1. Youth Crime Reduction Officer
PC Alan Hibbins
Youth Crime Reduction Officer

2. Brands Hatch Thistle Hotel
Moat Housing Association
Illegal Drugs
Brands Hatch Thistle Hotel
18th October 2008

3. What is a drug?
A drug is any chemical you take that affects the way your body works. Alcohol, caffeine, aspirin and nicotine are all drugs. A drug must be able to pass from your body into your brain.
Once inside your brain, drugs can change the messages your brain cells are sending to each other, and to the rest of your body. They do this by interfering with your brain's own chemical signals:, neurotransmitters.

4. Name some Drugs

5. What are the signs of drug taking?
Sudden mood swings
Abnormal sleep patterns or insomnia
Drowsiness
Lack of concentration
Loss of appetite, weight loss
Secretiveness about activities and whereabouts
Loss of interest in old friends, school/college work, hobbies
A change of friends
Lying and deceitfulness
Stealing money or goods
Borrowing money
Appearing drunk or ‘stoned’
Unusual smells, stains or marks on the body or clothes
Needle marks and unexplained bruises

6. Addictive drugs
Doctors call a drug addictive if it makes you dependent on the drug. Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms appear unless you take the drug.
Addictive drugs also make you crave them - you have an overwhelming urge to continue taking the drug, even after withdrawal symptoms have disappeared.

7. Pleasure Seekers
Scientists think that all addictive drugs activate the brain's 'reward system', by increasing the release of the chemical dopamine from neurones in key areas of the brain.
Dopamine release occurs after pleasurable experiences, for example after food, but can also be induced by some drugs. Drugs that artificially increase dopamine release in this way may cause craving for more.
It is possible that some people may have a genetic tendency to make them develop drug addictions extremely rapidly.

8. There are 4 groups of drugs
Depressants
Pain Killers
Stimulants
Hallucinogens

9. Hallucinogens Also known as: LSD , Acid, Tabs, Magic Mushrooms
Possible physical effects
Heightened sensory appreciation, illusions, hallucinations and disorientation
It can be either pleasant or extremely disturbing
Can take the form of an 'out of body' experience
'Flashback' experiences may occur over a period of time
What to look for
Small paper squares, often with printed designs such as strawberries, cartoon or cult characters .
Microdot tablets, small mushrooms
The Law – Class A Drug

10. Stimulants
Stimulants are a class of drugs that elevate mood, increase feelings of well-being, and increase energy and alertness.
Stimulants include:
Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Amphetamines, Methylphenidate
How are they taken?
Swallowed in pill form
Snorted in powder form through the nostrils
Injected by needle and syringe
Heated in crystal form and smoked.
Common effects?
Euphoric effects
Increase heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism
Feelings of hostility or paranoia.
Blurred vision, chest pain, fever, convulsions and coma.
Increase body temperature

11. Pain Killers
When part of your body is injured, special nerve endings send pain messages back to your brain. Painkilling drugs interfere with these messages, either at the site of the injury, in the spinal cord or in the brain itself.
Many painkillers are based on one of two naturally occurring drugs: aspirin and opiates. Aspirin uses a chemical found in willow bark, used by the Ancient Greeks to relieve pain. Opiates all work in a similar way to opium, which is extracted from poppies.
Codeine
Morphine
Aspirin
Ibuprofen

12. Depressants What are they?
Tranquilizers and other depressants calm nerves and relax muscles. They are bright-colored capsules or tablets that are legally available through a doctor for medical reasons, but can be illegally abused.
Also known as:
downers, barbs, blue devils, yellow jackets
How are they taken?
They are swallowed.
The effects:
When used as prescribed (given) by a doctor, depressants can calm nerves and relax muscles. Larger or improperly used doses of depressant drugs can cause confusion, lack of coordination, and shaking. Also possibly slurred speech, inability to concentrate and he or she may fall asleep at work.
Depressant drugs are very dangerous if taken with alcohol and certain other drugs. Very large doses of depressant drugs can stop your breathing and kill you.

13. How can you recognise the drugs?
The only sure way to identify an illegal substance is by forensic analysis. However, there are some signs, which may indicate that drugs are present.
Unusual powders, tablets, capsules or liquids in small quantities
Herbal substances or solid crumbly brown resin
Small plastic or elaborately folded paper wraps
Needles and syringes
Scorched tin-foil or spoons
Shredded cigarettes
Strong, sickly sweet, smoky smell
Weighing scales

14. Drugs classification and offences
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 divides drugs into three classes as follows:
Class A
Class B
Class C
Cocaine
Crack Ecstasy
Heroin (Opium)
LSD
Magic Mushrooms
Morphine
Methadone
Crystal Meth
Amphetamine
Sulphate
Cannabis
Possession
7 years
5 years
2 years
Supply
Life
14 years
14 years

15. The most common illegal drugs - Amphetamines
Also known as: Speed, Whizz, Billy.
What does it look like? Produced in tablet or capsule form, but mainly a course, off-white powder. It may contain other substances. It is usually wrapped into squares of glossy paper or self-sealed plastic bags.
How is it taken? Amphetamines can be taken orally, snorted or sometimes injected.
What are the effects? It can make people feel more alert and confident, some may feel very anxious and restless as the effects wear off. Taking amphetamines can also disrupt sleep and diet. Heavy use can cause mental health problems from depression to paranoia.
What does the law say? Amphetamines are prescription only under the Medicines Act, but also controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act Unauthorised production, supply or possession is an offence. It is also an offence to allow premises to be used for their production or supply. This drug is class B unless prepared for injection when they become class A.

