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I need some support

Our SMART Recovery Programme can help if you are looking to change your harmful addictive behaviour and lead a balanced and fulfilling life. Our family and Friends programme helps individuals who have a loved one struggling with addiction. For more information about our Programmes, attending a meeting and accessing training please select the appropriate link below.

SMART Recovery Programme Family & Friends Programme

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Self-Help Addiction Recovery | UK Smart Recovery

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Self-Help Addiction Recovery Programmes from UK Smart Recovery include recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling and more.

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Naloxone (provided under the brand names Prenoxad and Nyxoid in the UK) is a medication used to reverse opioid overdose. Since 2015, this medication has been more widely available in the UK as a 'take home' emergency medication.

This website aims to be a hub for information, guidance, news and research on Take Home Naloxone (THN). The main focus is on THN in the UK, although we have included select pieces of information on the supply of naloxone internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions

PHE Guidance

Public Health England have released updated guidance on take home naloxone in the UK, entiled 'Widening the Availability of Naloxone'. This can be found on the PHE website.

Substantial proportions of both community and treatment samples of drug misusers have witnessed an overdose death which could have been prevented through prior training in resuscitation techniques and administration of home-based supplies of naloxone. Such a new approach would be supported by most drug misusers. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that it is appropriate to proceed to a carefully constructed trial of naloxone distribution.

This year the Scottish Drugs Forum  #StopTheDeaths campaign highlights the role we all have in recognising and intervening when a person overdoses.

Overdose is not a rare occurrence and the difference between an overdose and a fatal overdose depends upon the immediate actions of people present at the time. You could save a life by recognising an overdose.

#StopTheDeaths images © SDF 2021

As Overdose Awareness Day approached, the millionth kit of injectable naloxone was distributed. Drink Drug News magazine looks back at the story of this lifesaving intervention.

This nonprescription availability is an important milestone for states and territories, community organizations, harm reduction advocates, those working to prevent overdose, and people at risk for overdose. State policy has evolved since the initial FDA approval of naloxone in 1971 to reduce access barriers and allow distribution to laypersons for emergency response. More than 20 years ago, harm reduction organizations spearheaded efforts to distribute naloxone to laypersons, particularly people who use drugs and their friends and families. Significant research has demonstrated naloxone is safe and effective for layperson use even with brief training.

Turning Point is calling on the government to make naloxone routinely available to the police, paramedics and the general public, as only treatment and healthcare staff are currently able to distribute the drug.

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A hub for information, guidance, news and research on Take Home Naloxone (THN). The main focus is on THN in the UK, although we have included select pieces of information on the supply of naloxone internationally.

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What is harm reduction?

Harm reduction refers to policies and practices that try to reduce the harm that people do to themselves or others from their drug use. It can be contrasted with primary prevention which tries to prevent people using drugs in the first place, or to stop them using once they've started.

Harm reduction first became a widely used term in the UK in the 1980s in response to the increasing number of cases of HIV among drug injectors and the development of syringe exchange schemes. Since then it has been developed in a number of ways including 'safer dancing' and drug testing.

Harm reduction focuses on 'safer' drug use and has also been developed as a way of educating young people about drug use, rather than telling them to 'Just Say No'.

There have been arguments over the morality of harm reduction. Some people say that it condones or promotes drug use, but people who support it say it is realistic, helps keep drug users safe and respects individual choices and freedoms. See the Position Statement from Harm Reduction International for more on this.

Harm reduction initiatives

There are a wide range of different harm reduction initiatives in place. These include:

Needle exchange schemes - providing clean and sterile needles for people who inject drugs, thereby reducing the transmission of blood borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV and enabling the safe disposal of syringes.

Drug Consumption Rooms - places where illicit drugs can be taken under the supervision of trained staff, thereby reducing the chances of overdose, disease transmission and drug related litter.

Drug testing in Clubs - conducts forensic testing of drugs at UK festivals and nightclubs and provides associated welfare support.

Providing information on safer drug use - see the guidelines below

Harm reduction guidelines

If you are going to use drugs, do not use them alone and always tell someone else what it is you have taken.

Always use clean needles and do not share injecting equipment.

Begin by using a small amount e.g. a quarter of a pill and wait a couple of hours before taking more. Or Crush, Dab, Wait - i.e. crush up any pills, dab in a wet finger to taste and then wait an hour or two. This is particular important advice now that ecstasy tablets are being found that are much stronger than they used to be. See more on this .

Don't mix drugs with other drugs including alcohol or prescription medications.

When dancing, be sure to take breaks to cool down and drink small sips of water - but don't drink more than a pint an hour.

Think about your surroundings and do not use in an unsafe place.

Never drive or use machinery after taking drugs.

Always get help if you are worried about a friend and give the medical professionals as much information as possible about the drug or drugs that were taken.

Place sleeping or unconscious friends in the recovery position

Further reading
Harm reduction research:
High time for harm reduction (1987)
Impelled by the injecting-related AIDS crisis, Merseyside was where harm reduction in the UK first took root. From there in 1987 came this ground-breaking call for a turn away from what was seen as a failed attempt to prevent use to mitigating the harm. Expressed modestly as a "prudent" suggestion, with Russell Newcombe's essay, "harm reduction" had come of age. You can also see the original Druglink article (PDF).

