Fact List: 26 Most Common Worldwide Drugs.

Educate yourself and others – save a life from drug abuse today

Overview

2CB &2-CT: Two hallucinogens; induces a state in which you see objects and reality in a distorted way.
Acid: LSD – Lysergic Acid Diethylamide is a hallucinogenic drug; induces a state in which you see objects and reality in a distorted way.
Aerosols: Solvents cover a huge number of substances. When inhaled, solvents have a similar effect to alcohol. They make people feel uninhibited, euphoric and dizzy.
Alcohol: Seen as a more socially acceptable drug, it’s a nervous system depressant, which slows down your body’s responses.
Anabolic Steroids: Similar effects to the male hormone, testosterone. Can be used in medicine to treat anaemia or muscle weakness after surgery. Shouldn’t be confused with the other main kind of steroids such as corticosteroids, used to treat asthma, eczema and skin inflammations
Cannabis: Most widely used drug in Britain. It is a mild sedative and it’s also a mild hallucinogen.
Cocaine: Cocaine powder, freebase and crack are all forms of cocaine. They are stimulants with powerful, but short-lived, effects.
Crystal Meth: Commonly referred to as Methylamphetamine or Methamphetamine. A stimulant drug that acts on the brain and nervous system
Ecstasy: Often called the original designer drug because of its rave culture in the early 90s. Clubbers took ecstasy to stay awake and dance for hours.
GHB and GBL: Gammahydroxybutrate (GHB) or ‘Liquid Ecstasy’ and GBL (gammabutyrolactone) are closely related, dangerous drugs with sedative and anaesthetic effects. GBL converts to GHB shortly after entering the body. Both can kill you and are particularly dangerous when used with alcohol and other depressant or sedative substances including recreational drugs.
Heroin: Natural opiate made from morphine, extracted from the opium poppy; Very strong painkiller.
Ivory Wave: The ‘brand’ name of a product currently being sold as a ‘legal high’ gives similar effects to speed and ecstasy.
Ketamine: A short-acting but powerful general anaesthetic which depresses the nervous system and causes a temporary loss of body sensation. That’s why it has been used for operating on humans and animals. It has powerful hallucinogenic qualities.
Khat: An herbal substance containing may different compounds with stimulant properties. Stimulants speed up your mind and body. Used mostly in Africa, Khat is becoming more common in Europe – particularly in some immigrant communities.
Magic Mushrooms: Wild hallucinogenic mushrooms; two forms – psilocybe semilanceata or ‘liberty cap’ or the other more potent amanita muscaria or ‘fly agaric’ some forms of amanita are deadly poisonous.
Mephedrone: A stimulant drug belonging to the chemical family of speed, methamphetamine and ecstasy, among many others.
Methadone: Part of a group of synthetic opiates that are manufactured for medical use and have similar effects to heroin.
Naphyrone: A stimulant drug closely related to ‘cathinone derivatives’ including Mephedrone. When sold over the internet, it was often described as a plant food, research chemicals or bath salts, and not for human consumption.
Piperazines: A broad class of chemical compounds best known as recreational stimulants that mimic the effect of Ecstacy. Used in industry to make plastics, resins, pesticides, brake fluid and a variety of materials and products. Piperazine itself is used as an effective worming agent for pets and farm animals.
PMA: This drug looks very similar and has been sold as ecstasy. The effects are much the same as an E, the effects of PMA also take longer to happen. Some users have taken a fatal overdose by mistakenly taking pill after pill thinking nothing is happening.
Poppers: Small bottles filled with liquid chemicals that dilate the blood vessels and allow more blood to get to the heart. They’re usually sniffed straight from the bottle and deliver a short, sharp high. Poppers are often sold in sex shops, clubs and gay bars.
Salvia: The soft leaves of the Mexican plant Salvia Divinorum contain psychoactive chemicals that produce hallucinations when chewed or when dried and smoked. Sold on the internet and in ‘headshops’ as herbal ecstasy, salvia is one of a number of substances marketed as ‘herbal highs’
Speed: Stimulants taken to keep awake and alert, effects start within half an hour of ingesting it by mouth. If you inject it you’ll experience the effects quicker and these effects can last for up to six hours. The high is generally followed by a long slow comedown
Synthetic cannabinoids: These mimic the psychoactive effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active principle in cannabis. Synthetic cannabinoid compounds are sprayed on to a mix of inert plant ingredients, usually free of tobacco or cannabis, to produce these smoking mixtures.
Tobacco: Made from leaves of the tobacco plant. It contains a drug called nicotine which is highly addictive.
Tranquillisers: Manufactured drugs prescribed by a doctor, they’re designed to reduce anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep. There are hundreds of different tranquillisers around but most common are the Benzodiazepines.

