Download Cocaine It was once seen as the illegal "drug of choice" for the rich

It was once seen as the illegal "drug of choice" for the rich and famous, but a fall in the street price in recent years has
helped turn cocaine into the most common Class A drug in Britain. Government figures suggest 5.5% of 16-24 year olds
took powder cocaine between 2009 and 2010. While use of most other illegal drugs has fallen overall - figures show that
cocaine use has actually gone up.
What exactly is it?
The drug is made from the leaves of the coca plant which grows in South America. It comes in two main forms:
 White powder - often called coke or snow - is divided into lines and snorted.
 Small lumps known as crack. This is usually smoked in a pipe or tin foil.
Both types can also be made into a solution and injected.
What are the main risks?
Cocaine, especially crack, is highly addictive - experts say users are in danger of developing a psychological dependence to
the drug.
 You can quickly built up a tolerance to the drug, so you need to take more and more to get the same high.
 The drug affects the heart, making it beat faster and causing blood pressure to rise. Researchers believe the risk of
having a heart attack increases dramatically after taking cocaine. It's thought that you're even more likely to
have a heart attack if you drink alcohol with the drug.
 Snorting too much coke can harm the nose. The tissue can weaken and die causing a hole or perforations in the
nose to develop - surgery is often required to repair this damage.
What are some of the effects?
Drugscope, a charity which provides information on drugs, says cocaine is a stimulant which kicks in quickly - but also wears
off after about 30 minutes.
 Users report feeling more confident, assertive and talkative.
 Scientists say the initial euphoria felt after taking cocaine comes from the release of the chemical dopamine in the
brain.
 Users tend to become depressed, irritable and tired as they come down from the drug.
What about the law?
Cocaine is an illegal Class A drug in Britain, so the penalties for having or selling it are severe:
 Possession - up to 7 years in prison.
 Supply - you could face life in jail if you're caught selling it.
Both offences also carry unlimited fines.
Weed, ganja, hash, pot, dope, grass, marijuana...the sheer number of nicknames this drug has should give you a pretty
good idea about how common it is. In fact, the latest government figures show that cannabis - despite being illegal - is used
by around one in six 16-24 year olds. But how much do you actually know about it? Do you know what it does to the brain?
Why do some people end up hooked?
So, how much do we know about cannabis? What exactly is it?
The drug's produced from parts of the cannabis plant, which is grown all over the world. It comes in two main forms:
 Hash is a solid lump made from the resin of the plant.
 Grass is the dried leaves and flowering parts of the plant.
What are the risks?
Getting stoned isn't necessarily the harmless pastime that some people think it is. Cannabis can lead to paranoia and
anxiety, and experts reckon using skunk is riskier because it has higher levels of tetrahydrocannabino (THC).
 THC can lower blood pressure, making the heart beat faster and increasing the risk of a heart attack.
 Anyone with a history of mental illness is at a greater risk of developing a serious psychotic condition, like
schizophrenia.
 Heavy use can lead to dependence on the drug, which makes quitting harder - sleep problems, mood swings and
loss of appetite are just some of the withdrawal symptoms.
What are some of the effects?
The main active ingredient is tetrahydrocannabino (THC). It goes straight to the brain, resulting in a so-called 'buzz':
 Many users say it helps them chill out, leaving them happy and relaxed.
 It can heighten your senses.
 The drug is also thought to have medical benefits, mainly pain relief . Some scientists also say it can help relieve
nausea in cancer patients who are having chemotherapy.
What about the law?
It's illegal to have or sell the drug in Britain. Two years ago, cannabis was upgraded from Class C to Class B. Ministers said
they had to make the change because of worries about its impact on mental health. It means getting caught with cannabis
carries some serious penalties, including unlimited fines:
 Possession - up to a maximum of five years in prison.
 Supply - if you sell it, or even give it away to your mates, you face up to 14 years in prison.
Ecstasy - it's the drug that hit headlines throughout the 1990s when it was linked to the growing clubbing and rave scene.
Latest government figures show that - despite it being the third most common illegal drug in the UK - the number of users
is falling. Around 4% of 16-24 year olds now take the drug.
What exactly is ecstasy?
Pure ecstasy is a man-made drug called MDMA - it's often nicknamed E and comes in a number of forms:
 It's commonly sold as tablets or capsules, which are swallowed. The pills vary in size, colour and shape - many have
patterns or logos on them.
 MDMA can also be sold in crystal form.
 The drug occasionally comes as a white powder which is snorted.
What are the risks?
A big problem to note is that E tablets often don't contain any MDMA (or the similar compounds MDEA, MDA or MBDB).
Experts say the pills are frequently made up of other substances such as piperazines, amphetamine or caffeine. These
ingredients may have their own side effects, but you won't know what they are until you swallow the pill. Drugscope
believes the main risks of ecstasy include:
 Feelings of anxiety, confusion or paranoia. These are more likely in users who are already feeling unstable and
those who take large doses.
 It affects the body's temperature - increasing the risk of becoming overheated and dehydrated. There have been a
number of deaths linked to non-stop dancing in hot clubs after taking ecstasy. While it's important to drink lots
of water, users are advised to drink no more than a pint an hour because too much can cause water intoxication.
 MDMA also increases the heart rate and raises blood pressure.
What are some of the effects?
The drug usually starts to kick in half an hour after it's been taken and some people say they get an "energy buzz" which can
last for up to 6 hours.
 MDMA is a stimulant that increases brain activity. Scientists have found that it causes nerve cells to release the
chemical serotonin, which can make people feel sociable and "loved up".
 Some of the people in How Drugs Work: Ecstasy said it made them more talkative and heightened their
surroundings.
 Users often report feeling flat and tired the day after taking an E - the come down can sometimes last for several
days.
What about the law?
Ecstasy is an illegal Class A drug in Britain, which means it carries the most serious drug crime penalties, including unlimited
fines:
 Possession - up to a maximum of 7 years in prison.
 Supply - if you sell it, you face life imprisonment.