Drugs And Legalities
Should I take drugs if I'm feeling nervous?
It's never good to take drugs, but you have to remember there's two types of drugs. There's prescribed drugs, which are drugs that have been given to you by the doctor or hospital. There are also drugs which are available on the street. Often the drugs which are available on the street can actually heighten your feeling of nervousness and make you paranoid. Obviously, it's never good to take drugs that haven't been prescribed to you, but they can often make the feelings of nerves worse, rather than better.
I've heard that cannabis has medicinal benefits. Is this true?
Whether it's true or not, cannabis is an illegal substance, and that's the thing that you have to bear in mind. It's illegal, so you can get into trouble for possessing it and for using it.
What is drug addiction?
Drug addiction is if you can't go through hours or a day without wanting to use a particular substance. It's the same with alcohol. Tobacco is a very good example where people feel they have to smoke multiple times per day.
Are all drugs addictive?
That's something that Childline isn't qualified to answer, you'd need to ask a medical, either your GP or maybe NHS, direct that question.
How do you become addicted to drugs?
With very powerful drugs, it can be one hit and then you're literally addicted. An example of that is crack cocaine and heroin. It produces, in most cases, a kind of effect that you find attractive, and then you want to get that effect again. But the truth is, often that first time is the only time that you will get such a powerful effect.
What is an overdose?
An overdose is taking more than the prescribed dose in prescribed drugs, and obviously with non-prescribed drugs there is no dosage, so it's taking enough of the drug to make you ill and sometimes to kill you.
How can I tell that someone is addicted?
If their whole life is around gaining that substance, whatever their addicted to, then you can be fairly sure someone's addicted.
What should I do if someone I know is addicted to drugs?
The best thing you can do is be there for them, let them talk to you about it, and try to get them to seek professional help. Either see their GP, maybe their school nurse, somebody that they trust, so that they can try and beat the addiction.
I'm tempted to try drugs. Will I get hooked first time?
One attempt to try a drug can put you into a spiral of wanting that drug again, so it's best not to try drugs.
How can I stop taking drugs?
You need to basically seek medical help. It's very difficult to come off drugs without professional help. You need supportive friends and the best thing to do is to remove yourself from any acquaintances, any groups of people who you used to hang out with to use drugs.
What will happen to me if I continue to take drugs?
You need to speak to somebody who is medically qualified, but most substances that you are acquiring at the street have very serious medical implications and can do a lasting damage to your body, your brain, and your ability to think. Any use is not good, but long-term use is very bad for you.
How can I know if my someone's drink has been spiked?
If you have any doubt about having left your drink for a long period of time, or you see somebody hanging around your drink, the best thing to do is not to drink from it. If you are with people, get them to watch your drink while you go away from it - maybe to the toilet or something. And if you do think, after drinking from it, that you feel strange, or not as you normally feel, then you should seek emergency medical attention.
What are the legalities around drugs?
It's best to get the information from the experts, so either the children's vehicle centre or FRANK which is the free helpline for people wanting information on drugs.
