Drugs
Drug free is always the safest way to be. It can be difficult to say no to friends especially if you are offered a drug by someone you know but it’s really important you listen to yourself and are not pressured into doing something you may later regret
BBC Teach. Lorne’s Story
Lorne, 17, describes how becoming addicted to cannabis devastated his life and damaged his hopes of becoming a professional footballer. His story is interspersed with graphics which explain the impact the drugs had on his body. WARNING: Contains adult themes
This clip is from the BBC series Drug Stories. Four young people describe how drug use dramatically changed their lives.
For more clips from Drink and Drugs: My Story
Drug use and Young People
Definition: A Drug is, any substance which when taken into the body, changes the way a person thinks, feels, or behaves.
This covers illegal substances like, cannabis, ketamine and MDMA. It also includes the misuse of household products like glues, aerosols and gases, prescription medication, alcohol, tobacco and other new psychoactive substances.
Drug use with young people is constantly changing. In recent years we have seen huge shifts in youth culture relating to drugs, attitudes towards them and the availability of them.
Every year new drugs become available. Some of these drugs are well known however, often drugs come on the market that are brand new. This increases the risks associated with these drugs as their effects are not well understood.
Today more and more drugs are being bought and sold online through the ‘Dark Web’ and through social media channels such as Snapchat and Instagram. This has exposed more young people who may not have considered using drugs before to the idea of using them and has connected them to the people who can supply them with it.
This is leading to an increase in the number of young people who are: using drugs, going on drug binges, and sadly overdosing resulting in hospital admission and in some cases even dying.
Drugs bought and sold online has also led to drugs becoming increasingly stronger and cheaper.
As the online drug market gets bigger and bigger, drug dealers are forced to constantly adapt and alter the drugs they sell to appeal to a greater number of people.
This is driving the purity and strength of drugs higher and the cost of buying drugs down.
The increasing strength and purity of drugs, makes overdoses far more likely to happen.
Drug free is always the safest way to be. It can be difficult to say no to friends especially if you are offered a drug by someone you know but it’s really important you listen to yourself and are not pressured into doing something you may later regret.
STAYING SAFE
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Prepare
Try to prepare yourself. Think about how you will respond if you are offered drugs so you will know what to say.
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Trust
Surround yourself with people who you trust. Friends should understand and respect you for saying no. Think about who is offering you the drugs and why. If they are your friends they should understand and respect you for saying no. People who you don't know may also expect something in return.
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It's OK to say NO
Say ‘no’ firmly but clearly and without making a big deal about it. If they try to persuade you, don’t’ feel like you have to change your mind.
If you think you would find it hard to say no to your friends if you were offered drugs by them. Take a step back and think about whether it is time to find some new people to hang around with.
Before trying anything new it makes sense to find out about it in advance. You can talk to your HSIS Youth Worker in school or contact Response Drug and Alcohol team on 01516664123 for advice and support. You can also visit talktofrank.com to find out about the drug and the effect it may have.
Never mix drugs with alcohol or any other substance as this can quickly lead to overdose.
If you are worried about your mates being pressured don't keep it to yourself talk to them, someone you trust or seek support from a service.
What to do in an emergency
Stay calm, call 999
If you are with someone who needs medical help because they have used drugs or alcohol do not wait to see if they get better.
Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Stay calm, keep talking to them and always stay with them.
If they are unconscious (not responding to you), sleepy or passed out. Lie them on their side, tilt their head back and stop them from rolling backwards. (Recovery position)
This will keep their airway cope, ensuring they can breathe.
You might be worried that you will get into trouble for calling an ambulance. You may get told off at home, maybe you’ll even get grounded, but you will have helped save your friends life. In the end your family will be happy and reassured you know what to do in an emergency.
The Recovery Position
By placing someone in the recovery position, you are making sure that they are still breathing and can breathe easily, as it’s not unusual for someone who has become unconscious for their tongue to block their airway. You are also making sure that if they vomit, it will not block their airway and choke them.
1. Open their airway by tilting the head and lifting their chin. Lie them on their side and straighten their legs.
2. Place the arm nearest to you at right angles to the body. Get hold of the far leg just above the knee and pull it up, keeping the foot flat on the ground. Place their other hand against their cheek.