Key harm reduction reports and journals

The Global State of Harm Reduction (2020)
The Global State of Harm Reduction is the only report that provides an independent analysis of harm reduction in the world. Now in its the seventh edition, it is the most comprehensive global mapping of harm reduction responses to drug use, HIV and viral hepatitis | HRI, UK

Room for improvement: How drug consumption rooms save lives (PDF) (2019)
A report by Jarryd Bartle, a drug policy consultant and university lecturer, calls for Britain to introduce life-saving Drug Consumption Rooms | Adam Smith Institute, UK

Issue Brief: The Case for Supervised Consumption Services (2017)
This brief sets out the arguments for safe consumption rooms | amfAR, USA

Drug consumption rooms: an overview of provision and evidence (Perspectives on drugs) (2018)
This briefing from The EMCDDA provides the following: An analysis of drug consumption rooms: an overview of provision and evidence; a v ideo of drug consumption rooms; f acts and figures on their use; and a s ervice model for a supervised drug consumption facility | EMCDDA, Portugal

Safer drug consumption facilities: A briefing paper (2021) | Scottish Government, UK

Scottish Affairs Committee calls for decriminalisation and safe drug consumption room (2019)

Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) Fact Sheet
Briefing from the CDC on the benefits of needle exchange services | CDC, USA

Finding a Needle in a Haystack: Take-Home Naloxone in England 2017/18
This report updates Release's previous reporting on ' Take-home Naloxone in England: 2016/17 ' and presents novel findings on take-home naloxone provision in custodial settings, such as in prisons, across England for the period 2017/18 | Release, UK

Guidance: Widening the availability of naloxone (2019)
Naloxone is the emergency antidote for overdoses caused by heroin and other opiates/opioids (such as methadone and morphine) | DoH et al, UK

Harm Reduction Journal This open access publication publishes research focusing on the prevalent patterns of psychoactive drug use, the public policies meant to control them, and the search for effective methods of reducing the adverse medical, public health, and social consequences associated with both drugs and drug policies.

See also the Harm Reduction page of DrugWise's I-Know Knowlege hub.
Updated January 2022

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What is harm reduction? Harm reduction refers to policies and practices that try to reduce the harm that people do to themselves or others from their drug use. It can be contrasted with primary pre...

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Downloads are all free, however licencing restrictions apply. There are no 'hard copies' of the Drugs Wheel - however the files below are scalable and will print at high resolution at any size. Please get in touch if you would like a version of the Drugs Wheel for your language or country, use the contact form to ask for the translation template.

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The Drugs Wheel: a new model for substance awareness

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The Drugs Wheel by Mark Adley is a new model for substance awareness

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This is the default web hosting holding page. If you see this page it means:

Hosting for this domain name is not configured

This domain name has only just been registered

The website owner has not uploaded their website

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This is the default web hosting holding page. If you see this page it means: Hosting for this domain name is not configured This domain name has only just been registered The website owner has not uploaded their website

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CADMHAS - Conwy and Denbighshire mental health advocacy 

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CADMHAS - Conwy and Denbighshire mental health advocacy 

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The last twelve months have brought many challenges and opportunities for CADMHAS, with an expansion of roles and reach. Elfed Williams, Director of CADMHAS commented: "CADMHAS has experienced considerable growth over the past year. In addition to previously offering our service in Conwy and Denbighshire, after a successful tender process, we are now offering IMCA [...]

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We provide a quality Mental Health Advocacy Service which enables vulnerable people and their carers to have a voice to safeguard their health and wellbeing.

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Just over an hour long - it is old ish but gives a very good understanding of DMT 

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Just over an hour long - it is old ish but gives a very good understanding of DMT 

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DMT: The Spirit Molecule (2010) [multi subs]

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Believe in children | Children’s charity

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Barnardo’s is a children’s charity that protects and supports children and young people in the UK who need us. We help bring out the best in them.

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The Wallich website - help with homeless

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The Wallich website - help with homeless

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The Wallich | Welsh Homelessness and rough sleeping Charity

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The Wallich is Wales' leading homelessness and rough sleeping charity. The Wallich supports more than 7,000 people experiencing homelessness per year.

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Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline

Calls made to 0800 or 0808 phone numbers are free for all UK landline and mobile phones.

Dan 24/7 telephone number will NOT appear on your home itemised bill.

Getting help is the first step

Talking to somebody about your drug or alcohol problem is the first step to resolving your problems. You can call DAN 24/7 on 0808 808 2234 anytime day or night and we will give you help and advice.

If you'd rather look for an agency online then you can search through our online database of drug and alcohol agencies where you can find National and Local agencies that will be able to help you.

Remember, anything you tell DAN 24/7 or any agency you contact is confidential and you won't even need to give your real name.
For support with gambling addiction, please visit the Gamcare website

Naloxone Click and Deliver

Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. We now offer a click and deliver service to any address in Wales.
Order here

Drugs Meter

Take the drugs meter, objective feedback on your drug use that allows you to compare your use against thousands of people across the globe.
Drugs Meter (opens in a new window)

Hide

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DAN 247 - Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline

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Dan 24/7 is a free and confidential drugs helpline

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Harm reduction information and contact details 

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Harm reduction information and contact details 

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Red Cross teaching packs to help build resilience and much more  

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Red Cross teaching packs to help build resilience and much more  

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Boost students wellbeing and build resilience by celebrating the power of kindness. Children and young people are encouraged to learn about and practise kind acts with our range of kindness resources. They will learn the importance of being kind to others as well as themselves. It also explores resilience as kindness can help us to cope with any challenges and changes.

Don't miss out

Sign up to our mailing list and receive new teaching resources, newsworthy resource packages, and information about educational offline and online products straight to your inbox.

Keep children and young people entertained during the summer holidays with the summer of kindness calendar.