16. Cannabis Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK.
Also known as: Blow, Dope, Draw, Ganga, Gear, Grass, Hash,
Marijuana, Pot, Skunk and Weed.
What does it look like? Hashish (or resin) is the most common form of the drug. It comes from the dried leaves of the cannabis (or marijuana) plant. It's made by compressing the sticky coating from the flowering tops of the plants into brown-black blocks. Herbal cannabis is generally less strong and is made from the leafy parts of the plant.
How is it taken? Cannabis is generally smoked in a cigarette (joint). It's usually mixed with tobacco, but herbal cannabis may be smoked on its own. Resin can also be put into food or brewed into a drink.
What does the law say? Cannabis is Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act It was reclassified from a Class B drug on 29 January It is illegal to grow, produce, posses or supply. It is an offence to allow your house or premises to be used for growing, preparing, supplying or smoking cannabis.

17. Cocaine
Cocaine derived from the leaf of the Coca Plant, Cocaine was originally used as an effective local anaesthetic, widely used in eye, ear, nose and throat surgery before safer synthetic substitutes were discovered. Commercial uses soon followed, such as cold cures and chewing gum, it was also found in the popular fizzy drink ‘Coca-Cola’ until 1903.
More recently use of cocaine has been associated with the rich and the famous and was closely linked with the lifestyles of yuppies in the 1980’s.
Also known as: Charlie, Coke, Toot, Chaz, and Snow
What does it look like? A white crystalline powder.
How’s it taken? Snorted or sniffed into the nostrils. Occasionally injected.
What does the law say? Cocaine is a Class A drug
What are the downs? High doses may make people feel depressed, anxious or paranoid. Lack of energy may follow. The high lasts for a short time.
What are the ups? Cocaine is a strong stimulant with short-lived effects of up to 30 minutes. Users often feel more alert, physically strong and confident. Pain, tiredness and hunger may also be eased.             

18. Ecstacy Also known as: E, Disco Biscuits, Doves.
What does it look like? Produced in tablet or capsule form. Illicitly produced, they come in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. Most have a small motif embossed on one side. It often contains other substances. Very rarely it is found in powder form.
How is it taken? Ecstasy is usually taken orally.
What are the effects? It can make people feel energetic for a number of hours. The initial rush is often followed by feelings of calmness and closeness to others. High doses may lead to panic and anxiety. Regular use can lead to psychological dependence, sleep problems, lethargy and depression. There is a danger of overheating and dehydration.
What does the law say? Ecstasy is a class A drug under the misuse of Drugs Act It is illegal to produce, possess or supply. It is also an offence to allow any premises to be used for the production or supply of ecstasy.

19. Heroin
Also known as: Brown, Gear, H, Heaven, Horse, Junk, Skag, and Smack.
What does it look like? Heroin is made from the dried milk of the opium poppy. Illicit heroin can vary from off-white to mid-brown in colour. Generally it contains other substances such as glucose, paracetamol or brick dust.
How is it taken? It can be injected or smoked on its own - known as ‘chasing the dragon’ or less commonly smoked with tobacco.
What does the law say? Heroin is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, making it illegal to supply or possess without prescription. It is also illegal to allow premises to be used for its production or supply.
What are the effects – feeling tired, sweaty.
What's the damage? You can easily become mentally and physically dependent on Heroin. Once dependant larger doses of Heroin are required to achieve a high. Users may then reach a point when they have to take the drug just to feel normal and avoid withdrawal symptoms. It is very easy to take an overdose. Those who smoke heroin to begin with usually turn to injecting it to make it go further.

20. LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
LSD is derived from a fungus found growing wild on rye and other grasses
Also known as: Acid, trips, tabs, dots etc
What does it look like? LSD is most commonly found impregnated onto small squares of blotting type paper of approximately 8mm square. These squares of paper are often printed with designs which reflect the latest film and fashion images. Less commonly LSD is found as a white powder. Minute amounts are generally mixed with other substances and formed into tablets, capsules or microdots.
How’s it taken? LSD is taken orally by placing the paper square directly into the mouth or into a drink.
What does the law say? LSD is a class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act It is illegal to possess, supply or produce or to allow premises to be used for its production or supply.
Effects – trips similar to nightmares up to 12 hours; flashbacks.

21. Any questions?