A Parent's Guide to Drugs

Drugs are common and available throughout Scotland not just in large cities. Every community and social/economic class is affected. This is a guide to the most widely available drugs. Recent research throughout Scotland has suggested that by 4th year at school at least 50% of pupils will have been offered drugs and about 25% will have experimented with drugs.

A typical drug kit

Don't expect to find neat piles of white powder lying around; you are more likely to find some possible evidence of drug use rather than the drugs themselves:

• scorched pieces of tinfoil
• razor blade
• spoon
• homemade pipe
• syringe
• lemon

(Any combination of these could signify drug misuse.)

Ecstasy (Stimulant)

Ecstasy is available in tablet or capsule form - white, brown, pink or yellow. 'White Doves, ' 'disco burgers' are common types. The effects start after about 20 minutes and can last several hours. Users say that the drug has a calming effect with heightened perceptions of colours and sounds. The drug can cause serious loss of body fluid resulting in some circumstances in severe heatstroke. Long term effects are unknown but recent research has suggested it can lead to liver damage and paranoia and irreversible brain damage.

LSD (Hallucinogens)

Minute quantities of the drug LSD are impregnated on small squares of usually decorative blotting paper although it can be taken in the pill or pure form. As the drug can be absorbed through the skin care must be taken when handling. Acid and tabs are the most common slang names. Users of hallucinogens describe a change in perception, a trip, which will often depend on the prevalent feelings and surroundings and can vary between euphoria and terror. Users may also experience what is called a flashback'- where even several months later, the 'trip' is relived without actually taking the drug.

Cannabis (Depressant)

Cannabis is the most widely abused illegal drug and accounts for around 70% of all drugs cases dealt with by the police. It is usually smoked in the form of resin (hash, dope, grass, weed, wacky back), a brown, gold or black solid mass which is crumbled (may be crushed in tin foil)and mixed with tobacco to make a joint although it can be smoked in a pipe on its own or even taken orally, for example, in a cake or mixed with yoghurt.

Tranquillizers (Depressant)

These drugs are commonly found in many medicine cabinets. Tranquillizers such as temazepam, diazepam (valium) and temgesic are widely prescribed by doctors in the form of pills or capsules. Injecting of dissolved temazepam (jellies) in particular has led to serious problems with HIV, abscesses and gangrene. Taken with alcohol this drug is particularly dangerous.

Magic Mushrooms (Hallucinogens)

Magic Mushrooms (often known as shrooms, mushies,etc.) refer mainly to the liberty cap mushroom which grows throughout Scotland. It is not illegal to pick them or eat them raw but is an offence to prepare them e.g. through drying or cooking. Normally eaten in a tea or soup but can be smoked. It produces mild hallucinations and the user can feel clear headed. A specific danger with mushrooms is picking the wrong kind - some species are highly poisonous.

Heroin (Depressant)

On the streets, heroin will be cut with other substances such as glucose and wrapped for sale in small plastic bags; these 'wraps' containing heroin might sell for £5 - £10. Heroin more commonly known as smack, skag, or horse, can be injected, sniffed or smoked and tends to produce a sort of pleasant drowsiness. Highly addictive and as it has a strong psychological dependence it is difficult to come off.

Amphetamine (Stimulant)

Amphetamine, usually off white in colour, is relatively cheap often no more than £15 a gram) and also heavily cut with other substances that look like the drug. One dose of amphetamine can last three to four hours. Can be smoked, injected or taken orally. Taking the drug can make the user highly active, talkative and excitable although long term use can lead to loss of appetite and paranoia. Slang names such as speed, sulph and uppers are common.

Cocaine/Crack Cocaine (Stimulant)

Cocaine is a stimulant and is often seen in movies being sniffed in two white lines on a mirror. This drug is very expensive and is not widely misused for this reason. Heating cocaine in tinfoil and sniffing the fumes is known as "chasing the dragon". Usage produces feeling of great energy and strength. Long term use can cause paranoia and irritability. Sniffing "coke" damages the nose lining.

CRACK is cocaine which has been processed into small crystals about the size of raisins for smoking. It produces an intense high which lasts for about 15 minutes. Crack cocaine is very inexpensive when compared to pure cocaine but is much more addictive.

Injecting

Injecting can be one of the most dangerous ways of taking drugs and carries with it a number of risks:

• infection where injecting equipment is unsterile and shared. (hepatitis and also HIV which causes AIDS).
• abscesses and thrombosis and other conditions from injecting drugs originally produced in pill form.
• gangrene (from hitting an artery instead of a vein) and blood poisoning caused by a wound becoming infected;
• overdose when a drug (of unknown strength) is delivered directly into the bloodstream.

Signs of drug abuse:

Spotting drug abuse isn't easy and many signs can relate to something quite different so it's important not to jump to conclusions. Symptoms may include:

• lack of money or stealing as drugs aren't cheap
• stains
• lying
• aggression
• mood swings or loss of appetite
• secretiveness
• unusual smells
• drowsiness
• loss of interest in school, hobbies, sport, friends

Discovering your son or daughter is using drugs is extremely disturbing but try to stay calm and attempt to discover why your child is taking drugs.

• Is it regular or was it a one off experiment?
• Do their friends use drugs?
• Are the police involved?
• Your child will need support and possible help.

It would be helpful for parents to know about drugs and teen drug rehabs so they would be prepared just in case one of their children picks up the habit.