Other names

2CB &2-CT: T-7, 7-up, seventh-heaven and Tripstacy.
Acid: Acid, blotter, cheer, dots, drop, flash, hawk, L, lightening flash, liquid acid, LSD, Lucy, micro dot, paper mushrooms, rainbows, smilies, stars, tab, trips, tripper, window. Sometimes LSD is known by the pictures on them e.g. strawberries.
Aerosols: Solvents include gas lighter refills, aerosols containing hairspray, deodorants and air fresheners, tins or tubes of glue, some paints, thinners and correcting fluids, cleaning fluids, surgical spirit, dry-cleaning fluids and petroleum products.
Alcohol: Booze, Bevvy.
Anabolic Steroids: Roids. Product names include Sustanon 250, Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol, Anavar, Stanozolol.
Cannabis: Bhang, black, blast, blow, blunts, Bob Hope, bush, dope, draw, ganja, grass, hash, hashish, hemp, herb, marijuana, pot, puff, Northern Lights, resin, sensi, sinsemilla, shit, skunk, smoke, soap, spliff, wacky backy, weed, zero. Some names are based on where it comes from… Afghan, homegrown, Moroccan etc
Cocaine: Coke, Charlie, C, white, Percy, snow, toots. For crack – rocks, wash, stones, pebbles, base, freebase
Crystal Meth: Ice, glass, Tina and Christine, yaba.
Ecstasy: E, pills, brownies, mandy, Mitsubishi’s, Rolex’s, Dolphins, XTC.
GHB and GBL: GHB, GBH, Liquid Ecstasy, GBL, 1,4-BD.
Heroin: Brown, skag, H, horse, gear, smack.
Ivory Wave: Ivory Coast, Purple Wave and Vanilla Sky.
Ketamine: Special Green, K, special K, super K, vitamin k
Khat: Khat, quat, qat, qaadka, chat.
Magic Mushrooms: Liberties, magics, mushies, liberty cap, shrooms, Amani, agaric.
Mephedrone: meph, MC, MCAT, m-cat, 4-MMC, Miaow, Meow Meow, Bubbles, Bounce, Charge, Drone, White Magic.
Methadone: Mixture, meth, linctus, physeptone.
Naphyrone: NRG-1, NRG1, Energy-1, Energy1, Rave
Piperazines: BZP, Party Pills, Fast Lane, Silver Bullet, Smiley’s, Happy Pills. Bolts Extra Strength. Pep, Pep Love, Pep Twisted, Pep Stoned, A2, Legal E, Legal X, Frenzy, Nemesis, ESP, Cosmic Kelly, Charlie, The Good Stuff, Exodus, Rapture, Charge, Blast, Euphoria.
Poppers: Ram, Thrust, Rock Hard, Kix, TNT, Liquid Gold
PMA: Chicken yellow, chicken fever, double stacked, mitsubishi turbo, red mitsubishi, killer, para-methoxyampethamine, paramethoxymethyamphetamine, PMMA.
Salvia: Mexican magic mint, holy sage, Eclipse
Speed: Phet, Billy, Whizz, Sulph, Base, Paste, Dexies.
Synthetic cannabinoids: Spice Silver, Spice Gold, Spice Diamond, Spice Arctic Synergy, Spice Tropical Synergy,
Tobacco: Fags, rollies, smokes, ciggies
Tranquillisers: Jellies, benzos, eggs, norries, rugby balls, vallies, moggies, mazzies, roofies, downers.

The effects

2CB &2-CT: Like ecstasy: energetic experience, heightened awareness of colours, smells, sounds and often hypersensitivity for 2-4 hours.
Acid: Until you take a tab of acid you can’t tell how strong it is or how it’s going to affect you, usually a heightened mood, distortion of time and vision are experienced. A trip can take from 20 minutes to an hour to start and usually lasts about 12 hours. Once it’s started you can’t stop it.
Aerosols: Effects range from drunken dizziness, dreaminess, fits of the giggles, difficulty concentrating, hallucinations, several ‘hangover’ headaches, facial rashes depending on substance. Lasts for 45 minutes
Alcohol: When used in moderation users feel more social with reduced feelings of anxiety and inhibitions. Heightened mood of whatever mood you start drinking in. It takes your body one hour to process one unit of alcohol.
Anabolic Steroids: If taken during a strict exercise regime, they can help build muscle mass, sports enthusiasts claim steroids make them able to train harder. Also help users recover from strenuous exercise faster.
Cannabis: Effects can be relaxing, feelings of happiness or excitement, talkative, food cravings known as ‘Getting the munchies’, heightened awareness of senses or distortion of time due to its hallucinogenic effects. Others may experience nausea when smoking the drug.
Cocaine: Taking cocaine can make users feel euphoric it effects like the stimulant speed but is stronger and doesn’t last as long. Cocaine is a stimulant, so it can raise the body’s temperature, make the heart beat faster and stave off feelings of hunger. The effects of crack smoking are virtually immediate, peaking for about two minutes and lasting for only about 10 minutes. For snorted coke there is a slower time to peak but the effects
Crystal Meth: Evokes feelings of exhilaration, alertness and produces increased arousal and activity levels, suppresses appetite. Smoking the purer crystalline form (also known as ‘crystal meth’ or ‘ice’) produces a very intense ‘rush’ lasting between 4 and 12 hours.
Ecstasy: Users may experience alertness, being talkative and social, heightened sense of awareness to sounds, colours and surroundings. Duration doesn’t last that long (around 20-30 minutes).
GHB and GBL: Both produce essentially the same effects of euphoria and can reduce your inhibitions and make you feel sleepy.
Heroin: Slows body functions, reduces physical and psychological pain, users feel rush or buzz after taking the drug, may experience dizziness or vomiting. Small doses give a feeling of warth or well-being larger doses bring on relaxation and tiredness.
Ivory Wave: Often described as a mix between amphetamines and ecstasy, the effects may last for a very long time, but this can vary.
Ketamine: Can cause perceptual changes or hallucinations like LSD, in addition to its effects on reducing bodily sensation. Users can trip for up to an hour and may feel after-effects for some hours. It can give the user a floating feeling as if the mind and body have been separated.
Khat: A stimulant that when chewed makes people more alert and talkative and can produce feelings of elation. It can also suppress the appetite. Users report a feeling of calm if it’s chewed over a few hours.
Magic Mushrooms: Effects range from colour, time, sound and object distortion, heightened emotional state. Mushrooms often make you feel confident and relaxed. Effects can take up to 2 hours to start; strongest trips take 4-10 hours, after effects last 2-6 hours.
Mephedrone: Mix of amphetamines, user feels confident, euphoric and talkative, and some feel greater empathy with those around them. Effects last approximately an hour.
Methadone: A sedative drug that depresses the nervous system, slows down body functions, reduce physical and psychological pain. The effect is usually to give a feeling of warmth, relaxation and detachment. Methadone can help to relieve feelings of anxiety.
Naphyrone: Has a chemical structure which is closely related to other ‘cathinone derivatives’. Therefore it may be assumed that it would share the same effects as other cathinones, which are euphoria, talkativeness, alertness and feelings of empathy.
Piperazines: Stimulant effects similar to ecstasy, effects can last for 6 – 8 hours. Users may experience decreased appetite, sleeplessness, ‘hung-over’ feeling, agitation; vomiting, stomach pain, fits, irregular heart rhythms, diarrhoea, allergic reactions and fever have been reported.
Poppers: An initial head rush that lasts a couple of minutes. Sniffing poppers during sex can make orgasms feel like they last longer. And some people say it enhances their erections; May help relax anal sphincter muscles.
PMA: Very similar to ecstasy.
Salvia: Although salvia has been around for hundreds of years very little controlled research of its effects has been carried out, it is known that depending on dosage, experiences can vary from the fairly mild to full blown, psychedelic hallucinations. At higher doses dramatic time distortion, vivid imagery and scary rather than fun hallucinations have been reported.
Speed: Effects stop hunger or tiredness and heighten alertness, how excited or social you are.
Synthetic cannabinoids: Very similar effects to cannabis; some feel happy and relaxed, others may feel sick, get the giggles, feel hunger pangs and become very talkative. Psychoactive drugs alter mood and perception and can make concentration and co-ordination difficult. Paranoia, panic attacks and memory loss are associated with using THC.
Tobacco: When a smoker inhales, the nicotine reaches the brain in around 8 seconds. Regular smokers say it helps them relax and feel less hungry.
Tranquillisers: Work by depressing the nervous system and slowing the body down giving a sedative effect, reliving tension or anxiety. Large doses can make a user forgetful and send them to sleep

