Drugs

Warning

This content could be upsetting or worrying if you haven't seen or been through this before

Why people take drugs

There are lots of reasons why people take drugs. Some people try drugs because friends are doing it or to look popular in front of people. Some people think drugs can help them forget about feeling sad or hopeless, problems at home or problems at school. And some people may like the thought of doing something dangerous or illegal.

Sometimes people are forced to take drugs. Or are put under pressure to take drugs as a dare.

4 things to remember about taking drugs:

you never know exactly what’s in them
you can't be sure how they'll affect you each time you take them
drugs can have long-term side effects
some drugs are highly addictive and can be hard to stop even if you know they’re bad for you.

are they
DANGEROUS?

If you're unsure or worried about drugs, contact Childline in confidence

Feeling pressured to take drugs?

It can be hard to say 'no' to your friends, especially if they’re all doing drugs. If they're trying to get you to do something that you don't want to do, this could make you feel scared and alone.

You could try:

being assertive so you can say how you feel without being mean or pushy
finding out more about peer pressure and how you can stop it
talking to someone you trust or asking an adult for help
thinking about what feels right for you and if these friends are your true friends
talking to a counsellor for support.

the risks of taking drugs

There are always risks involved when taking any kind of drug. Some drugs can be unsafe and could make you very ill.

Here are some of the risks:

damage to your physical and mental health
becoming addicted and feeling like you can't cope without drugs
falling behind with school work
falling out with family and friends
getting into trouble with the police or involved in a crime. Find out about your rights if you're stopped and searched by the police.
being more likely to do dangerous things
overdosing or having a bad experience from what you've taken, also known as a 'bad trip'
owing money to drug dealers or gangs who may become violent if you can't pay.

Watch: Drugs and addiction

knowing there's
someone
who might be able to
help

Find out more about asking an adult for help

How to tell if you have a drug problem

Different types of drugs affect people differently.

If you have a drug problem, you might:

worry about when you'll have drugs next
depend on drugs to relax or to feel calm
use drugs to cope with some situations, for example, exam stress or family problems
find it hard to remember how much you've taken in one day
notice changes in your relationships with friends and family
notice big changes in your mood
think about drugs a lot, for example, at school or while you're out with friends
plan your social life around drugs by making sure you can take drugs where you'll be, for example, at a party or in the park.

You can talk to a counsellor who can support you, or ask an adult you trust for help.

How you can stop taking drugs

Drugs can be very addictive and stopping can sometimes be difficult.

Different things can help people in different ways.

You could try:

avoiding places or situations where there will be drugs
thinking about what makes you take drugs and how it would be to talk about this
getting rid of the drugs you have by flushing them down the toilet
finding new hobbies and interests to take your mind off drugs
finding places in your area that might offer support and treatment.

overdose - signs and what to do

Remember that emergencies are very rare. But sometimes people can have a bad reaction to drugs. They could have a bad experience and get anxious and panic. Or become overheated and dehydrated.

For immediate help call 999 for an ambulance to come. For more info in an emergency visit Talk to Frank.

Here's some advice on helping somone who is:

Anxious or scared

This can happen with cannabis, ecstasy, LSD, magic mushrooms or speed.

What to do:

sit them down in a quiet room
keep them away from crowds. bright lights and loud noises
if they're breathing very quickly, tell them to take long, slow breaths.

Really drowsy

This can happen with tranquillisers, volatile substances (which include gases, glues and aerosols) and heroin.

What to do:

sit them down in a quiet place and try to keep them awake
don't frighten them or let them do too much - it can be dangerous. A sudden fright can kill someone who is high on volatile substances
never give them coffee to wake them up
if symptoms continue, place them in the recovery position
if they don't start to become more alert, call an ambulance straight away by dialling 999.

Too hot and dehydrated

This can happen with ecstasy and speed.

What do to:

move them to a quiet, cooler place
take off excess clothing to help cool them down
give them non-alcoholic drinks like fruit juice, sports drinks or water to sip (no more than a pint an hour).

Unconscious

What to do:

dial 999 straight away for an ambulance to come
place them on their side in the recovery position
stay with them until the ambulance comes
if you know what they have taken tell the ambulance crew or, if you've found drugs, hand them over so that they may be able to tell what they're dealing with.

Different types of drugs and their effects

There are lots of different types of drugs and they can all be harmful.

Illegal drugs are described in different classes (A, B and C) depending on how unsafe they are. The harmful effects of these include feeling paranoid, depressed, dizzy, anxious, out of control or physically ill (vomiting). They can also make you feel 'high', relaxed, happy, confident and energetic.

