WHAT IS CANNABIS?

Cannabis is derived from the cannabis plant (cannabis sativa). The main active ingredient in cannabis is called delta-9 tetrahydro-cannabinol, commonly known as THC. This is the part of the plant that gives the ‘high’. There is a wide range of THC potency between different types of cannabis.

DOES IT HAVE ANY OTHER NAMES?

Some street names for cannabis are pot, weed, blow, herb, spliff, ganja, grass, boom.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Cannabis normally comes in three different forms.

Herbal Cannabis

This is the bud/leaves of the cannabis plant. It is the most common form of cannabis in the UK, mostly grown indoors under artificial lights.

Hash/Resin

The resin from the cannabis plant pressed into dark brown /black blocks.

Cannabis Oil

Known as hash oil, is a thick liquid made from dissolving hashish or herbal cannabis in solvents.

HOW IS IT USED?

It can be rolled into a spliff with or without tobacco or smoked using a pipe, bong or vapouriser. It can also be added to food and eaten.

WHAT IS THE LAW ON CANNABIS?

Cannabis is illegal. It is a class B drug. It’s against the law to possess, sell, give away, grow, or let your premises be used for smoking it.

The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug can be up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.

The maximum penalty for supplying a Class B drug can be 14 years’ imprisonment a fine or both. The actual sentence you receive depends on things like your age and if you have been in trouble with the police before.

HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

It depends on how much you use, how you feel, if you have taken any other drugs and how strong the cannabis is. Normally when smoked the effects are felt almost straight away. You may feel relaxed, laid back, euphoric, dizzy, giggly or very talkative. If eaten the effects can take longer to start but will also last longer

The experience for some will be a negative one, they can experience anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

• Inhaling any smoke is not good for your body. Mixing cannabis with tobacco means that you have the negative effects of both to deal with.
• Cannabis has been linked to mental health problems in some people. Young adults and teenagers may be even more at risk.
• Cannabis can affect your co-ordination, don’t drive or operate machinery if you’re stoned.
• You can develop a cannabis habit. This can be bad for your wallet, your body and your mind.

HOW DO YOU REDUCE THE RISKS?

• Don’t smoke every day.
• Try not to mix it with tobacco.
• If you are going to use a pipe or bong, don’t use plastic, rubber hoses, PVC, foil or aluminium, these give off toxic fumes.
• Using a cigarette filter for a roach will mean you inhale more tar, as you suck harder to get the effect you want. Use plain card, loosely rolled up, for a roach – this lets the smoke flow easily.
• Holding smoke in your lungs won’t get you more stoned, it just means more tar and other nasty chemicals will stick to your lungs.
• Stop using if it makes you feel bad, anxious or down. Continuing isn’t going to make it better. Give it a break, the negative feelings will probably disappear.

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WHAT IS IT?

NRG1 (Naphyrone) is a stimulant, produced using a chemical called Pyrovalerone, an illegal Class C drug, developed in the 1960s as an appetite suppressant and to combat fatigue. Pyrovalerone has been chemically altered to produce Naphyrone.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Fine white powder, with a slight tendency to clump.

HOW IS IT USED?

NRG1 can be snorted through the nose but it is safer to wrap it in a cigarette paper and swallow it (bombed). This will help avoid any potential damage to the nose.

LEGAL STATUS

Since July, 2010, NRG1 (Naphyrone) and other related compounds have been illegal, class B drugs.

Possession: 5 years imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Supply: 14 years imprisonment, a fine or both.

EFFECTS

• Increased heart rate, raised blood pressure.
• Increased attention & awareness, alertness, decreased appetite.
• The effects are very body-centred rather than giving you a mental ‘high’.

RISKS

• As yet unclear. No toxicity data available.
• Abrupt cessation from heavy use of Naphyrone causes a withdrawal syndrome, with feelings of anxiety and depression.
• Batches of NRG1 have been found to contain MDPV and other chemicals, so you may not be taking what you think you are. This can lead to effects you were not expecting or overdose.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Unknown.

REDUCE THE RISKS

• DON’T TAKE IT. NO RISKS, GUARANTEED!

