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1) Are all drugs addictive?
People can become psychologically dependent on any drug – or anything else for that matter. This means that the person using drugs feels they cannot cope or face the world unless they are under the influence of drugs. This form of dependency has more to do with the people using the drug rather than about the particular drug they are taking.
In contrast people can only become physically dependent on certain drugs. Physical dependency results from the repeated, heavy use of drugs like heroin, tranquillisers and alcohol. Heavy and continual use of these drugs can change the body chemistry so that if someone does not get a repeat dose they suffer physical withdrawal symptoms - the shakes, flu like effects. They have to keep taking the drug just to stop themselves from feeling ill.
Continual use of drugs like cannabis, ecstasy and LSD does not result in physical dependency, even though people may become psychologically and socially dependent. With other drugs – and particularly stimulant drugs such as cocaine, crack, amphetamine and the nicotine in cigarettes – there is debate over the extent that physical dependence can occur although there is a direct link between these drugs and a social dependency.
2) What do we mean by addiction?
Addiction means that a large part of a person's life is controlled by something such as drugs. It usually applies to regular, heavy users of drugs such as heroin or cocaine but it could also involve other drugs or alcohol – hence the term alcoholic. The term addiction and addict, however, conjure up all sorts of negative images of people and isolates those in society it is applied to. Some people even believe that addiction is a disease and that once people are addicts they will always be addicts. We at Lighthouse do not share these views as we see people frequently break free from their addiction whilst on our apprenticeship for life programme and remain free thereafter.
3) What are the most commonly used drugs?
The most commonly used mood altering drug used in the UK is caffeine – contained in tea, coffee, many soft drinks. some confectionery, included in many medicines and available in over-the-counter stimulant preparations such as Pro Plus.
Apart from medicines in general the next most commonly used drug is alcohol, followed by the nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco based products.
Alcohol and drugs can be broadly categorized in a way that helps with understanding how a person might be affected when using them:
DEPRESSANTS such as alcohol, tranquillisers, heroin, methadone and solvents slow down the central nervous system, affecting co-ordination and reaction times. Alcohol, for instance, used to create feelings of relaxation and disinhibition in social settings, can be inappropriate and cause problems in the workplace. Due to slow reactions, depressant use is particularly dangerous whilst driving or operating machinery.
STIMULANTS such as amphetamines ('speed'), ecstasy, cocaine, tobacco and caffeine increase the heart rate and give the user a sense of increased alertness and energy. People using some stimulants can become aggressive. Illicit stimulants might be used recreationally but the following day at work, a user can feel tired or depressed. Employees may also use stimulants to enable them to work long shifts but repeated and regular use could lead to problems or dependence.
HALLUCINOGENS such as cannabis, LSD and 'magic mushrooms' change the way people think, feel and perceive their surroundings. They can enhance appreciation of surroundings but can also cause anxiety or paranoia. As they distort the user's sense of time and perception, these drugs would again be dangerous in 'safety critical' jobs. Whilst none of the hallucinogens mentioned cause physical dependence, a user may become psychologically dependent on their effects. Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the UK.
When it comes to illegal drugs, the most commonly tried drugs are:
Cannabis
Amphetamine
LSD
Magic mushrooms
Ecstasy
Solvents (aerosols, gases and glues)
Cocaine Heroin and crack cocaine
Minor tranquillisers (not prescribed)
4) What are the signs and symptoms of drug use?
Things to look out for are changes in school and work attendance, mood swings, changes in appearance, friends, excessive tiredness, lack of appetite etc. The problem is that many of these things may be caused by things other than drug use and are relatively normal behaviours. Unless you happen to be with someone while they are intoxicated or high on drugs you may not see any clear signs and symptoms. Even behaviour that seems like intoxification could be due to other things such as mental health problems or shock.
A danger with following lists of signs and symptoms is that you will jump to the wrong conclusion. If you feel that there is something wrong with a person or that they are acting strangely talk to them about what is going on in their life. Trying to spot signs and symptoms of drug use is no substitute for good communication.
5) How much do drugs cost?
The price of drugs varies between different localities and over time. Prices also tend to fluctuate with fashion (demand) and availability (supply). Here are the approximate Current prices of drugs in the Uk:
Amphetamine powder £8-15 per gram
Amphetamine paste (base) £10-£15 a gram
Cannabis resin & weed £30-90 per ounce
Cocaine powder £30-70 per gram
Crack cocaine £5-20 per rock
Ecstasy £2-7 per tablet
GHB £10-15 a bottle
Heroin £40-90 per gram
LSD £1-5 per tab
Methadone £1 per 10 ml
Benzodiazepine £1-£2 per tablet
The amount people will pay for a drug depends on how well they know the source, the amount they buy and how regularly they buy. Recent evidence suggests that while cannabis and LSD prices have remained remarkably stable for over ten years, prices of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy are falling. The pirces above reflect some of these changes.