Dependency

2CB &2-CT: New drugs: Limited Information.
Acid: There is no evidence LSD is addictive.
Aerosols: It’s possible to be psychologically dependent, no evidence that inhaling solvents can make a user physically dependent.
Alcohol: Drinking in excess can lead to regular binge drinking, heavy harmful drinking or alcoholism (Full alcohol dependence.)
Anabolic Steroids: A user can quickly become psychologically dependent.
Cannabis: Influenced by a number of factors, including how long you’ve been using it, how much you use and whether you are more prone to becoming dependent. You may find you have difficulty stopping regular use and you may experience psychological and physical withdrawals when you do stop. You’re also at risk of getting addicted to nicotine if you roll your spliffs with tobacco.
Cocaine: Coke is very addictive. It can be difficult to resist the craving and strong psychological dependence due to changes in the brain.
Crystal Meth: Extended use can lead to psychological and physical dependence. Injecting the drug intravenously or smoking it is highly addictive. The greater potency of the ‘ice’ form, particularly when smoked, makes it a more dangerous drug than other forms of methylamphetamine.
Ecstasy: It’s possible to build up tolerance to E. You may also develop a psychological dependence. There’s some uncertainty about the long term side effects of Es, evidence suggests it can cause damage to the brain causing long term problems – like depression, personality change and memory loss.
GHB and GBL: Repeated use of GHB is known to cause dependence in some people and this is likely to be true for GBL as well.
Heroin: Highly addictive drug, causes strong psychological ‘cravings.’ Over time tolerance builds and higher doses are needed for the same effect. Opium substitutes have been developed to treat herion addiction which blocks heroin’s effects so you can’t get a high once you’re drug-free.
Ivory Wave: There is little information about Ivory Wave, but as it is similar to amphetamines and ecstasy it is likely that it could become compulsive to use and could create a state of psychological dependence.
Ketamine: You can become psychologically but not physically dependent on.
Khat: Can make a user psychologically dependent. When they stop using they may feel lethargic or mildly depressed.
Magic Mushrooms: Magic mushrooms are not addictive although, like with LSD, you can become tolerant of the effects quite quickly.
Mephedrone: Reports suggest it can be compulsive to use and can create a state of psychological dependence. Common that once users start a session, they can find it very difficult to stop until they’ve used their entire supply – behaviour known as ‘fiending’
Methadone: Methadone allows people to tackle their psychological addiction and stabilize their lifestyle when used as a substitute for heroin. Such treatment may be continued for a long period of time in some cases. There are still problems with heroin withdrawal symptoms, but this method is much less severe than going ‘cold turkey’.
Naphyrone: Although there is little evidence on Naphyrone, like other ‘cathinone derivatives’ it is very likely to be able to create a state of psychological dependence, with increased use associated with increased health harms.
Piperazines: Early studies suggest that you can become dependent. It is very similar to amphetamine use, i.e. taking speed.
Poppers: Poppers aren’t physically or psychologically addictive.
PMA: Not particularly addictive but it’s possible to build up a tolerance. Some psychological dependence can probably develop.
Salvia: Salvia is not known to be either physically addictive or to cause psychological dependence.
Speed: You can get strongly addicted to amphetamines. The more times you take it, the more you’ll need to get the same buzz.
Synthetic cannabinoids: Like cannabis, dependence on Spice products will be influenced by a number of factors, including how long you’ve been using it, how much you use and whether you are just more prone to become dependent. You may experience psychological and physical withdrawals when you do stop. The withdrawals can include cravings for Spice, irritability, mood changes, appetite disturbance, weight loss, difficulty sleeping and even sweating, shaking and diarrhoea.
Tobacco: Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. Smokers can get hooked very quickly and it can take years and a huge effort to kick the habit. Not many people are able to remain occasional smokers.
Tranquillisers: Tranquillisers or benzodiazepines can cause psychological and physical addiction and, because tolerance increases over time, users have to keep increasing their dose to get the same hit.