But if you are still going to use NRG1 the following tips will help you reduce some of the risks.

• START START LOW AND SLOW

Take a small amount and wait. Don’t take more because you can’t feel anything happening after half an hour or so. Yes, it could be some blag white powder, or even a completely different substance, but how do you know? Give it time to start. Taking too much too soon could put you on a bad one. Learn to recognise, and handle, the effects.

• SET LIMITS

Decide how much you are going to need and try and stick to it. Only carry what you are going to use. The less you take the lower the risks.

• DON’T DRINK ALCOHOL

Using stimulants will dehydrate you and can cause you to overheat. This is very dangerous. Mixing them with alcohol will dehydrate you even further, particularly if you are bouncing up and down all night. Drink water or soft drinks and the occasional isotonic sports drinks which contains sugar and salt. Drink about a pint of fluid an hour, but don’t overdo it. Take regular breaks to cool down.

• DON’T SNORT IT

Swallowing a capsule or tablet, or powder wrapped in a cigarette paper will avoid damaging your nose.

• LOOK AFTER YOUR NOSE

If you do snort, flush your nose with clean water, and make sure you use your own straw or note. Don’t share them with anyone else, they could have all kinds of germs on them.

• WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER

Don’t use NRG1 on your own. It is always safer to have someone else around, and tell your mates what you have taken.

• IF YOU START TO FEEL UNWELL

If you start to feel unwell go to the chill-out area and take a break, maybe sip some water. Take someone with you who can keep an eye on you. If you start to feel worse, getting dizzy, very hot dry skin, or a racing heart, get medical attention immediately and tell them what you have taken. If you are with someone who has taken the knock and you have to leave them alone to go and get help, put them in the recovery position first.

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METHOXETAMINE - AKA: Mexxy, MXE, MKet

A drug that has similar effects to that of ketamine. It was produced as a legal alternative, until it was made illegal in February 2013. (see below)

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Usually in white powder form, but may be found in tablets.

HOW IS IT USED?

Some people snort it, but this is painful and damaging to the nose. It is safer to wrap it in a cigarette paper and swallow it (bombed, parachuted), or put it in a drink and swallow it.

THE LAW

Mexxy has been a class B since February 2013. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce. Possession of mexxy, or products containing mexxy, could get you up to 5 years in jail and a fine. Supplying (even giving it away) gets up to 14 years in jail and a fine.

EFFECTS

Methoxetamine is an anaesthetic with painkilling and hallucinogenic properties similar to Ketamine. It is what is known as a ‘dissociative anaesthetic’, which numbs the body, and creates the effect of removing users from their sense of reality.

The effects depend on the amount used but are also influenced by the user’s mood and environment.

Small amounts can cause feelings of euphoria and stimulation. At higher doses it can make you feel floaty and disconnected from reality. At larger doses it can bring on confusion, hallucinations, paralysis and out-of-body experiences.

The effects can be inconsistent, and vary from session to session and person to person.

RISKS

Confusion and loss of spatial awareness can lead to accidents and serious injury without realising you’ve been hurt. High doses can cause breathing problems, unconsciousness or heart failure. Methoxetamine is extremely dangerous when mixed with other drugs or alcohol.

There also appears to be significant additional toxicity that causes agitation, tachycardia (racing heart), hypertension (high blood pressure) and ataxia (unsteadiness on the feet).

These are rarely seen with other recreational drugs and are not seen with acute ketamine toxicity.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Not yet fully understood. However, users report that increased tolerance and dependence can develop.

REDUCE THE RISKS

• DON’T TAKE IT. NO RISKS - GUARANTEED!

But if you are going to use Methoxetamine, the following tips will help you reduce some of the risks.

• START LOW AND SLOW

Take a small amount and wait. Don’t take more because you can’t feel anything happening after half an hour or so. Yes, it could be some blag white powder or pill, or even a completely different substance, but how do you know? Give it time to start. Taking too much too soon could put you on a bad one. Learn to recognise, and handle, the effects.

• SET LIMITS

Decide how much you are going to take and stick to it. Only carry what you are going to use. The less you take, the lower the risks.