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Kindness and welbeing teaching resources

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Free, engaging online resources for children and young people to boost their wellbeing by exploring and promoting the value of kindness.

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Essential support for under 25s

Whether you're experimenting with drink and drugs for the first time, you need to know how to help a friend, or you're just looking for information, we've got you covered. This page is here to offer non-judgemental support and to empower you to make the right choices for yourself.

Find support for drink and drugs

We're not your parents so we won't tell you not to drink or do drugs (even the illegal ones), but we can help you to get informed on what you're putting into your body.

Any alcohol or drug that's going into your system is going to affect it. This page will give you the good, the bad and the ugly - no holding back. From health problems and withdrawal symptoms to the positives of a really good trip, this is your one-stop shop for all things substance related.

Breaking the stigma around seeking support

Young people have told The Mix that the stigma around drink and drugs would prevent them from asking for support. We want to break down that stigma and make issues such as drug use and addiction ok to talk about. Our support services are always there to listen and to talk about any challenge and we'll never judge the things you tell us.

If you need support for drugs or alcohol, get in touch with our team today.

Coping with a comedown

The high can be so goddamn high that it might make you forget about reality for a while. Unfortunately, that reality is waiting for you as soon as you come down. After a high, a comedown is the last thing you want to experience. But, as Newton said - what goes up, must come down, it's basic gravity. Don't worry though, we'll help you through it.

What's addiction?

Addiction is a compulsion to use a substance, or persist with certain behaviour to ensure you feel good - or to avoid feeling crappy. An addiction falls into two categories: physical and psychological. It doesn't even have to be a serious problem to be classed as an addiction. There are different severities of addiction, which means you can be anywhere on the spectrum; from 'mild addiction' to 'serious addiction'.

Physical addiction

This occurs after you take a substance so much it actually alters your body's chemistry. This means your body develops a hunger for this drug that you have to keep feeding. If you don't, your body goes into withdrawal and you get all kinds of nasty symptoms until you feed it again.

Psychological addiction

This is when your brain gets hooked to a particular substance or behaviour that 'rewards' it, i.e., makes you feel good. An addicted brain can actually produce physical manifestations of withdrawal, including cravings, irritability, insomnia, and depression. The mind is truly a powerful thing.

When it comes to alcohol, nicotine and illegal drugs, it's possible to develop either a physical addiction, psychological addiction, or a mixture of both. Find out more here.

What's a drug relapse?

If you have challenges with addiction, getting sober is a journey and a half. There's bound to be temptation along the way and you may have a drugs relapse. But this isn't a reason to freak out and brand yourself a failure. Relapsing is very common and something you can learn from.

It's important to distinguish between a 'lapse' and a 'relapse', and not give up hope of recovery just because you've lapsed once. A lapse is a one-off occasion where you indulge in drink/drugs whereas a relapse is where it becomes a regular thing. Find out more here.

What are the different classes of drugs?

Class A drugs

Class B drugs

Amphetamines (speed), cannabis, codeine.

Maximum penalties: five years in prison and/or a fine for possession, 14 years in prison and/or a fine for possession with intent to supply.

Class C drugs

Ketamine, some tranquillisers like Temazepam, the supply of anabolic steroids;

Maximum penalties: two years in prison and/or a fine for possession, 14 years prison and/or a fine for possession with intent to supply.

Find out more here.

How can I drink safely?

Drink plenty of water, especially in between drinks. Pacing yourself is a good way to practice safe drinking. A pint of water before you crash on the couch can also see off any headaches.

Eat well before you drink and your body will be prepped to soak the alcohol up. Go for food that takes a long time to digest, such as bread, cheese, potato and pasta (you're welcome). These will line your stomach and lessen the pain the next morning.

Find out more here.

Our partners

The Mix would like to thank the CHK Foundation, who funded this project, and the Amy Winehouse Foundation for their support and guidance.

The Mix. Registered charity number: 1048995

Welcome to The Mix, a support service for young people. There are loads of ways you can get support from us, including our articles, videos, helpline, counselling, forums, apps and more. To find which service suits your needs use the drop down menu below.

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Drink and Drugs | Facts & Information | The Mix

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Our drink and drugs hub provides lots of free, unbiased articles and advice on drink and drugs for under 25s in the UK.

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Silver cloud online free 12 week course for over 16+ in Wales

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Silver cloud online free 12 week course for over 16+ in Wales

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People across Wales can access free online therapywithout needing to go through their GP.

People aged 16 and over experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, depression or stress can sign-up for a 12-week course of SilverCloud online therapy via their smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

We have launched a partnership with south Gwynedd based charity Tan y Maen to help more people access the courses.

The roll-out of direct access to online therapy for Wales' entire 16+ population recognises that people need immediate help in managing their mental health and wellbeing as the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt, and reduces barriers to accessing this support.

To find out more about SIlverCloud please navigate to the information below or download our Self-Referral Guide.

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SilverCloud - Free online mental health therapy

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People across Wales can access free online therapywithout needing to go through their GP. People aged 16 and over experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, depression or stress can sign-up for a 12-week course of SilverCloud online therapy via their smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

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cannabis edibles how they are digested - american however, good quick over view 

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cannabis edibles how they are digested - american however, good quick over view 

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The pros and cons associated with cannabis edibles | Your Morning

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Clip from session on protective factors and how important they can be 

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Clip from session on protective factors and how important they can be 

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On this page has the 6 SMS accross north wales if you contact them and ask for harm reduction they can then help bridge that gap 

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On this page has the 6 SMS accross north wales if you contact them and ask for harm reduction they can then help bridge that gap 

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Eating Well Alcohol, Drugs and Smoking Best Start Hub - Preconception, Pregnancy, Early Years and Family Mental Health Hub Sexual Health Advice Screening Health in the community Help with my Weight Vaccinations Seasonal Information More...