They can affect mental and physical health. You never know how your body will react, so while 1 person might be fine, another might end up with a reaction that could harm them. By taking any type of illegal drug you are also at risk of poisoning, overdosing or dying. The find out more about different types of drugs and their effects, visit Talk to Frank

The punishment for taking, carrying, sharing or selling drugs depends on the type of drug. If the police caught you with any type of drug you could be arrested and sent to prison. You might also not be allowed to travel to certain countries like the USA or Australia. Illegal drugs are described in different 'classes' depending on how addictive or unsafe they are.

Class A, B and C drugs

Class A drugs are the most harmful and dangerous. These include:

heroin, also known as gear, smack or horse
cocaine, also known as coke, crack, charlie or snow
ecstasy, also known as E, pills, mandy, molly MDMA or XTC
crystal meth, also known as glass, tina, meth or ice
lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known as acid, lucy, mushrooms or trips.

Class B drugs are harmful and addictive. These include:

cannabis, also known as marijuana, weed, skunk, dope, pot or ganja
ketamine, also known as k, special k, vitamin k or super k
amphetamines, also known as speed, sulph, base or whizz.

Class C drugs can be harmful and unsafe. These include:

tranquilisers, also known as roofies, blues, jellies or benzos
steroids, also known as roids or juice.

Legal highs

These are substances which are meant to have similar effects as some illegal drugs. They are often easily available and sold as different names. The laws have changed to make it illegal to sell legal highs.They are made of chemicals that are often unsafe and can be just as dangerous as other illegal drugs. Find out more about legal highs.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs

Prescription drugs are drugs that you can only get from a pharmacist or hospital, with a prescription from your doctor. For example, antibiotics and asthma medication. You may need a prescribed drug for an illness or health problem. If you take more than what your doctor tells you to or if you take them without your doctor knowing, it can be unsafe. You should never take prescription medication that is meant for someone else because it may not be safe for you.

Over-the-counter drugs are drugs that can be bought from shops, supermarkets or pharmacies, for example, pills to help with aches, pain, cold and flu. If you take more than what is recommended on the pack or mix them with other drugs, this could be unsafe.

Performance enhancing drugs

These are drugs that can help with doing well in sport. Some athletes take them to improve the way they perform but this is usually seen as unfair or illegal. Sports clubs and organisations have banned these drugs and they can have dangerous effects.

Drugs to build muscle or lose weight

Drugs to gain muscle:
There are some drugs that people take to help build muscle and look bigger. The most common are anabolic steroids. They should only be prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons. It can also be dangerous if you take them without your doctor knowing. These drugs are addictive and can cause depression, anxiety and extreme tiredness. The side effects include; hair loss, severe acne, liver problems and heart attacks.

Drugs to lose weight:
There are different types of pills and drugs to help people lose weight. Some of these can be illegal or have dangerous effects. If you want to lose weight you should speak to your doctor first. There are other ways to look different that are safer than taking drugs.

It's important to remember that you can't take these types of drugs forever - they could cause damage to your mental and physical health. You might want to think of other ways to feel better about how you look, like exercising or eating in a healthier way. You could also think about other things in your life that make you happy, like spending time with friendsand hobbies or interests. For more info about eating problems visit our page.

How to help a friend with a drug problem

You could start by letting the person know that you're worried about them.

They may not realise they have a drug problem. And they might not know how their behaviour is affecting you.

It may also be embarrassing for them to talk about things like this.

If they don't want to talk to you, you could suggest they talk to someone else.

Read our advice about helping a friend.

If you take drugs or are worried about someone else who is taking drugs, you could try:

asking an adult for help, like a teacher, youth worker or family member
visiting Talk to Frank to find out more about different types of drugs and to get help
visiting NHS for support if you're a young carer for someone who has a drug problem
dialing 999 for urgent help if you or someone else is feeling ill, scared or unsafe
talking to Childline by calling free on 0800 1111 or online through 1-2-1 counsellor chat.

What to do if your parents are using drugs

It can be hard to see your mum, dad or carer with drugs.

A first step could be letting them know how their behaviour is affecting you. It might be embarrassing or scary to talk about things but it's important that you feel safe at home.

You could also try:

find a time to talk to them when they're not busy or taking drugs
suggest they talk to someone else if they don't feel comfortable talking to you
get support by asking an adult for help, like a teacher or family friend
talk to a counsellor at any time for help and support.