• DON’T MIX WITH OTHER DRUGS

Mixing other drugs with Methoxetamine, particularly alcohol, is dangerous. The combination can affect your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, and can have a greater effect than when used on their own.

• DON’T SNORT IT

Snorting Methoxetamine is painful and damaging to the nose. Swallowing the powder wrapped in a cigarette paper, will avoid damaging your nose.

• LOOK AFTER YOUR NOSE

If you do snort, flush your nose with clean water, and make sure you use your own straw or note. Don’t share them with       anyone else; they could have all kinds of germs on them.

• LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER

Don’t use Methoxetamine on your own, or in an unfamiliar or unsafe environment. It is always safer to have someone else around, and tell your mates what you have taken.

• IF SOMEONE STARTS TO FEEL UNWELL

If someone starts to feel unwell, take them to a chill-out area and take a break. Stay with them and keep an eye on them. If they start to feel worse, getting dizzy or experiencing a racing heart, get medical attention immediately and tell the medics what they have taken. If you are with someone who has taken the knock and you have to leave them alone in order to get help, put them in the recovery position first.

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SNORTING DRUGS

When you Snort drugs, they are absorbed via nasal membranes into the bloodstream, then to the brain, where effects begin quickly.

The effects start quicker, are more intense and end sooner than swallowed drugs, with a harsher comedown.

Snorting constricts nose blood vessels, reducing oxygen and causing mucus (snot) production, felt as a throat drip and runny nose.

The more you snort, the more snot is produced, and less drug is absorbed. The more you snort, the less effective it becomes!

The risks

• Snorting stimulant-type drugs restrict the flow of blood to the inside of the nose. Restricting blood flow, plus the corrosive qualities of the drug or what it‘s cut with, can lead to nose bleeds and permanent damage to the inside of the nose.

• Irritation, damage and bleeding inside the nose means sharing any snorting tube makes it easier to pass on viruses, such as hepatitis C. It only needs a microscopic amount of blood, too small to be seen by the naked eye, on the end of a tube to transmit a virus from one person to another.

• Certain substances, particularly some new and emerging drugs that use corrosive chemicals in their preparation, can be particularly damaging to the nose and should not be snorted. 

• Some drugs can have completely different effects, with a small difference in the amount you use. Dose is easy to get wrong when snorting and can lead to unwanted and dangerous results.

Reduce the risks

• Flush your nose with water after each session or line. It will help reduce the harm caused by the corrosive effects of the drugs.

• Use a nasal spray or cup some water in your hands, snort the water, and then blow your nose.

• Powder chopped as fine as possible will cause less damage to the nose and is easier to absorb.

• Don‘t share snorting tubes or bank notes. Use your own and stick to it, or use the end of a key or your finger.

SWALLOWING DRUGS (bombing)

Swallowing drugs is probably the simplest and oldest method of taking drugs.

The drug is absorbed through the lining of the stomach and small intestine and then enters the bloodstream. The blood then carries the drug through the liver, where some is eliminated before passing through the heart and onto the brain.

Swallowing means the drug‘s effects may not be felt for up to 45 minutes, depending on stomach contents.

Powdered drugs are usually wrapped in tissue paper before being swallowed, known as bombing or parachuting. Alternatively, the powder could be added to a hot drink and swallowed.

The risks

• Drugs take time to digest. If you consume more before they take effect, there's a risk of taking too much, leading to overdose.
• Some stimulants can reduce blood flow to the gut, potentially causing ulcers or perforations.
• Over time, excessive drug use can harm the stomach, intestines, liver, and kidneys. If you have liver issues, it's especially crucial to avoid drugs.

Reduce the risks

• Reduce the risks by starting with a low dose and being patient. Don't take more if you don't feel immediate effects, as drugs can vary in strength or contain other substances you're not aware of.
• Consuming food before taking drugs can help mitigate potential stomach damage.
• Liquids like GBL can harm the throat, so always dilute them before use. Certain liquids, such as poppers, shouldn't be swallowed.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

DRD Co-ordinator (Aberdeenshire)

Life+