Drug Class

• CLASS A – Illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession can get you up to seven years in jail. Supplying someone else, even among your friends, can get you a life sentence and an unlimited fine
• CLASS B – Illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession can get you up to five years in jail. Supplying someone else, including your friends, can get you fourteen years and an unlimited fine.
• CLASS C - Illegal to possess without a prescription. Possession can get you up to 2 years in jail. Supplying someone else, including your friends, can get you 14 years and an unlimited fine.

2CB &2-CT: A Class drugs: It’s illegal to have, give away or sell.
Acid: A Class drug: It’s illegal to have, give away or sell.
Aerosols: Solvent misuse isn’t illegal. Although, it’s illegal in England and Wales for shopkeepers to sell you intoxicating substances if they think you’re likely to be inhaling them.
Alcohol: Allowed under age 5 if granted by medical condition. Under aged 14 allowed in bar or pub with ‘children’s certificate’ Aged 14-15 allowed in pubs but cannot drink alcohol. Aged 16-18 can buy beer or cider providing it’s eaten with a meal. Anyone over 18 can buy and drink alcohol legally in licensed premises in Britain.
Anabolic Steroids: Class C drugs to be sold only by pharmacists with a doctor’s prescription. It’s legal to possess or import steroids as long as they’re in the form of a medicinal product for personal use.
Cannabis: Class B drug – illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession of a small amount of Cannabis can lead to police confiscation and a warning; depending on age and circumstances. Under 18’s: Reprimand and parent or guardian notification. Regular under 18 offenders: Final warnings and referral to a youth offending team. Over 18’s: Penalty Notice of Disorder, (£80 On-the-spot fine.); Entry on the Police National Computer, Arrest, Criminal Record with 5 year prison sentence and an unlimited fine. Dealers can be charged with intent to supply if home-grown, maximum penalty for supplying is 14 years in prison with an unlimited fine. Drug driving is as illegal as drink driving. You could go to prison, get a heavy fine or be disqualified.
Cocaine: Class A drugs – illegal to have, give away or sell.
Crystal Meth: Methamphetamine or Crystal Math was reclassified to Class A drug on 18th January 2007. It is illegal to have, give away or sell.
Ecstasy: Class A drug – illegal to have, give away or sell.
GHB and GBL: GHB is a class C drug. Illegal to have, sell or giveaway. GBL is a Class C controlled drug. This means that it is against the law to possess them, to give them away or to sell them for human ingestion.
Heroin: Class A drug. Possessing can lead to a 7 year prison sentence and an unlimited fine. Supplying could lead to a life sentence and another unlimited fine.
Ivory Wave: If an Ivory Wave sample contained a controlled drug like MDPV or mephedrone, it would be illegal to possess. If the sample only contained 2-DPMP, it would not be illegal to possess this but it would considered illegal under medicines legislation to sell, supply or advertise it for human consumption
Ketamine: Class C drug which means that it’s illegal to possess it and to supply it.
Khat: Khat is not an illegal drug in the UK. It can be used or traded without penalty. Khat is an illegal substance in many other countries like the US. Taking khat into the US could attract a heavy prison sentence.
Magic Mushrooms: A Class drug: Both fresh and prepared (e.g. dried or stewed) magic mushrooms that contain psilocin or psilocybin.
Mephedrone: Class B drug on the 16th April 2010 meaning it is illegal to have, give away or sell. Importation into UK banned.
Methadone: Class A drug – illegal to have, give away or sell.
Naphyrone: Class B drug meaning it is illegal to have, give away or sell.
Piperazines: Class C controlled drugs; that it is against the law to possess them, to give them away or to sell them.
Poppers: Amyl nitrite is very rarely used in medicine these days but is controlled under the Medicines Act. Possession is not illegal but supply can be an offence.
PMA: Class A drugs:  PMA and PMMA – illegal to have, give away or sell. Some countries can refuse visas due to drug convictions.
Salvia: It is not against the law to possess products containing salvia but selling, supplying or advertising it for human consumption is illegal and sellers can be prosecuted under medicines legislation. For this reason most sellers will clearly state that their products are ‘not for human consumption’.
Speed: Speed is a Class B drug. It’s illegal to have, give away or sell. Prepared-for-injection Speed becomes a Class A and can get you tougher sentencing if you’re caught with it or selling it.
Synthetic cannabinoids: Products like ‘Spice’ which contain synthetic cannabinoids are Class B controlled drugs. This means that it is against the law to possess them, to give them away or to sell them.
Tobacco: It’s illegal for shopkeepers to sell tobacco or tobacco products to anyone under 18.
Tranquillisers: Class C drug, illegal to possess benzodiazepines, including temazepam, without a prescription.

