramedic will come to you – they won’t send the police (except in some circumstances), and you won’t get in trouble with the police if you phone for help with illegal drugs.
If you do need to call for medical help with a possible overdose, stay with the person until help arrives. Remember, you must be honest about what the person has taken – the medical professionals and the police will be able to help properly if they know the facts. Whatever drugs have been taken, know that the ambulance and the police are there to help you, not punish you.
How do I keep my mates safe when taking drugs?
It can be tricky to talk about drugs, especially if you think your friend or relative has a drug problem. Above all, try and stay open-minded; everyone’s situation is different and you never know why someone is taking drugs. Plus, most people are able to overcome their drug use before it’s too late with the right help and support.
It’s also important to remember that some people may not change their behaviour even if you do offer your support, which can be frustrating and upsetting. The FRANK website is full of great advice on how to help someone if you’re concerned about their drug use.
HOW TO HELP IF YOU THINK YOUR FRIEND HAS A DRUG PROBLEM?
It can be very difficult to know what to do or say if you suspect your friend has a drink or drug problem. You might worry that confronting them about it could make them angry or cause them to hide away, but you also might worry that the problem will get worse if you don’t say anything.
Rather than feeling like you have to find the solution, the important thing is to let them know that you’re there for them if they need you. If you feel comfortable doing so, you could tell them that you’re worried about them and that their drug or alcohol use is affecting your friendship.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking about it or you don’t know what to say, that’s fine too. Remember, it’s not your job to fix the problem. Instead of talking about it, you could try suggesting one of the resources at the bottom of this page.
HOW DO I KNOW IF SOMEONE HAS OVERDOSED?
The signs of an overdose will vary depending on the type and amount of drug that has been taken and the health of the person at the time of taking the drug. If you think someone is having an overdose or you’re concerned about their reaction, always call 999 – an overdose is always treated as a medical emergency. Ring an ambulance if you see the following signs:
They’re unconscious or extremely drowsy
They’re having a seizure
They are asleep but are difficult to rouse
They’re snoring and or/gurgling. This could mean their airways are obstructed – put them into the recovery position
They have a severe headache or chest pain
They’re extremely paranoid, agitated, panicked, or confused
THE LAW
If you choose to take illegal drugs, remember it can lead to a criminal conviction, which could end up affecting things in your future, like getting a job.
If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to buy (or try to buy) alcohol, or to drink alcohol in licensed premises like restaurants, pubs, bars, and clubs, other than in the circumstances explained below.
Taking illegal drugs can lead to a criminal conviction, which can have an effect on things in your future, like getting a job. It’s also important to remember some important facts about the law around alcohol. If you’re under 18, it’s against the law to:
● Buy or try to buy alcohol
● To ask an adult to buy alcohol for you
● To drink alcohol in pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs
It is legal for 5-17-year-olds to drink alcohol at home. It’s also legal for an adult to buy beer, wine or cider for 16- and 17-year-olds if they’re having a meal together in licensed premises, like a pub or restaurant.
Find out more about the penalties for illegal drug-related crimes on the Government website.
Find out more about drug-related gang activity and child criminal exploitation here.
LEAN
Lean is a cocktail of legal and illegal drugs, topped up with a fizzy drink such as lemonade.
Other names
Lean is also known as ‘sizzurp’, ‘purple drank’, ‘Texas tea’ and ‘barre’.
What does lean look and taste like?
It looks like a purple fizzy drink, and it tastes very sweet.
WHAT'S IN LEAN?
- Codeine: Codeine | Effects of Codeine | FRANK | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
- Diazepam: Benzodiazepines | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
- Xanax: Benzodiazepines | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
- Mirtazapine: Mirtazapine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Pregabalin: Pregabalin: medicine to treat epilepsy and anxiety – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Zopiclone: About zopiclone – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Alcohol: Alcohol | Effects of Alcohol | FRANK (talktofrank.com)
- Fizzy drink / Soda
HOW IT WORKS
The effects of lean vary from person to person, but these are the general effects.
| How a user might feel | Bodily effects |
| It makes you feel euphoric and relaxed, almost like you’re floating away from your body. It slows down your brain activity to make you feel this way. | It gives a quick high that slows down your central nervous system. It can also cause a loss of balance and coordination. |
| How long does it take to work? | How long do the effects last? |
| 30-45 minutes. | 4-6 hours. |
RISKS OF LEAN
The main risk of lean is that it can be extremely addictive, and there are several potentially dangerous side effects. They include:
- Hallucinations
- High temperature
- Itchy skin
- Vomiting
- Severe constipation
- Changes in heart rhythm
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
There are legal drugs involved in a ‘lean’ cocktail, like cough medicine, but the illegal ones can be very strong, particularly when mixed together.
MIXING LEAN AND ALCOHOL
Some people mix alcohol into lean. This makes the effects stronger, which makes the drink even more dangerous. The addition of alcohol increases the chance of respiratory depression – a lack of oxygen to the brain – which can lead to organ damage, a coma, or death. The short term effects of adding alcohol to lean include trouble breathing, increased brain fog, drowsiness and poor judgement.
ADDICTION
The ingredients in lean generate extra dopamine in the brain – dopamine is a hormone that gives us a sense of pleasure, and it’s known as part of the ‘reward system’ in our brain. Generating more dopamine can lead to addiction as the brain wants more of those dopamine hits. Signs of potential addiction include:
- You need more of it to get high
- You can’t stop drinking it even though it’s negatively affecting your life, such as relationships, friendships, school or work
- Constant cravings and thoughts of having it
- Using it as a coping mechanism for stress or other negative feelings
- You have withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink it. These include nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, enlarged pupils, shakiness, fever, body pain and chills
THE LAW
Even though there’s a mix of legal and illegal products in lean, all products in the drink are only available with a prescription. Buying or distributing these medications without a licence or medical requirement (such as a proper prescription from your GP) is illegal.
I NEED HELP AND SUPPORT
Turning Point are local and can support anyone affected by drugs or alcohol
FRANK has lots of information about the effects that drugs can have on you and can offer you advice and support
Drug Science looks at how drugs work and what the risks are
Drugs and Me provides information on drugs, how they interact with each other and how to avoid coming to harm