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Drug Checking Find Out More Frequently Asked Questions Test a Substance Join Our Mailing List About Drug Checking Our Laboratory Methods City Centre Drug Checking

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Links to some worksheets you may find useful 

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Links to some worksheets you may find useful 

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European overview of drug consumption rooms 

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European overview of drug consumption rooms 

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Naloxone which is what is used for opiate overdoeses as mentioned in the clip 

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Naloxone which is what is used for opiate overdoeses as mentioned in the clip 

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Also, they have been doing click and collect in some areas during lockdown if people cant get access to it

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Naloxone (provided under the brand names Prenoxad and Nyxoid in the UK) is a medication used to reverse opioid overdose. Since 2015, this medication has been more widely available in the UK as a 'take home' emergency medication.

This website aims to be a hub for information, guidance, news and research on Take Home Naloxone (THN). The main focus is on THN in the UK, although we have included select pieces of information on the supply of naloxone internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions

PHE Guidance

Public Health England have released updated guidance on take home naloxone in the UK, entiled 'Widening the Availability of Naloxone'. This can be found on the PHE website.

Substantial proportions of both community and treatment samples of drug misusers have witnessed an overdose death which could have been prevented through prior training in resuscitation techniques and administration of home-based supplies of naloxone. Such a new approach would be supported by most drug misusers. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that it is appropriate to proceed to a carefully constructed trial of naloxone distribution.

This year the Scottish Drugs Forum  #StopTheDeaths campaign highlights the role we all have in recognising and intervening when a person overdoses.

Overdose is not a rare occurrence and the difference between an overdose and a fatal overdose depends upon the immediate actions of people present at the time. You could save a life by recognising an overdose.

#StopTheDeaths images © SDF 2021

As Overdose Awareness Day approached, the millionth kit of injectable naloxone was distributed. Drink Drug News magazine looks back at the story of this lifesaving intervention.

This nonprescription availability is an important milestone for states and territories, community organizations, harm reduction advocates, those working to prevent overdose, and people at risk for overdose. State policy has evolved since the initial FDA approval of naloxone in 1971 to reduce access barriers and allow distribution to laypersons for emergency response. More than 20 years ago, harm reduction organizations spearheaded efforts to distribute naloxone to laypersons, particularly people who use drugs and their friends and families. Significant research has demonstrated naloxone is safe and effective for layperson use even with brief training.

Turning Point is calling on the government to make naloxone routinely available to the police, paramedics and the general public, as only treatment and healthcare staff are currently able to distribute the drug.

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A hub for information, guidance, news and research on Take Home Naloxone (THN). The main focus is on THN in the UK, although we have included select pieces of information on the supply of naloxone internationally.

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This is the tailer for a film about County lines, the link to the film is the comments 

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This is the tailer for a film about County lines, the link to the film is the comments 

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Thank you Ian for sending it over

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New trailer for County Lines - on digital and in cinemas 4 December | BFI

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Fentanyl: The synthetic opioid being bought on darknet - BBC News

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Article on drugs use and addiction - american easy to read. Some outdated terminology such as misuse and abuse 

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Article on drugs use and addiction - american easy to read. Some outdated terminology such as misuse and abuse 

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What is drug addiction?

Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs.

Addiction is a lot like other diseases, such as heart disease. Both disrupt the normal, healthy functioning of an organ in the body, both have serious harmful effects, and both are, in many cases, preventable and treatable. If left untreated, they can last a lifetime and may lead to death.

Modified with permission from Volkow et al. 1993.

Note: These PET scans compare the brain of an individual with a history of cocaine use disorder (middle and right) to the brain of an individual without a history of cocaine use (left). The person who has had a cocaine use disorder has lower levels of the D2 dopamine receptor (depicted in red) in the striatum one month (middle) and four months (right) after stopping cocaine use compared to the non-user. The level of dopamine receptors in the brain of the cocaine user are higher at the 4-month mark (right), but have not returned to the levels observed in the non-user (left).

Why do people take drugs?

In general, people take drugs for a few reasons:

To feel good. Drugs can produce intense feelings of pleasure. This initial euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ with the type of drug used. For example, with stimulants such as cocaine, the high is followed by feelings of power, self-confidence, and increased energy. In contrast, the euphoria caused by opioids such as heroin is followed by feelings of relaxation and satisfaction.

To feel better. Some people who suffer from social anxiety, stress, and depression start using drugs to try to feel less anxious. Stress can play a major role in starting and continuing drug use as well as relapse (return to drug use) in patients recovering from addiction.

To do better. Some people feel pressure to improve their focus in school or at work or their abilities in sports. This can play a role in trying or continuing to use drugs, such as prescription stimulants or cocaine.

Curiosity and social pressure. In this respect, teens are particularly at risk because peer pressure can be very strong. Adolescence is a developmental period during which the presence of risk factors, such as peers who use drugs, may lead to substance use.

If taking drugs makes people feel good or better, what's the problem?

When they first use a drug, people may perceive what seem to be positive effects. They also may believe they can control their use. But drugs can quickly take over a person's life. Over time, if drug use continues, other pleasurable activities become less pleasurable, and the person has to take the drug just to feel "normal." They have a hard time controlling their need to take drugs even though it causes many problems for themselves and their loved ones. Some people may start to feel the need to take more of a drug or take it more often, even in the early stages of their drug use. These are the signs of an addiction.

