Download Cedar centre drug and alcohol lesson 7 of 8 - School

Cedar centre drug and alcohol lesson 7 of 8
Focus on so called legal highs
Learning outcomes
Students will:
 know and understand: legal does not equate to safe/ numbers of YP who do
not use legal highs/some legal highs contain illegal substances or themselves
are illegal
 have explored the idea that using these drugs is like being a volunteer human
guinea-pig for people to make money
 be able to resist pressure to use so called legal highs
time
activities
Introduction
Relaxation
Ball game
Learning outcomes
On whiteboard:
The crazy chemist ‘postcard’
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crazychemist-postcard
Discuss:
Who or what is the crazy chemist? Do they look like the
person on the postcard?
resources Led
by
S
Hard
copies of
postcards
to look at
Is this postcard a good way of trying to keep people safe
from possibly harmful drugs?
Two smaller groups to assess prior knowledge:
A to Z of legal highs starter activity
5 minute challenge to come up with the most letters
completed
L and
S
Whole group
Challenging misconceptions activity
Agree--disagree continuum
L and
S
Challenging misconceptions 1:
“These drugs are legal”
Medicines legislation exists to ensure that new
chemicals can only be sold for human consumption
once they have been clinically demonstrated to be
safe. Suppliers of designer drugs avoid prosecution
under this legislation by using descriptions such as
‘bath salts’, ‘plant food’ or ‘research chemicals’.
Research has shown that products claiming to be
‘legal highs’ may in fact contain illegal drugs. For
example, chemical analysis of 17 samples claiming
to be the (then) legal drug naphyrone (NRG-1)
found that only one contained naphyrone and most
were in fact drugs which had been recently banned,
carrying a new label.2
Where a new drug is causing concern, the Home
Secretary now has the power to invoke a temporary
class drug order (an instant ban) lasting up to 12
months. Supply of drugs under these orders is
illegal. Possession is not an offence, but the drugs
may be seized and disposed of.
WWW.DRUGEDUCATIONFORUM.
Challenging misconceptions 2:
“If something is legal that means
it’s safer and OK to use.”
These chemicals have not gone through any tests to
ensure they are safe for human consumption: that is
why they are generally marketed as ‘plant food’ or
‘bath salts’. When a new drug comes on the market,
no one is sure what the health risks are, but they are
often similar to illegal drugs whose chemical
structure is closely related. For example, some
drugs similar to amphetamines can cause anxiety
and paranoia, palpitations, and over-stimulation of
the heart and nervous system which can lead to
seizures. The chances of unpleasant side effects or
serious health risks are increased if used with
alcohol or other drugs.
The brand name or label is not necessarily a reliable
guide to what chemical(s) a product contains, so
users may not know what they are taking. This can
make it difficult to judge a ‘safe’ dose. If an
overdose occurs, hospitals may find it difficult to
find out what drug has been taken and how to treat
the patient.
Challenging misconceptions 3:
“Lots of people my age are taking
these drugs.”
The likely figure of young people using legal
highs locally is around 1% or one in a
hundred
As with any other behaviour, people’s decisions
about substance use are influenced by what they
believe is normal and accepted amongst their peer
group. Research shows that young people
consistently tend to overestimate both the
prevalence of drug use and how acceptable others
their age perceive it to be. This matters because
perceptions of social norms can shape behaviour.
Including a normative element in drug education is
an effective way to challenge any such
misconceptions.