Appearance and use

2CB &2-CT: Sold as white powder or tiny 5mg pills. Normally swallowed, they can also be snorted.
Acid: Usually sold as tiny squares of paper with pictures on them. But it can be found as a liquid or as tiny pellets.
Aerosols: All household have different substances which, when abused, can cause different effects. Solvents are sniffed from a cloth, a sleeve or a plastic bag. Some users put a plastic bag over their heads and inhale that way.
Alcohol: Alcohol comes in a whole range of different drinks; Spirits, Beer, Cider, Wine, Alcopops, etc. For more information on how many units are found in common drinks, visit the NHS website to check your units.
Anabolic Steroids: Bought as tablets to be swallowed or as a liquid injection, often used by bodybuilders, athletes and other sports people because of the performance enhancing effects. Some people at times consume 10-100 times the medical dose.
Cannabis: Hash is a black or brown soft lump made from the resin of the plant. Herbal cannabis (grass or weed) is made from the dried leaves and looks like tightly packed dried herbs. Most mix cannabis with tobacco and smoke it as spliffs or a joint. Some people put it in a bong or a type of pipe. And others make tea with it or stick it in food like cakes or ‘cannabis cookies’.
Cocaine: ‘Coke’ is a white powder that’s usually divided into lines on a smooth surface and snorted up the nose with a rolled up note or straw. It is not easily smoked. ‘Crack’ is a form of cocaine made into small lumps or rocks. It’s usually smoked in a pipe, glass tube, plastic bottle or in foil. You can easily smoke either ‘crack’ or ‘freebase’ forms of cocaine in this way. Both powder and crack forms of cocaine can be prepared to make a solution for injecting.
Crystal Meth: Illicit methylamphetamine is produced in tablet, powder, or crystalline forms. These products are taken orally, snorted or injected but, unlike amphetamine, methylamphetamine can also be smoked. The tablet form is sometimes referred to as ‘yaba’ and the crystalline smokeable form often referred to as ‘ice’.
Ecstasy: Pure Ecstasy is a white crystalline powder known to chemists as MDMA. Street Ecstasy is usually in tablet form or sold as powder. Es come in all sorts of colours and some of them have pictures or logos stamped into them. They’re usually swallowed although some people do smoke or snort them.
GHB and GBL: Both GHB and GBL are usually sold as an odourless liquid in small bottles or capsules (iGHB does come in powder form but is rarer). A teaspoon or a capful is a normal dose although the strength of GHB varies so it can be very difficult for people to know how much they’re taking. The effects start after about 10 minutes to an hour and can last for up to seven hours or so. GBL is a colourless, oily liquid with a weak odour.  It is a common solvent used in products like paint strippers and stain removers.
Heroin: A white powder when it’s pure (diamorphine), such as that used by doctors. Owing to the range of substances it’s cut with, street heroin can be anything from brownish white to brown. It can either be smoked or dissolved in water and injected or, if high purity, it can be snorted.
Ivory Wave: Reported as a white or off-white powder, which is usually snorted like cocaine or swallowed ’bombed’ in wraps of paper.
Ketamine: Legally produced ketamine comes in liquid form which is usually injected. The illegally produced version usually comes as a grainy white powder which is usually snorted but it may also be obtained as a tablet.
Khat: Khat is a leaf which is chewed over a number of hours.
Magic Mushrooms: Psilocybe Semilanceata, or liberty caps, are small and tan-coloured and they bruise blue when they’re touched. Amanita Muscaria, or fly agaric, mushrooms are more like the red and white spotted toadstools you see in fairytale books. After picking, they’re often eaten raw or are dried out and stored. Most people take between 1-5 grams. The fly agaric mushrooms tend not to be consumed raw as they can cause severe nausea.
Mephedrone: A fine white, off-white or yellowish powder – usually snorted like cocaine or swallowed ‘bombed’ in wraps of paper, can be smoked and in rare cases is injected. Also comes in capsules and pills
Methadone: Usually a liquid which is swallowed, but it can come in tablet or injectable form. Subutex (Buprenorphine) is dissolved in the mouth. Effects can start quickly and can last several hours.
Naphyrone: A fine white or off-white/yellow powder – usually snorted like cocaine or swallowed ‘bombed’ in wraps of paper.
Piperazines: BZP comes in various forms and shapes. Pills can be red, blue, pink, white, off-white, purple, orange, tan, and mottled orange-brown. They can carry an impression such as a housefly, crown, heart, butterfly, smiley face, bull’s head, robot, bird flying, Mickey Mouse, five pointed star, Superman and a witch’s hat. BZP is also sold as an off-white powder, in capsules and as a liquid.
Poppers: Small bottles with brand names like Ram, Thrust and Rock Hard. One sniff and you can feel the effects. These fade after a couple of minutes.
PMA: Usually a white pressed tablet. They’re often underscored, 7mm in diameter and 6mm thick. They weigh about 230mg. Unusually thick compared to ecstasy; they’ve been nicknamed ‘double stacked’. Like ecstasy, PMA is swallowed.
Salvia: Salvia is sold in dried leaf form and as a refined extract in concentrations from 5x to 50x.
Speed: Usually sold in wraps, powder is off-white or pinkish and can sometimes look like small crystals. The ‘base’ form of speed is purer and is a pinkish-grey colour and feels like putty. ‘Crystal meth’ (methylamphetamine or methamphetamine) is a particularly powerful, addictive and dangerous form of speed that comes in a crystalline form. Prescription amphetamines like dexamphetamine are usually small white pills. Speed is either dabbed onto the gums or is snorted in lines; sometimes it’s rolled up in cigarette paper and swallowed, called a speedbomb. It can also be mixed in drinks. To obtain rapid high blood levels in heavy users it’s injected or in the case of ‘crystal meth’ smoked in its ‘Ice’ form.
Synthetic cannabinoids: Spice products are packaged very professionally in small, often colourful sachets with labels describing the contents as incense or herbal smoking mixture and almost always stating: ‘Not for human consumption’.
Tobacco: The leaves of the tobacco plant are dried then rubbed to produce a brown, flaky mixture. It can be bought loose as rolling tobacco or in ready-made cigarettes. Tobacco is most often smoked but some people chew it.
Tranquillisers: Tablets, capsules, injections or suppositories (Tablets you insert up your anus). Used as ‘chill out’ drugs on club scenes, some use them to come down off acid, speed or ecstasy after a big night.