Even relatively moderate drug use poses dangers. Consider how a social drinker can become intoxicated, get behind the wheel of a car, and quickly turn a pleasurable activity into a tragedy that affects many lives. Occasional drug use, such as misusing an opioid to get high, can have similarly disastrous effects, including impaired driving and overdose.

Do people choose to keep using drugs?

The initial decision to take drugs is typically voluntary. But with continued use, a person's ability to exert self-control can become seriously impaired. This impairment in self-control is the hallmark of addiction.

Brain imaging studies of people with addiction show physical changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decision-making, learning and memory, and behavior control. These changes help explain the compulsive nature of addiction.

No single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs.

Why do some people become addicted to drugs, while others do not?

As with other diseases and disorders, the likelihood of developing an addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. In general, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs will lead to drug use and addiction. Protective factors, on the other hand, reduce a person's risk. Risk and protective factors may be either environmental or biological.

What biological factors increase risk of addiction?

Biological factors that can affect a person's risk of addiction include their genes, stage of development, and even gender or ethnicity. Scientists estimate that genes, including the effects environmental factors have on a person's gene expression, called epigenetics, account for between 40 and 60 percent of a person's risk of addiction. Also, teens and people with mental disorders are at greater risk of drug use and addiction than others.

Children's earliest interactions within the family are crucial to their healthy development and risk for drug use.

What environmental factors increase the risk of addiction?

Environmental factors are those related to the family, school, and neighborhood. Factors that can increase a person's risk include the following:

Home and Family. The home environment, especially during childhood, is a very important factor. Parents or older family members who use drugs or misuse alcohol, or who break the law, can increase children's risk of future drug problems.

Peer and School. Friends and other peers can have an increasingly strong influence during the teen years. Teens who use drugs can sway even those without risk factors to try drugs for the first time. Struggling in school or having poor social skills can put a child at further risk for using or becoming addicted to drugs.

What other factors increase the risk of addiction?

Early use. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, research shows that the earlier people begin to use drugs, the more likely they are to develop serious problems. This may be due to the harmful effect that drugs can have on the developing brain. It also may result from a mix of early social and biological risk factors, including lack of a stable home or family, exposure to physical or sexual abuse, genes, or mental illness. Still, the fact remains that early use is a strong indicator of problems ahead, including addiction.

How the drug is taken. Smoking a drug or injecting it into a vein increases its addictive potential. Both smoked and injected drugs enter the brain within seconds, producing a powerful rush of pleasure. However, this intense high can fade within a few minutes. Scientists believe this powerful contrast drives some people to repeatedly use drugs to recapture the fleeting pleasurable state.

Images of Brain Development in Healthy Children and Teens (Ages 5-20)

As the brain matures, experiences prune excess neural connections while strengthening those that are used more often. Many scientists think that this process contributes to the steady reduction in gray matter volume seen during adolescence (depicted as the yellow to blue transition in the figure). As environmental forces help determine which connections will wither and which will thrive, the brain circuits that emerge become more efficient. However, this is a process that can cut both ways because not all patterns of behavior are desirable or healthy. The environment is like an artist who creates a sculpture by chipping away excess marble; and just like bad artists can produce bad art, environments with negative factors (like drugs, malnutrition, bullying, or sleep deprivation) can lead to efficient but potentially harmful circuits that conspire against a person's well-being.

The brain continues to develop into adulthood and undergoes dramatic changes during adolescence.

One of the brain areas still maturing during adolescence is the prefrontal cortex-the part of the brain that allows people to assess situations, make sound decisions, and keep emotions and desires under control. The fact that this critical part of a teen's brain is still a work in progress puts them at increased risk for trying drugs or continuing to take them. Introducing drugs during this period of development may cause brain changes that have profound and long-lasting consequences.

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Drug Misuse and Addiction | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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What is drug addiction? Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.† It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control.

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Great to pin up on notice boards or compile to make mini books to use with clients.

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Drug issue infographics Please feel free to download and share these infographics. Please note that they are in the process of being updated. Drug factsheets Please feel free to download and share ...

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Flintshire Sorted Young People's Drug and Alcohol Team is part of the Integrated Youth Provision and sits within the Education and Youth portfolio of Flintshire County Council. We provide a comprehensive service to children and young people up to the age of 22-years-old and aim to minimise the risk of drug and alcohol related harm to individuals, families and the community.

Flintshire Sorted incorporate prevention work within schools and the community, as well as targeted work for those young people at increased risk of misusing substances. Furthermore, a therapeutic service is available for individuals and small groups of young people, whose substance use is having a negative impact upon daily functioning and mental health.

Our Team work collaboratively with young people to identify individual need and tailor an intervention to best meet that need as well as aiming to improve resilience and future aspirational outcomes.Flintshire Sorted offers consultation and guidance to young people, parents and professionals and will deliver bespoke training packages on request.

WE ARE STILL TAKING REFERRALS DESPITE THE CURRENT RESTRICTION DUE TO COVID-19.
For advice , support or referrals contact 01352 703490
sorted@flintshire.gov.uk

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Flintshire Sorted work with young people to minimise the impact of drug, alcohol and substance related harm on young people, their families and the community.

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A visual tool used to assess the individual as a whole to take an holistic approach. Looking at all areas of their life, rather than solely focusing on the substance use, may help identify areas for additional support to improve coping stratgeies.

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Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you’re looking for and rewards you.

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My Star tool used to help build resilience in children.

