Important information about drugs

Important information about drugs

It’s easy to get confused when you read about drugs, because there are so many different kinds. Put simply, the term ‘drugs’ includes:

• illegal drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and marijuana
• prescribed drugs that are misused
• household products – such as gases, glues and aerosols – that are misused.

Although there are many stories in the media about drugs leading to addiction, crime and death, you should remember that:

• for most young people, illegal drug taking is not a part of normal life
• most people who try drugs do not continue using them.

Why do some young people want to use drugs?

Many parents don’t understand why young people might want to try drugs and think that they only use drugs if they are having problems at home or at school. This isn’t always true. They may be attracted to drugs for similar reasons as they are to alcohol, perhaps because:

• they enjoy the short-term effects
• they want the same kind of experience that they get from drinking a lot of alcohol
• they are curious about the effects
• as part of growing up, they might just want to ‘break the rules’.

How do people take drugs?

Some people take a drug because they are curious about what the effects feel like. Using drugs in this way is often called experimentation.

You may have heard of ‘recreational drugs’. When people use this term, they are talking about drugs that are taken for pleasure, or for social reasons – when going to a club or a party, for example. Most young people who take drugs use them in this way. They may not suffer any major harmful effects to their health.

Problem drug use has a harmful effect on a person’s life. Somebody might need to take a drug just to feel able to cope with normal life. Their drug use is likely to affect their health, and they might suffer from mental health problems, lose their friends, have money problems or get into trouble with the law. Only a very small proportion of people who ever take drugs will become ‘problem users’.

The risks

There are risks involved in taking all drugs. The list below explains general risks for any drug, but you will find more information on specific drugs in the section ‘Facts about drugs’.

• Users can never be sure of exactly what they are taking.
• Bought drugs are unlikely to be pure, and users won’t know what they have been mixed with.
• Users might not know the strength of what they are buying, and they might have an accidental overdose.
• They can’t be sure what effect a drug will have, even if they have taken it before.
• It’s often very dangerous to mix different drugs – this includes taking a drug and drinking alcohol.
• If needles, syringes or other injecting equipment are shared, there is a serious risk of dangerous infections – such as HIV and hepatitis B or C – being spread. Injecting can also damage veins.

Unlawful possession of a controlled drug is a criminal offence. Somebody with a drugs conviction can have problems getting a travel visa to enter some countries. It can also damage their job prospects. An employer might check if an applicant has a criminal record or any past convictions. Dealing in drugs, including giving drugs to friends, carries higher penalties.