News

Around 1 in 5 (19.8%) adults aged 16 to 24 had taken a drug in the last year. This proportion was more than double that of the wider age group of 16-59 and equates to around 1.2 million people. You can read more here: Drug Misuse: Findings from the 2017/18 Crime Survey for England and Wales Around 1 in 5 (19.8%) adults aged 16 to 24 had taken a drug in the last year. This proportion was more than double that of the wider age group of 16-59 and equates to around 1.2 million people. You can read more here: Drug Misuse: Findings from the 2017/18 Crime Survey for England and Wales

Fentanyl is a legally prescribed medication designed for the treatment of chronic and severe pain, often prescribed for post-surgery pain relief. It is a synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more powerful and potent. It is used as a bulking agent by illegal drug dealers to increase their volume of product. Many drug users are unaware that this opioid has been added to their street drug of choice, making it extremely easy to overdose on Fentanyl. You can read more here: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2017/09/18/fentanyl-whats-being-done-to-mitigate-future-problems/

Alcohol poisoning occurs when someone drinks a toxic amount of alcohol, usually over a short period of time, and often occurs when binge drinking. Being poisoned by alcohol can damage your health or even put your life in danger. The signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include confusion, being in a stupor, vomiting, severely slurred speech, loss of coordination, passing out and being unconscious, irregular or slow breathing and hypothermia (pale blue-tinged skin caused by low body temperature) In the most severe of cases, alcohol poisoning can lead to coma, brain damage and death. If you suspect someone is experiencing an alcohol overdose, get medical help immediately! Read more here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-poisoning/

Synthetic cannabinoids are a type of new psychoactive substance, developed to have similar effects to the psychoactive substances found within cannabis. Sold under a number of street names including Spice and Mamba, synthetic cannabinoids have skunk marijuana like qualities but are extremely more potent. There is increasing health concern about the impact of these new substances on the physical and mental health of users. It is much more likely to cause distortions in reality, hallucinations and delirium. Other known side effects of the drug include breathing difficulties, stupor, dehydration, vomiting, severe rashes and loss of control over parts of the body. The long term effects are as yet unknown due to the recent introduction of these substances. 
The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 came into force on May 2016 and applies across the UK and bans the sale, supply, and import of psychoactive substances (previously known as “legal highs”) in the UK.

Research suggests that mental health illnesses can make it more difficult to treat drug or alcohol addiction, and drug or alcohol addiction can make it more difficult to treat other mental health illnesses. The high rate of co-occurrence and the interaction between addiction and other mental health illnesses makes it important to identify and evaluate both conditions and treat them together. You can read more about co-occurring conditions from the UK Government here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/625809/Co-occurring_mental_health_and_alcohol_drug_use_conditions.pdf

Well into your 20’s: around 25. Medical and scientific research has shown that the human brain does not finish developing until around the age of 25. Alcohol and drug use can alter this development, affecting the brains structure and function causing cognitive and learning problems later in life. This risk is enhanced when people begin drinking when young and to excess. Read more here: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=3051

6% Study drugs are taken to improve concentration, energy levels, physical stamina and motivation. These drugs are increasing in popularity among students looking to boost physical and mental performance who are facing pressure to fulfil all of their academic responsibilities. According to the latest NUS Drug Survey six per cent of respondents who have used drugs said that they use ‘study drugs’ at least once a month and one in five of this same group have taken them at some point. Overall one in ten of all students responding to the NUS survey have ever taken study drugs. Read more here: Taking the hit: student drug use and how institutions respond.

True Regular vaping with e-cigarette use among adults has levelled over recent years, and remains largely confined to smokers and ex-smokers. As an aid to quitting smoking being the main motivation for an adult who vape. Professor John Newton, Health Improvement Director at Public Health England, said: “In contrast to recent media reports in the US, we are not seeing a surge in e-cigarette use among young people in Britain. While more young people are experimenting with e-cigarettes, the crucial point is that regular use remains low and is very low indeed among those who have never smoked.” Read more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regular-e-cigarette-use-remains-low-among-young-people-in-britain

THC. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is a crystalline compound that is the main active ingredient of cannabis. It is the chemical responsible for most of the psychological effects of marijuana. THC impacts on the brain and body and affects coordination, the perception of time, pleasure, memory, concentration and thinking. Read more here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/cannabis-the-facts/

All of the above. Ecstasy and MDMA type drugs are known to produce a boost of energy and a euphoric high. However, they are also highly addictive and can cause hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety and other mental health problems. Using Ecstasy has been linked to liver, kidney and brain damage. Other side effects can be very severe and include dehydration, increased heart rate and increased body temperature. Users often feel ‘down’ or tired and low for a few days after taking ecstasy. A danger also exists in not knowing what is actually in the pill or powder or how your body will react to it. While only a small number of deaths have been reported due to Ecstasy, the popularity of the drug is high among students. Ecstasy is the second most commonly used drug by students, having been taken by two thirds (67 per cent) of NUS respondents who have used drugs.
 Read more here: Taking the hit: student drug use and how institutions respond.