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My Star tool used to help build resilience in children.

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'I was addicted to prescription drugs' - BBC Newsnight

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Structured recovery programme for over 18's who are in recovery and need support 

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Structured recovery programme for over 18's who are in recovery and need support 

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This was one of the recent surveys that took place during lock down in relation to the substances people took. 

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This was one of the recent surveys that took place during lock down in relation to the substances people took. 

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The Global Drug Survey has just published the final report on its Special Edition on COVID-19 which was developed as part of a global effort to better understand the impact of the pandemic on people's lives with a specific focus on the use of alcohol and other drugs, mental health and relationships. Over 55,000 people took part. The survey ran for 7 weeks in (May - June 2020).

This blog post concentrates on the findings relating to the 2,136 Brits who took part. GDS surveys are very different from other drugs research such as the Crime Survey for England and Wales because they are typically completed by regular, mainly recreational, drug users, most of them young and many of them well-educated.

Alcohol

Almost half (48%) survey respondents said they had increased the amount of alcohol they drank during the pandemic with just over a quarter (27%) reducing their intake and another quarter (26%) drinking at the same level as before. Men were slightly more likely than women to increase their alcohol consumption. Respondents also said that they were much more likely to drink alcohol alone than before the pandemic. Of course, going out to drink socially at pubs, clubs and parties was not possible during lockdown.

The data for people taking a range of illegal drugs reveals some trends that we might have expected:

A considerable proportion of respondents increased their use of cannabis (44%), prescription benzodiazepines (34%) and prescription opioids (28%).

Similarly, many people cut down their use of cocaine (52%), MDMA (50%) and ketamine (45%).

Full details are shown in the chart below.

The survey also asked about respondents' mental health and the data showing the reasons for people using more cannabis are broken down into those with and without mental health conditions.

Overall a majority of respondents felt that the pandemic had not affected the purity of drugs (84%) nor the range of drugs available 76%). A small majority (55%) thought that drugs were less available. There were different experiences about the price of drugs with a majority (69%) saying they had found no change while a substantial minority (29%) said prices had increased.

While about half of respondents (48) said they bought their drugs in their usual fashion, others had adapted to the restrictions in a number of ways, set out in detail below.

It will be interesting to see whether these changes in patterns of consumption are maintained, particularly if the country faces another extended period of lockdown as many fear.
Thanks to ThoughtCatalog for permission to use the header image which was originally published on Unsplash.

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Drug And Alcohol Use Through The Pandemic

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The Global Drug Survey has just published the final report on its Special Edition on COVID-19 which was developed as part of a global effort to better understand the impact of the pandemic on people's lives with a specific focus on the use of alcohol and other drugs, mental health and relationships.

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The growing problem of patients addicted to prescription drug

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Good read on recent domestic violence and prescribed drugs

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Good read on recent domestic violence and prescribed drugs

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Prescribed Opioid Misuse Indicator

ReWire uses a software tool to assess risk across a patient population and then the Prescribed Opioid Misuse Indicator (POMI) questionnaire to establish individual risk. What made the approach unique was, we were initially funded to provide some dedicated psychosocial support to supplement the usual GP appointments, and it quickly became clear that patients appreciated the additional time to discuss their concerns and the structured support sessions that were available. Initially, we were not focused on the domestic abuse possibilities; that awareness came later, as we were sharing our experience and picking up on further research.

The risks of prescribed medication

There is a need to get the message out to criminal justice professionals, domestic abuse teams and other health and social care organisations about the real risks to health and wellbeing associated with prescribed medication. It is worth re-iterating, 1 in 4 of the population is prescribed potentially addictive medication. It is also clear from research and our own work that prescribing levels tend to be higher in more deprived communities. Post COVID, there will be less opportunities for the 'face-to-face' conversations where individuals can build relationships of trust where they become more likely to disclose their concerns, be it about abuse or misuse, so a more intelligence-led and proactive approach to raising these issues will have to be found. Early indications are that prescription levels are going up, and with them, the potential for problems to arise.

The importance of support

There are no easy solutions to these issues, and there is a need for further research. There is also a need for action, and one of the clearest messages coming through our ReWire work is that the individuals identified as being at risk often had concerns, and, with a little support, are capable of making significant positive changes. Making one successful change can often be the catalyst for other changes. Simple actions that any professional can take include raising the subject of prescribed medication with service users, and having an awareness of the support which is available, both locally, and increasingly online.

Over the years, this issue has become a passion for us. We have seen the difference that can be made to individuals and their families (for this is often a family issue). The threats from prescribed medication are often almost invisible, hidden in plain sight. Hopefully, this will begin to change, as so many things are changing at this hugely challenging time.

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Domestic Abuse And The Misuse Of Prescribed Medication

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ReWire uses a software tool to assess risk across a patient population and then the Prescribed Opioid Misuse Indicator (POMI) questionnaire to establish individual risk. What made the approach unique was, we were initially funded to provide some dedicated psychosocial support to supplement the usual GP appointments, and it quickly became clear that patients appreciated the additional time to discuss their concerns and the structured support sessions that were available.

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Some good resources on this website

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Hide

Sign up to our monthly newsletter, sharing our latest updates, events, podcasts, articles, campaigns and more, here.

Our aim is to support anyone who is ready to change and to make a difference to their own lives or the lives of others.

This means providing high-quality, free and confidential support and guidance to anyone who is affected by drug or alcohol use, either their own or someone else's; and raising awareness about the ways we can all help to reduce the harm caused by substance use.

Barod helped me improve my knowledge around drugs and alcohol and helped to improve my relationship with my mum.