Cost

2CB &2-CT: Approximately £2-£5 for 2C-Bs and £3 per pill for 2CT-7s.
Acid: Approximately £1-£5 per tab.
Aerosols: £1-£3 will buy a solvent.
Alcohol: Prices vary depending on what you drink and the quality – say for instance, a premium whisky or older bottle of wine is more expensive than a pint of beer
Anabolic Steroids: Approximately £20 for 100 tablets
Cannabis: Grass is usually more expensive currently costing £90 to £130, resin (hash) costs around £50 per ounce.
Cocaine: A gram of coke powder generally costs between £30 and £50. A crack rock costs between £10 and £20.  It’s sometimes sold cheaper by the slice or as a ‘clubbing rock’ for about £10.
Crystal Meth: A half a gram of crystal meth is £25 and £15 for one hit on the street.
Ecstasy: Between £3 and £8 depending on the type of pill you buy and where you live.
GHB and GBL: A 30ml plastic container of GHB costs about £15.
Heroin: Prices can vary from region to region. Feeding a heroin habit can cost up to £100 a day.
Ivory Wave: Has been reported as ranging from between £11 and £18 for between 200-500mg.
Ketamine: Prices can vary from region to region.
Khat: A ‘hit’ which is a small bunch of leaves costs around £4.
Magic Mushrooms: Up to £5 per handful.
Mephedrone: When legal, it was sold at between £10 and £15 a gram online, likely to cost more from dealers.
Methadone: The street cost of methadone is £1 per 10ml.
Naphyrone: When legal, it was sold online at between £15 and £25 a gram.
Piperazines: £5 – £10 a pill online.
Poppers: £2 – £5 per bottle
PMA: Between £3 and £8.
Salvia: 1 oz of leaf £12, 1 g of extract ranges from £10 for 5x concentration to £40 for 50x concentration
Speed: £8 – £12 per wrap
Synthetic cannabinoids: £20-£30 a sachet.
Tobacco: The cost depends on the scale of a smoker’s habit. As a guide, smoking 20 a day for five years will cost £8000.
Tranquillisers: Around £1 for four 5mg capsules.

Purity

2CB &2-CT: Uncommon in Britain: Limited purity information.
Acid: It’s rare to get acid that’s impure. Some people think it hasn’t worked, so they take more and find it’s too much to handle.
Aerosols: Household products come with a strong warning against human consumption of any sort due to the harmful chemicals it contains.
Alcohol: Because it’s almost always legal and sold only in licensed premises, alcoholic drinks don’t usually contain anything in them that shouldn’t be there. In some circumstances, it is sensible to be careful and to try and make it difficult for anyone to ‘spike’ your drink.
Anabolic Steroids: Many counterfeit anabolic steroids which are sold don’t have the same effect.  In fact, users can end up paying for tablets that have no active ingredient at all. Also, it’s not unusual for anabolic steroids intended for veterinary use to be sold.
Cannabis: Purity depends on the strength of the unadulterated product and how much it’s been ‘cut’ or contaminated. The potency of herbal cannabis decreases over time in storage and is affected by what parts of the plant have been included in the product, smell intensity is inaccurate and should not be used as a guideline. Bulk resin has been known to be cut with traces of henna, turpentine, boot polish, animal faeces, and even tranquillisers. These impurities are then smoked and inhaled along with the cannabis resin. In recent years, herbal cannabis with a gritty texture was found from suppliers who had sprayed glass on the product, possibly to alter its look and weight.
Cocaine: Recent police seizures of cocaine had an average purity of 15%, seizures of crack had an average purity of 23%.
Crystal Meth: There is limited information in the UK on purity at present.
Ecstasy: Rarely pure. Usually cut with amphetamines (like speed), caffeine and other substances because it’s cheaper to produce. Some of the new man-made drugs like PMA and 4-MTA can be passed off as E’s. Their effects can be very different or they may take longer to kick-in with a risk of the user double-dosing.
GHB and GBL: The strength of GHB liquid varies widely from bottle to bottle. And when mixed badly, it can really burn the mouth. At present there is little reliable evidence to determine the purity of GBL.
Heroin: A user has no way of knowing what their heroin is mixed with. Recent tests show it can contain nutmeg, brick dust, and ground-up gravel but it’s more commonly mixed with sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine.
Ivory Wave: Unknown purity.
Ketamine: Legally produced Ketamine will be pure. But illegally produced tablets are commonly found with ephedrine added. Sometimes these are passed off as ecstasy.
Khat: Because Khat comes in recognisable leaf form, it can’t be cut with anything.
Magic Mushrooms: The biggest danger with taking any magic mushrooms is making sure you’ve picked the right thing. There are hundreds of varieties and some of them are highly poisonous.
Mephedrone: Sometimes mixed with caffeine.
Methadone: Methadone that’s prescribed by a doctor is subject to stringent controls. You can’t be as sure with methadone that’s bought on the street which may be an unusually concentrated variant and more powerful than expected.
Naphyrone: Research by Liverpool John Moores University found that when sold over the internet, the majority of substances marketed as NRG-1 and NRG-2 didn’t contain naphyrone, but instead contained mephedrone or other controlled cathinones.
Piperazines: The chemical composition of substances sold as substituted piperazines are changing all the time which is why you can never be sure what you’re getting and how it could affect you.
Poppers: Purity is not really an issue with poppers.
PMA: Not enough is known about the purity of PMA.
Salvia: Unknown purity.
Speed: Speed typically is not a pure drug – most of the powder only contains 5-15% amphetamine
Synthetic cannabinoids: The chemical composition and ingredients of herbal highs like Spice are changing all the time which is why you can never be sure what you’re getting and how it could affect you.
Tobacco: Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals. Many of them are known to do nasty things to the human body including causing cancer.
Tranquillisers: Most street tranquillisers are from doctor’s drug prescriptions or they’ve been taken from a hospital or pharmacy.