3. Keep their hand pressed against their cheek and pull on the upper leg to roll them towards you and onto their side.
4. Tilt the head back so they can breathe easily.
5. Make sure that both the hip and the knee of the upper leg are bent at right angles.
What happens at A+E?
Young people under the age of 16 will been seen in the Children’s Emergency Department, if are 16 or over you will be seen in the Adults Emergency Department.
In A&E the doctors and nurses will treat your friend as best as they can. This may involve giving treatment to counteract the effect of the drugs. It may also involve observing the young person until there is no longer a risk to their health. All drugs stay active for varying amounts of time, so therefore it is so important to let staff know what has been taken.
You can help by telling the ambulance crew, the doctors, and nurses all you know about what drug(s) your friend had taken, if they’d been drinking alcohol, and if your friend has any medical conditions.
Providing this information will help them give your friend the right treatment without delay.
There are members of Response Substance and Alcohol Team based at A&E during key times, and you may meet them if you or a friend goes to Hospital with a Drug or Alcohol related issue. These workers are there to help and will offer support and guidance if you need it. You may also agree to a referral into their service and complete some work with them to help you understand what has happened and how it can be avoided in the future.
Reducing the risks
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The Drug
The effects of drugs vary hugely from drug to drug from the sedating effects of Ketamine to the high feeling of cannabis to the extreme stimulant effects of cocaine. Drugs effect everyone differently, what might not have a big effect on you may have the opposite effect on someone else. Changing the type of drug used can change the level of risk associated with using the drug significantly either way from less risky to very much riskier.
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Mental State
A person’s mental state can have huge implications for how a drug will react with them once they have taken it. People suffering with anxiety, depression, low mood and people with underlying mental health issues can increase the risk associated with the drug significantly. In certain cases, it can make these conditions worse. Taking a substance when you are in a state of poor mental health increases the likelihood of a negative experience and increases the possibility of further risk-taking behaviour.
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The Setting
The place a person chooses to use a substance and the people they choose to be around whilst using it can also impact the level of risk associated with taking a substance. Making sure you are surrounded with trusted people and in a safe environment will help to reduce your risk.
Further Support
Response
If you, or someone you know is having problems with drug and/or alcohol misuse Response can provide help and support. Response offers a wide range of support for young people, aged 13 - 19, including drugs & alcohol, counselling and lifestyle support.
To contact the team call 0151 666 4123 or email response@wirral.gov.uk
We encourage anyone looking for advice to call us, Monday to Friday 9am-8pm.
Referrals can be made on this number to both the Counselling Team and the Alcohol and Substance Team. We are able to offer 1-2-1 support for Young People who are struggling with their alcohol or substance use, and often work with other agencies to support Young People in diversionary activities . We deliver professionals training (currently online) that can be accessed through https://www.wirralsafeguarding.co.uk/training/ and lead on the Arrowe Park Hospital Alcohol and Substance Pathway and engage with Young People who have presented at A&E due to substance use. We also provide workshops to parents in collaboration with Health Service In Schools and CAMHS.
Health Services in Schools Youth Workers
HSIS Youth Workers support young people in Wirral Secondary Schools, Wirral Sixth Form College and Wirral Met College.
Each school/college has a designated HSIS Youth Worker that provides young people with an opportunity to access confidential support on any issues which may be affecting them.
We provide support to young people on a wide range of issues and topics such as: building resilience, reducing risks, healthy relationships, sexual Health (including issuing condoms in some schools) drugs, alcohol, emotional health, Stress and Anxiety.
To find your youth worker visit their page.
SHOUT
Shout is an affiliate of Crisis Text Line® in the UK that provides free, confidential support, 24/7 via text. It’s the first free 24/7 texting service in the UK for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Shout is available in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer
or
Text BLUE to 85258 to get resources and sign posting information.
Every texter is connected with a real-life human being trained to bring people from a hot moment to a cool calm place through active listening and collaborative problem-solving. All of our Crisis Volunteers donate their time to helping people in crisis.
FRANK
Honest information about drugs
Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today.