Basically you've saved my life. You've got me through things that I wouldn't have attempted on my own. The support and help was there every time I needed it.

Being involved with family therapy has made a massive difference to me and my family.

You are ace. You are actually ace. It's really good to talk it all through with someone who understands.

Being involved with family therapy has made a massive difference to myself and my family.

The best thing about Barod is how they embrace the good in everyone, truly inspirational. Life changing, in fact.

Join Us

Working for Barod is more than just a job.

We have positions available across South and West Wales that will give you the chance to make a difference to people's lives.

See our Work with Us page for the current vacancies

Find Out More

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Barod is the Welsh word for 'Ready' Our aim is to support anyone who is ready to change and to make a difference to their own lives or the lives of others. This means providing high-quality, free and confidential support and guidance to anyone who is affected by drug or alcohol use, either their own ...

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Dewis - search for substance misuse services - 88 come up across Wales 

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Dewis - search for substance misuse services - 88 come up across Wales 

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Drinking Lean: The Codeine Based Drink Associated With Hip Hop Culture

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Another good website that you can download posters or order pocket sized materials. 

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Another good website that you can download posters or order pocket sized materials. 

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Good website with some free posters on drugs 

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Good website with some free posters on drugs 

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Drug Education

What are the different types of drugs?

Most people think about heroin, cocaine or cannabis when they think about drug abuse, but other substances can be involved in drug addiction, including over the counter and prescription medicine.

It is illegal to possess drugs, with criminal penalties for those caught in possession, including Class A (such as heroin) and Class B drugs (such as cannabis).

How do drugs affect the human body?

Different types of drugs affect you in different ways. There can be both physical and psychological effects that can be long-term.

How certain drugs affect you depends on body size, general health, the amount and strength of the substance, if using any other drugs at the same time, and if you have a tolerance built up to a specific drug.

* Depressants slow the function of the central nervous system.
* Hallucinogens distort your sense of reality.
* Stimulants speed or 'stimulate' the central nervous system.

With drugs in your system, you are more likely to have accidents, commit sexual or violent assaults, become angry, be vulnerable to assaults, lose your inhibitions, and are at risk with your safety. Taking drugs can affect memory, thought processes, eating and sleeping habits. Over time, they damage the kidneys, brain, stomach, lungs, heart, and liver. Drugs will also negatively affect your physical appearance.

Learn more about how smoking affects the body at Drugs and The Body

What is addiction?

Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking, or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you. If you need treatment for drug addiction, you're entitled to NHS care in the same way as anyone else who has a health problem.

Addiction can negatively impact your relationships, work, health and wellbeing and financial security. Using illegal drugs and/or driving under the influence can lead to trouble with the law.

How do I know if it's addiction?

Usually, there will be tell-tale signs that someone is addicted to a substance such as:

* A strong desire to take the drug
* Keep taking the drug although you know it is harmful
* Having cravings
* Mood swings
* Loss of interest in non-drug-related activities
* Repeated failed attempts to quit
* Needing more to get the same feeling - tolerance
* Engaging in risky behaviour

What supports are there for addiction?

Treatment for drug addiction includes talking therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), treatment with medicines, and detox. Local support groups may also benefit drug users and their families or carers.

Addiction is often linked to mental health illnesses, so visiting your GP or mental health professional is a good idea.

NHS has a list of support services here.

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Drug Addiction | How do drugs affect the body? | AnatomyStuff

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Drug addiction and how drugs can affect your body. Where to find help & support. Types of drugs- read it all here in this free resource.

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New threat on county lines due to COVID-19

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New threat on county lines due to COVID-19

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Arecent report from Crest Advisory questions the received wisdom that the threat from county lines operated by organised crime groups (OCGs) and gangs would reduce because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Crest argues that the picture appears to be far more complex. The gangs who operate county lines have always proven highly versatile and adaptable, and they are now embracing new tactics to protect a lucrative business.

Significant reductions in the number of children reported missing from home or care have been cited as evidence that exploitation through county lines has reduced due to the lockdown. On the surface this makes sense, as it seems obvious that exploitation of vulnerable children and in county lines drugs networks may be easier to disrupt during the COVID-19 lockdown due to increased visibility of young people in public spaces or on public transport.

However, there are several reasons that this should be treated with caution.

Some boroughs are reporting a noticeable increase in the length of missing episodes during lockdown, possibly because young people transported to trap houses are having to stay there for longer due to increased demand and lockdown restrictions.

The move towards local recruitment means that in assessing whether children are being exploited in county lines during lockdown, we should pay as much attention to vulnerable children in the 'county bases' as those going missing from the 'home bases'.

Rescue Response also say that young people are also being provided with taxis via apps (such as Uber, Bolt and Kapten) in order to make longer journeys. Taxis continue to be used by dealers and networks for deliveries.

Given that there is still demand for Class A drugs - and that by retreating from the market, even temporarily, gangs risk ceding territory to rival groups - those who operate lucrative county lines will naturally seek to change the patterns of recruitment and exploitation and embrace new methods of transport, distribution and retail rather than putting their drugs lines on furlough.

The charity Missing People, who have been engaging with the police in different regions since the lockdown began, have told us that there is evidence of increased drug dealing in 'liminal spaces' such as railway land, car parks and abandoned industrial buildings. The decreased visibility of young people involved in drug dealing may not paint the full picture.