The risks

2CB &2-CT: Users may hallucinate, become depressed, experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, panic attacks and, particularly at high doses, more serious confused, agitated or even delirious states. Regular use can leave people tired, disorientated and anxious; Long term damage unknown yet.
Acid: Trips feed off a person’s imagination some produce random and sometimes very terrifying, panicking effects, people have been reported to harm themselves during a bad trip. LSD could have serious, longer term implications for somebody who had a history of mental problems. Bad flashbacks can occur weeks or months after taking the drug.
Aerosols: Users may experience vomiting, blackouts, risk of fatal heart problems (Which have been known to kill users the very first time they sniff.) Spraying gas products down the throat can make your throat swell so you can’t breathe and slows down your heart. Risk of suffocation with plastic bag inhalation. Long-term abuse of solvents has been shown to damage the brain, liver and kidneys, high risk of overdose and coma.
Alcohol: Users may experience slurring your words, losing your balance, vomiting, aggressiveness, argumentative states, liver damage, stomach cancer, heart disease, alcohol poisoning which can lead to comas or death. Alcohol is blamed for contributing to all kinds of problems in Britain, from violent crime to domestic violence and to car-related deaths.
Anabolic Steroids: Users can experience aggressiveness, irritability, dramatic mood swings, unusual violent behaviour, growth stunts, paranoia, sleeping troubles, high blood pressure, liver failure, stroke, heart attack, headaches, lethargy and depression. Injecting the drug can cause vein damage, ulcers, spreading of HIV and hepatitis virus infections. If you’re male, regular use can lead to erection problems, growing of breasts, becoming sterile and developing acne. It can also make your testicles shrink. If you’re female, you can get acne, extra facial hair, a deep voice, shrinking breasts, an enlarged clitoris, an increased risk of menstrual problems and changes in sex drive.
Cannabis: When smoked without a filter or mixed with tobacco chemical impurities can be found, which can cause lung disease and possibly cancer with long-term or heavy use. Can make asthma worse, and cause wheezing in non-asthma sufferers. If you’re pregnant, regular smoking may have some association with the risk of the baby being born smaller than expected. Users may experience irritability, mood changes, appetite disturbance, weight loss, sleeping difficulties, sweating, uncontrollable shaking, diarrhoea, anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, co-ordination issues, increased heart rate, blood pressure differences, stunts in learning development, concentration issues, lethargy, motivation problems or frequent tiredness. Repetitive use of strong cannabis could lead to dependence or being more at risk of developing the mental health effects, further medical research needs to be completed to confirm these effects.
Cocaine: Over confidence on cocaine causes unnecessary risks, effects don’t last long – strong temptation to take more, the crash period can happen days later. High dose effects: Rise in body temperature, convulsions and respiratory or heart failure, depression, lethargy, anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, loss of sexual drive, heightens mental health issues, death by overdose, fits, heart attacks, chest pains, respiratory failure and lung failure. Injecting can cause vein damage, ulcers, overdose, gangrene and the spreading of HIV and hepatitis virus infections. Taking cocaine when you’re pregnant can damage your baby. It may cause miscarriage, premature labour and low birth weight babies. Babies born to mothers who keep using throughout their pregnancy may experience a withdrawal syndrome after delivery. Injecting a mixture of cocaine and heroin, known as a ‘speed-balling’ is a dangerous cocktail – with potentially fatal results. Heavy crack users may take heroin to try to dull their cravings. As a consequence, some crack users have become dependent on heroin as well.
Crystal Meth: Effects: Rapid heart rate, rise in blood pressure, agitation, paranoia, confusion, violence, overdose, increased libido can lead to risky sexual behaviour, stroke, lung kidney and gastrointestinal damage, coma and death. Injecting increases risks of HIV and hepatitis virus infections. Can induce a psychosis in which you lose touch with reality.
Ecstasy: Physical effects: Dilated pupils, tingling feeling, jaw muscles tightening, raised body temperature, heart beats faster, overheating, dehydration, liver kidney and heart problems, epilepsy, and immune system failure and blood pressure problems. Psychological effects: Anxiety, panic attacks, confused episodes, paranoia, depression or psychotic states. There’s no way of telling what’s in an E until you’ve swallowed it. So, there may be negative side effects from other ingredients in the tablet. There’ve been over 200 ecstasy-related deaths in the UK since 1996.  Drinking too many fluids can be fatal – On Ecstasy the body releases a hormone which prevents the production of urine. Drinking too quickly interferes with your body’s salt balance, which can be as deadly as not drinking enough water.
GHB and GBL: Using both GHB and GBL can cause unconsciousness, coma and death; even experienced users are at risk from death by intoxication. There is some evidence that taking these drugs with alcohol or other sedative drugs adds to the risk of harm. Because GHB and GBL can really knock you out they’ve been linked to drug assisted sexual assault.
Heroin: Overdoses can lead to comas or death through respiratory failure or inhaling vomit as heroin stops the body’s cough reflex working properly. When combined with other drugs overdoses are more likely. Injecting can cause vein damage, death and decay or infection of body tissue or gangrene. Sharing needles increases the risk of infections like hepatitis B or C and HIV/AIDS.
Ivory Wave: As worrying reports have emerged of clusters of cases presenting in emergency to medical and psychiatric services, the risks associated with Ivory Wave are consistent with a potent stimulant. Reported effects such as anxiety, aggression and paranoia; Over-stimulation of nervous system causing agitation and hallucinations, with risk of fits and overstimulation of the heart, alteration of blood pressure. Potentially dangerous rises in body temperature have been noted and risk of renal failure. Users have reported that Ivory Wave is very potent, with only a very small amount needed, so it is easy to take too much. And the severe effects can last a number of days.
