Drugs awareness guide: Know your drugs...
With drugs and hardcore drug abuse featuring heavily in London's gay scene, London Gay Man has joined the fight against drugs in London and compiled a drugs awareness guide. For too long, the gay community in London has kept quiet about the drugs epidemic; however, we think that it is best to get everything out in the open. Only by educating the community about the nasty effects of taking drugs can we begin to stamp out the huge amount of drug taking by London's gay men.
London Gay Man does not condone drug abuse in any way, shape or form. This guide is for informative and educational purposes only. If you would like advice and support on drug abuse and addiction, contact the UK drugs national helpline on 0800 77 66 00.
ACID (AKA LSD)
Information: LSD or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide is a hallucinogenic drug. A trip usually takes up to an hour to begin and can last for anything up to half a day. The type of trip you have is affected by your general mood at the time.
Class: Class A. LSD is illegal to possess, give away or sell.
Risks: Many people can have very vivid and frightening trips. Bad trips can distort reality and some have reported harming themselves when on a trip in a bad mood.
Street Names: Acid, blotter, cheer, flash, hawk, L, Lucy, tab, trips, strawberries.
COCAINE
Information: Cocaine comes in different forms and is a short-term stimulant with short-lived effects. ‘Crack' cocaine can be smoked providing a stronger result and harder addiction. The most common form of cocaine is the powder which is snorted.
Class: Class A.
Risks: Although cocaine gives you a renewed sense of importance and confidence, it is a highly addictive drug that suppresses hunger and is often the cause of a ‘gaunt', unhealthy looking person. Those who often take cocaine report feelings of depression and problems with anxiety and paranoia.
Street Names: Coke, Charlie, snow, C, wash, pebbles, base.
CRYSTAL METH
Information: Crystal Meth is a stimulant drug that acts on the nervous system. Crystal Meth has long term effects that can last for up to half a day. Injecting the drug intravenously is highly addictive.
Class: Class A.
Risks: When a person takes Crystal Meth, they can experience a heightened sense of agitation, paranoia, confusion and violence. Overdosing can result in strokes, lung and kidney damage and death. Libido is also markedly increased which can lead to risky behaviour and the transmission of HIV.
Street Names: Ice, glass, Christine, yaba.
ECSTASY
Information: Ecstasy comes in a pill form and is usually taken by clubbers to stay awake and get a rush of energy. The effects of ecstasy normally take between half an hour and an hour to kick in and can last for anything up to around 6 hours.
Class: Class A.
Risks: After having taken ecstasy, you can experience a raised body temperature, tightening of the jaw muscles and dehydration. The main problem with taking ecstasy is the ‘come down' that users experience afterwards. These come downs lead to depression and psychological damage.
Street Names: E, pills, brownies, XTC.
GHB
Information: GHB stands for Gammahydroxybutyrate, a colourless liquid sold in bottles or capsules. The liquid is swallowed and causes hallucinations. GHB is commonly found in clubs where it is increasingly being used as a date rape drug.
Class: Class A.
Risks: Stiff muscles, fits, dehydration, depression. More serious risks include a suppression of the respiratory system and nausea when mixed with other drugs and alcohol. This mix can lead have fatal consequences.
Street Names: Liquid ecstasy, scoop, grievous bodily harm, G.
HEROIN
Information: Heroin is derived from Morphine and is most commonly taken by smoking or injecting it. Users warm the heroin up on silver foil and inhale the fumes. Drug users often initially begin by smoking the drug until the addiction becomes more severe. Injection is often the next step, with the user injecting a cocktail of heroin, citric acid and water into a vein.
Class: Class A.
Risks: Sedation, depression, HIV infection, collapsed veins, liver damage, rotten teeth, death.
Street Names: Smack, skooma.
MAGIC MUSHROOMS
Information: Magic Mushrooms grow wild in the UK and can be easily prepared. Once someone takes magic mushrooms, a trip similar to LSD will occur but the effects will be milder and not last as long. Users will feel high and surroundings become distorted.
Class: Class A.
Risks: Stomach pains, depression, diarrhoea, increased blood pressure, fatal poisoning.
Street Names: Shrooms, sillies, happies, magics, liberties.
POPPERS
Information: Poppers is the general term for a group of chemicals called Alkyl Nitrites. These chemicals dilate the blood vessels and allow more blood to reach the heart. Popular amongst the gay community, poppers provide a short buzz. Gay people also use poppers for relaxation purposes prior to anal sex.
Class: Class A.
Risks: Extreme headaches, fatal if swallowed, erectile dysfunction, vomiting, fainting.
Street Names: Liquid Gold, Ram, Thrust.