Scenarios
Out with your mates: someone offers you ‘bubble’
saying it’s legal so it’s safe
At a party: someone offers you some white powder
that they say is like cocaine but not because it is actually
‘legal’ cocaine
Exit ticket based on learning outcomes
A to Z
Alchemy
Annihilation
Banshee dust
B3
Benzo Fury
blow
Bubble
BZP
Chang
China white
Cogaine
Columbian
Crazy Cane
doves
diablo
Dimethocaine
Fairy dust
frenzy
GBL
HeX TC Gold
Ivory Wave
Kratom
Madcat
Mumbo jumbo
MDAT
Poke
Purple bomb
Purple Wave
R2 D2
Rush
Sectioned
Silly walk
Sparkle
Spice
sence
salvia divinorum,
Vanilla Sky
White mm
WTF
5-IT This drug, dubbed He-Man, has flooded the market. It mimics a powerful tranquilliser called
methoxetamine (Mexxy) but has been altered slightly to make it lawful. He-Man costs £63 for
two 500mg sachets.
Black Mamba or Karma
This legal high has been linked to serious health problems. The drug, smoked like cannabis, costs
£5.99 a gram and users are left dozy and confused. Other side effects are delirium, dehydration
and vomiting.
MPA
At £15 a gram, it is sold as bath salts and is said to emulate Mexxy. Symptoms of taking the
drug, also known as “Slush Eric”, can include anxiety, paranoia and vomiting. It can also cause
temperature spikes and heart palpitations.
Hex.Tc Gold
This drug is sold on legal high websites which boasts that it’s a brand new research chemical.
It comes in the form of gold-coloured pellets at just £8.
MDAI
Also known as Sparkle, it’s available for sale on the internet. It looks like sparkling white
crystal, is low in odour and easily soluble. It has a similar effect to ecstasy and can cause
hallucinations, as well as paranoia.
Eclipse.
Cloud 9, Nirvana Plus,
Methoxetamine
The so-called “legal high” Mary Joy Pink (which is also known as K2,
Warning, Review and Annihilation) is sold legitimately as an incense or pot
pourri
Silver Bullet.
5-IAI
Legal highs facts
Street names
Spice, sence, magic, salvia divinorum, party pills, kratom, GBL, BZP, raz,
charge, snow blow, happy caps, blessed, diablo, doves, summer haze, pep
pills, A2, nemesis, frenzy and legal E.
How they affect you
Similar effects to illegal drugs.
As well as the listed ingredients, they also contain manufactured chemicals,
which have a psychoactive (altering your mental state) effect.
Risks, signs and symptoms
Never forget, just because a substance is legal that doesn’t mean it’s safe.
You generally don’t know the mixture and quantity of the chemicals in legal
highs, so don’t know how dangerous they are.
They can be as powerful as skunk, is a very strong form of cannabis.
Salvia divinorum gives you hallucinations if you smoke or chew it. An
American teenager who used it recently committed suicide.
Party powders attempt to mimic drugs that are snorted, like cocaine. The
effects last about 30 minutes and they can cause dehydration and increased
heart rate.
Party pills may be chemically similar to amphetamines or ecstasy but are not
controlled under the law. They claim to boost energy and heighten
awareness. You shouldn’t mix these with alcohol.
Kratom has stimulant (increasing alertness and energy) though can work as a
depressant (relaxing you) for some people.
GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) is closely related to GHB, which was banned five
years ago. It is a fast-acting drug, which can be hypnotic and create a feeling
of happiness, especially when mixed with alcohol. GBL can also cause
sickness, coma and death.
BZP (benzylpiperazine) has effects similar to ecstasy, with decreased
appetite, increased heart rate and tingling skin. Effects last between four to
eight hours but you may be unable to sleep for as long as 10 hours after
taking it. It may also cause memory loss and overstimulation of the brain,
making you feel anxious and even have convulsions.
Lesson exit ticket
Legal highs
Name ……………………………
I understand that legal does not mean safe
circle the correct answer:
YES
NOT YET
NOT SURE
I know the numbers of YP who do not use legal highs ………..%
I know that some legal highs contain illegal substances like………………… or
………….
I am clear about what I think about the idea that ‘using these drugs is like being
a volunteer human guinea-pig for people to make money’
YES
NOT YET
NOT SURE
I would be able to resist pressure to use so called legal highs if offered them
YES
NOT YET
NOT SURE
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