Ketamine: Users may be physically incapable of moving while under the influence, can cause panic attacks, depression, breathing suppression, heart dysfunction, unconsciousness, high blood pressure, can make existing mental health problems worse. Because you don’t feel any pain when you’re on Ketamine, you can injure yourself badly and not know you’ve done it. If high enough doses are taken, the anaesthetic effect can result in death, for example due to unconsciousness and inhalation of vomit. There have been recent reports in the medical literature of serious bladder and related problems found in Ketamine users.
Khat: Regular use can lead to insomnia, high blood pressure, heart problems, sexual problems like impotence and development of mouth cancer. Short term effects: Anxiety, aggression, pre-existing mental health problems worsen, paranoia, psychotic reactions, irritability and losing touch with reality.
Magic Mushrooms: Users can experience severe nausea, tiredness, disorientation, ‘bad trips’ are seriously frightening and unsettling, also you can get flashbacks some time afterwards. You may be at risk when you’re not in complete control of what you’re doing. Your perception of your body and the world around you can be distorted. Eating the wrong kind of mushroom can make you seriously ill, and even kill you. Magic mushrooms can complicate any mental health issues you may have.
Mephedrone: Can over-stimulate the heart effecting circulation leading to clue or cold fingers, over-stimulates nervous system causing fits, agitation and hallucinations. Can cause anxiety, paranoia, severe nosebleeds when snorting, palpitations, insomnia, loss of short-term memory, vertigo, grinding of teeth, sweating and uncomfortable changes in body temperature; Increased death risk when combining with drugs that produce a ‘high.’ Identified as a possible contributor to a number of deaths in the UK.
Methadone: Effects: Constipation, tiredness, high doses can bring on a coma or respiratory failure, regular women users miss periods, opiates may possibly increase the risk of miscarriage, still births and giving birth to smaller babies. Your driving licence is invalid on a methadone treatment programme unless agreed by the DVLA following receipt of supportive medical advice.
Naphyrone: Closely related to ‘cathinone derivatives’ it is sensible to assume the risks can cause anxiety, paranoia, overstimulation of the heart and circulatory system and over-excitation of the nervous system (with the risk of fits). Other risks include reduced inhibitions, drowsiness, coma, seizures, and death. Risks, including the risk of death, could be increased if used with other substances, including alcohol.
Piperazines: Extremely dangerous drug for users with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Perfectly healthy young people can have a fit or heart attack after taking stimulant drugs as you may not know that you have a pre-existing heart condition. Mixing BZP with amphetamines (like ecstasy and speed) and alcohol can be very dangerous. In rare cases users may suffer from serotonin syndrome which can cause high blood pressure and may be fatal.
Poppers: Users can experience nausea, faintness, weakness, skin burns on contact, extreme headaches, facial rashes, poppers are toxic can kill you if swallowed, especially dangerous for users with chest or heart problems, anaemia, glaucoma or users taking medication to reduce your blood pressure or taking Viagra. Men can experience erectile dysfunctions. Poppers are highly flammable.
PMA: Effects: Increase in blood pressure, increase in body temperature, increase in pulse rates, muscle spasms, severe sickness, overheating, dehydration, paranoia, depression and immune system damage. The long term risks associated with PMA have yet to be studied but they’re likely to be similar to ecstasy. Drinking too much water can also be dangerous or even fatal. PMA causes the body to release a hormone which suppresses the production of urine. Drinking too quickly interferes with your body’s salt balance which directly affects the brain and this can be as deadly as not drinking enough water. Not enough is known about the effects PMA can have on pregnancy and the developing foetus.
Salvia: Most harms resulting from the use of psychoactive drugs like salvia occur as a result of people injuring themselves when under the influence of the drug. Salvia could possibly trigger psychotic episodes particularly in young people and vulnerable individuals with latent mental health problems. Throat and lung irritation, headaches and mild irritability have been reported and you increase the risk to yourself if you combine alcohol with any substance that causes a ‘high’, including the risk of death.
Speed: Users can experience irritability, depression, sleeping difficulties, death by overdose, high blood pressure, heart conditions, immune system damage, anxiety, aggression, mental illnesses. Injections can cause vein damage, ulcers, gangrene, spread of viral hepatitis or HIV, easy to overdose.
Synthetic cannabinoids: Although little evidence exists at the moment about the harmful effects of Spice, experts conclude that it is very likely that synthetic cannabinoids will produce harmful effects similar to those associated with THC – the psychoactive ingredient of cannabis. Regular use of products containing stronger synthetic cannabinoids may increase the risk of later developing psychotic illnesses including schizophrenia.
Tobacco: Nicotine effects: speeds up the heart rate, increases blood pressure, dizziness, sickness, prone to coughs and chest infections. Long-term addiction could leave you with cancer, emphysema or heart disease. Smoking has been linked to the amputation of 2,000 limbs a year. It’s estimated smoking contributes to 120,000 premature deaths in the UK every year. Other people breathing in your smoke could end up with breathing difficulties, asthma or even cancer.
Tranquillisers: User may experience headaches, nausea, anxiety, confusion, panic attacks, fits, collapsed veins if injecting, infection and abscesses. If taken with other depressive drugs like alcohol, can lead to an accidental overdose, injecting crushed tablets or melted down gel capsules is extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal. Increase in sex crime involving tranquillisers like rohypnol. *Drugs facts extract from talk to frank.com

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