An A-Z list of different drugs and what they do (page 2) By Bobbie Morgan

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Ketamine

Also known as: special K, K, Kit-Kat, Vitamin K, Ketalar, Ketaset, Cat Valiums. What is it?: Powerful anaesthetic and pain killer that is mainly intended for veterinary use. What does it look like?: it can be found in liquid form or as white powder. This drug is sometimes found in capsules and used in conjunction with ecstasy.

How is it used: Powders are sniffed up the nose or sometimes smoked, either with or without cannabis and tobacco. Liquid is usually ingested orally or can be injected into the muscles or veins. The normal dose for sniffing ketamine is about 100-200mg. The effects: Psychological: this drug can cause hallucinations, lack of physical coordination, psychological problems, memory loss, flashbacks, impaired attention, delirium and amnesia. Short term: this drug causes high blood pressure and depression. Many users report a temporary paralysis and a feeling of being out of the body, as well as sickness and vomiting. Long term: ketamine can cause potentially fatal respiratory problems. Aside from the normal risks of injecting common to all drugs, it is the anaesthetic properties of ketamine which pose the main physical dangers. Under its influence users are less likely to feel pain and some may not realise that they are hallucinating. Because users believe that what is happening to them is real, there is potential for serious injury.

Legal facts The only preparation legally available in Britain is liquid 'Ketelar', found in small vial bottles for injecting. It is a prescription-only medicine and therefore not covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act. However, unauthorised supply is illegal under the medicines act. The drugs current legal status is thought to be under close review following concerns that use of the drug is on the rise amongst young people.

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

Also known as: trips, acid, tabs, microdot. What is it?: Hallucinogen. What does it look like?: LSD can be found as a white powder, but as a street drug it is in liquid form, or even more commonly found on small squares of impregnated paper with a colourful front design, eg. A cartoon film character.

How is it used?: this drug is swallowed or sometimes injected. The effects: Psychological: this drug causes changes in perception, mood and behaviour. It can also cause severe psychological distress, fear, panic, anxiety depression, paranoia and flashbacks Short term: a trip begins about 30 minutes after taking LSD, peaks after about 2-6 hours and fades after about 12 hours depending on the dose. Once a trip starts there is know way of stopping it and a bad trip can be terrifying. Users may feel very threatened and forget that the drug is responsible for their emotions. Long term: LSD can complicate medical problems such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia and deaths can happen through accidents.

Legal facts This drug is not available on prescription, so it is illegal to produce, possess or supply it. LSD is a Class A drug. It is an offence to allow premises to be used for its production or supply. The maximum penalty for possession of LSD is 7 years in prison and an unlimited fine. The maximum penalty for supply of LSD is life in prison and an unlimited fine.

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An A-Z list of different drugs and what they do By Bobbie Morgan

Magic mushrooms (Liberty Cap Mushrooms)

Also known as: 'shrooms and mushies. What is it?: Hallucinogen. What does it look like?: Found growing in the wild in late summer and autumn.

How is it used?: they can be chewed, infused whether fresh or dried, crushed or frozen and injected after cooking. Usually 20-30 mushrooms are needed in order to benefit from the hallucinogenic experience, but less may be equally potent due to natural variations in strength. The effects: Psychological: the effects are similar to a mild LSD trip, but milder and shorter. Taken in small doses euphoria and detachment predominate. At higher doses visual distortions progress to vivid hallucinations. There are no significant withdrawal symptoms or physical dependence, but users may wish to repeat their experience causing psychological addiction. Short term: nausea, vomiting and stomach pains. Bad trips can occur and develop into a psychotic episode. Long term: Poisoning and death can occur through eating the wrong type of mushroom. There have been reports of longer lasting disturbances, such as anxiety attacks and flashbacks to the original experience, but this is rare.

Legal facts Several types of magic mushroom grow wild in the UK. It is not illegal to gather and eat this drug raw, but preparing (eg. By cooking, brewing, drying and freezing) is illegal. When prepared it becomes a Class A drug. The maximum penalty for possessing prepared magic mushrooms is 7 years in prison and an unlimited fine. The maximum penalty for supply of prepared magic mushrooms is life in prison and an unlimited fine.

Nicotine

Also known as: fags, baccy, ciggies and tabs. What is it?: stimulant. What does it look like?: found in cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, nicotine chewing gum, adhesive skin patches. How is it used?: usually smoked, but nicotine can be chewed or absorbed through the skin.

The effects: Psychological: causes relaxation, sociability, and can lead the user to feel that they have a sophisticated image. Short term: weight loss, smelly breath, social unacceptability. First time users may feel sick, dizzy and often suffer a headache. Long term: about 110,000 people die prematurely in the UK each year through smoking related diseases including lung disease, heart disease, circulatory disease and several forms of cancer. Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. There are also diseases associated with using nicotine in conjunction with the contraceptive pill. Smoking can also cause damage to unborn children. Tolerance quickly develops so more nicotine is needed to achieve the same effect.

Legal facts It is against the law to sell this drug to young people under 16 years of age. It is not illegal, however, for under 16s to buy, possess or use this drug. It is legal for adults to buy, possess and use this drug. Tobacco products are not allowed to be advertised on television and tobacco advertising is legally regulated. All packaging and adverts carry a health warning.

Methadone

Also known as: meth, green, juice. What is it?: A synthetic opiate substitute prescribed to minimise the withdrawal effect of opiate based drugs. What does it look like?: a green liquid similar in colour to fairy liquid. Methadone is occasionally made in tablets, but many doctors will not prescribe them because users sometimes crush and inject them. Methadone can also be found as an orange liquid which is the sugar-free version. How is it used?: taken orally. Locally this is usually done under supervised conditions.

The effects: Psychological: this drug causes a 'high' or euphoria that is not as intense, but lasts longer, than the effect of heroin. Users may experience warm feelings, drowsiness and strong physical and psychological addiction. Short term: sweating, itching, dizziness, heavy feeling in limbs, reduced or absent periods and reduced concentration. Long term: Dependency, constipation, reduced blood pressure, lethargy, poor sleep. Overdose is likely if mixed with other depressants. This drug can also stop the menstrual cycle in women.

Legal facts Methadone is a Class A drug. It is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a schedule 2 drug, ie. A substance considered to have medical therapeutic use and legal to possess only if prescribed by a Doctor and taken in accordance with the Doctor's instructions. The maximum penalty for possessing methadone is 7 years in prison and an unlimited fine. The maximum penalty for supplying methadone is a life sentence and an unlimited fine.

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