© Crest Advisory

Whilst many of the tactics and 'swerves' adopted by the OCGs and gangs who run county lines seem likely to be time-limited to the COVID-19 lockdown, others may endure, helping gangs to refine their model post-COVID 19. Crest's conversations with police, children's services practitioners and experts indicate that the lockdown is accelerating and refining the use of tactics and tools which allow older gang members to groom and exploit vulnerable young people and professionalise the marketing and distribution of their products - whilst also creating greater distance between themselves and the dealing bases. The money flows back up the line, whilst the risk travels downward.

The shift in the consumer economy from the high street to online delivery for both food and consumer durable goods presents an opportunity for drug lines to operate covertly both in terms of resupplying local bases and delivering drugs to consumers. This has been a growing feature of the drug market over recent years and is likely to accelerate. Runners and dealers disguised as key workers and supermarket workers have been reported during lockdown, but the pre-COVID tactic of using fast food delivery drivers and white van drivers is likely to become increasingly important during and after COVID, allowing drugs lines to operate in plain sight.

With a cohort of young people isolated, bored and impoverished by lockdown, there is a danger that as restrictions start to lift, gangs will find a new generation of recruits for a new, professionalised local franchise model of county lines.

Crest asks whether law enforcement and protective services for children can respond to rapidly evolving models of exploitation through county lines. To do so, there will need to be a system for seamlessly sharing data across borders and agencies and disrupting grooming and criminality that has migrated from the streets to encrypted apps. It will also mean a radically new approach to prevention, working with schools, pupil referral units and providers of alternative provision for those outside of mainstream education.

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County Lines After COVID - A New Threat?

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Arecent report from Crest Advisory questions the received wisdom that the threat from county lines operated by organised crime groups (OCGs) and gangs would reduce because of the COVID-19 lockdown. Crest argues that the picture appears to be far more complex.

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Mum Unable To Walk After Inhaling Nitrous Oxide

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This has info on circle of change and readiness ruler

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This has info on circle of change and readiness ruler

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Online Drug Guide to help identify substances  

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Online Drug Guide to help identify substances  

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Drugs Archive - Partnership to End Addiction

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Easy to read lots of various drug information 

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Easy to read lots of various drug information 

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Other Resources

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies in human volunteers conducted to answer specific health questions. Learn about the NIDA-sponsored clinical trials available to you

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Parents & Educators | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Find science-based education materials and conversation starters to educate young people about drug use and health.

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Good website to help increase awareness of assessment tools. 

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Good website to help increase awareness of assessment tools. 

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Getting help NHS and other links on website 

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Getting help NHS and other links on website 

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If you have a problem with drugs, there's a wide range of services that can help.

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New legislation about sobriety tags also they use AUDIT which is part of the SMART website for screening

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New legislation about sobriety tags also they use AUDIT which is part of the SMART website for screening

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Yesterday (19 May 2020) new legislation came into force which means that people who commit commit alcohol-fuelled crime may be banned from drinking and made to wear "sobriety tags".

The ankle tags, which are to be rolled out across England and Wales, perform around-the-clock monitoring of an offender's sweat to determine whether alcohol has been consumed. If they drink - breaching their alcohol abstinence order - they can be returned to court for further sanctions. These might range from a fine, extending the length of the order or in some cases imprisonment.

It follows two pilots, one across Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire, and another in London, which showed offenders were alcohol free on 97% of the days monitored. Some wearers also reported a positive impact on their lives, wellbeing and behaviour.

Courts will be able to order offenders to wear a tag for up to 120 days. The MoJ says that the community sentence is designed to both punish offenders and aid their rehabilitation by forcing them to address the causes of their behaviour - in turn helping to reduce alcohol-related harm.

A national rollout will commence in winter this year.

How the tags work

The technology works by fitting a tag around the ankle of an offender. This then samples their sweat every half-hour to determine whether alcohol has been consumed. They can distinguish between alcohol-based products, such as hand sanitiser, that could be used to mask alcohol consumption and can detect when contact between the skin and the tag has been blocked.

Eligibility

The two main criteria for being fitted with a "sobriety tag", more properly known as an Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Requirement attached to a community sentence are that an individual:

1. Has committed an offence for which consumption of alcohol was a contributing factor AND

2. Is not dependent on alcohol (defined by scoring less than 20 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - AUDIT is a 10-item screening tool developed by the World Health Organisation).

Dependent alcohol users are excluded because rapid enforced sobriety would be medically dangerous.

Initial findings seem to confirm that most offenders required to wear the tags comply with them. However, the two pilots ran rather differently with those placed on AAMRs in London receiving little input from probation or alcohol specialist staff in terms of how they could benefit from a period of enforced abstinence. The pilot in Humberside was run differently and was designed to provide rehabilitation agencies to work with people placed on the tag and get them to recognise and change their behaviour.

I am not aware of any published research which examines the reoffending outcomes of this initiative although the Humberside Pilot is still being evaluated.

It will be interesting to see the extent to which Magistrates use the option of imposing AAMRs once they are rolled out across the country.

Probation posts are kindly sponsored by Unilink, a world leader in probation and community corrections software applications, as well as prisoner self-service, prisoner/case management and prisoner communications. Unilink's integrated suite of products provide a complete digital solution enabling efficient running of prisons and probation. Unilink has no influence over editorial content.

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Yesterday (19 May 2020) new legislation came into force which means that people who commit commit alcohol-fuelled crime may be banned from drinking and made to wear "sobriety tags". The ankle tags, which are to be rolled out across England and Wales, perform around-the-clock monitoring of an offender's sweat to determine whether alcohol has been consumed.

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Harm reduction

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WEDINOS - Welsh Emerging Drugs & Identification of Novel Substances Project