6) How pure are street drugs?
There is no proper quality control over illegal drugs. It is often difficult to know whether a powder, pill, resin, herb or liquid is a particular drug. Even if you think it is a particular drug you may have no idea how strong the dose is, whether it also contains another drug(s) or other substances to bulk it out. Illegal drugs may contain:
Impurities – substances present in the drug as a natural result of how it was made rather than deliberately added. For example, opiate alkaloids may be present in heroin from refining opium into heroin.
Adulterants – these are drugs that deliberately mimic or enhance the effects of the drug being offered. Examples are the way caffeine and/ or ephedrine are often found in amphetamine or ecstasy.
Dilutents – these are mainly sugars such as glucose, lactose and mannitol. These are added to bulk out the deal and assist the process of dilution of the drug for injection.
It can obviously be dangerous to take something that you are not sure about. A strong dose may leave someone disorientated and they may panic, freak out and be more likely to be involved in accidents. Similarly taking what you think is one type of drug and finding that it is another, with possibly very different effects, can be disturbing. While impurities and dilutents can, in themselves, be dangerous to consume the likelihood of this happening has often been exaggerated. While rumours circulate about drugs cut with rat poison, strychnine and brick dust such contamination is very rare. It is not in the dealer’s interest to have customers dropping dead from deliberately contaminated drugs. In contrast people will return to get drugs from dealers who offer good quality substances.
Purity of street drugs and what they contain varies between different places and can also change within a matter of days. Below is only a rough guide to what we know about the purity of different drugs. This is a guide to national patterns and should not be relied on to determine the content of substances circulating in your area– only
analysis of local samples can do that, and mistaken assumptions could be risky.
Amphetamine
The most impure illegal drug. Purity may be up to 10 per cent but is more commonly less than 5 per cent with some samples as low as 1 per cent purity. Amphetamine is often cut with sugars, caffeine and/or ephedrine and sometimes with paracetamol, Vitamin C, chalk and talcum powder.
Cocaine
Purity can vary from 20-90 per cent with an average around 50-60 per cent. The rest is usually made up of sugars such as glucose, lactose and/ or mannitol.
Crack cocaine
Usually 70-75 per cent pure cocaine freebase and up to 100 per cent pure in some samples.
Ecstasy
The amount of ecstasy (MDMA) in one tablet may vary. Some tablets sold as ecstasy may contain no MDMA and be other drugs. Many ecstasy tablets also contain other drugs – ketamine, amphetamine, caffeine, ephedrine, and the tranquilliser, flunitrazepam, have all be found. Some tablets also contain other ecstasy type drugs such as MDA or MDEA. The average amount of MDMA in a genuine tablet is 70–80 milligrams, but occasionally much larger amounts may be present.
Heroin
Usually 30-80 per cent pure, averaging at 45-50 per cent pure. The rest is usually paracetamol, other opiate alkaloids, sugars and sometimes methaqualone or diazepam (valium). Varying purity has often been connected to fatal overdose through injecting heroin when people take a higher purity dose than they are used to.
LSD
Now rarely seen by police or customs. Usually sold as small paper squares, cut from larger sheets which have been soaked in the drug. Most squares do have LSD but fakes with no LSD at all can be sold. The dosage of LSD on one square can vary a lot.
7) Is there an Answer?
As with all aspects of substance misuse there is an answer but it is not always a quick fix. With out a doubt people can certainly be released from their addictions. This can be a challenging process for any individual as they go through recovery and restoration.
To detoxify someone from drugs is quite straightforward and can be done relatively quick but the real challenge is equipping them to walk in their freedom and liberty. This we have found can only be done by applying a new set of values and principals.
The Lighthouse offers a holistic approach to rehabilitation by seeking to meet the individual at their need, and by supporting them emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
8) Do you find that being Christian and having faith helps in the rehabilitation process?
Yes. We have an excellent track record of people who have been caught up in the lifestyle of drugs and addiction and after a time of applying Christian values to their lives they find that they no longer have any desire to go back to the old way of life. Having these values helps people cope better with the pressures of ordinary day-to-day living. We have many testimonies of individuals who are now living a life free from their past of addiction.
9) Do you have to be a Christian to be accepted on the Apprenticeship for Life programme?
No. We always say that all you need to qualify for the apprenticeship for life programme is to have a real desire for change in your life.
10) How does the program work over a period of 2 years?
The apprenticeship for life is tailored to the individual needs of a person. We recognize that although some people can be addicted to the same drug their needs can be totally different. One person may have severer health problems while others may have strong emotional difficulties. Although we recommend 2 years initially it all depends on the individual and the pace of their own progress at the lighthouse
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