FAQ

What sort of work do the DDP do?
The Detached Drug Project (DDP) delivers drug information, education and harm reduction so that young people can make an informed choice when it comes to drugs. We meet and work with young people in schools, colleges, youth clubs and on the street. The DDP also works closely with Richmond’s Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Support to offer other services (Please note the DDP definition of "drugs" includes alcohol and tobacco).
We have worked with young people in the Richmond borough in designing this website so that young people can inform themselves, without any myths, lies or preaching.

What do you mean by "drug"?
We define a drug as a substance people take to change the way they feel, think or behave. This term encompasses all prescribed and over-the-counter medicines, all legal drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, volatile (sniffable) substances, and all illegal drugs covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971).

Where do drugs come from?
Drugs like cannabis and heroin come from plants, while other drugs are man-made in laboratories. How a drug is made and what other substances are added to this can vary from country to country. And because drugs are illegal you can never be 100% sure of what you're getting.
Even in the case of 'natural drugs' like magic mushrooms, there are risks (other mushrooms can be poisonous when eaten).

What is the worst drug?
All drugs are potentially dangerous. And because most drugs are illegal there's no way to control what goes into them.
Some drugs can cause more long term damage from a physical point of view - like heroin and crystal meth.
While other drugs can have a stronger psychological impact and can trigger pre-existing mental conditions (like schizophrenia). There's no way of you knowing that beforehand.

What is alcohol?
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches.

How does alcohol affect a person?
Alcohol affects every organ in the body. It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes, however, the liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed.

What is an overdose?
The term drug overdose (or simply overdose or OD) describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced. An overdose is widely considered harmful and dangerous as it can result in death.

How can I stop my friend taking lots of drugs?
A good thing to do is keep your friend away from situations or places which might entice them - like say the pub or a mate's house. Rather, show them some other things to do to keep themselves busy. Try exercising or a trip to the cinema.
Also we're sure they already know this, but it never hurts to tell them that you're always around if they want to talk about it.

Is Cannabis harmless?
While cannabis is not a physically addictive drug, it can be a trigger to any underlying mental health problems. It can also easily become a habit.

Why do some people react differently to alcohol than others?
Individual reactions to alcohol vary, and are influenced by many factors, including but not limited to:

Age.
Gender.
Race or ethnicity.
Physical condition (weight, fitness level, etc).
Amount of food consumed before drinking.
How quickly the alcohol was consumed.
Use of drugs or prescription medicines.
Family history of alcohol problems.

A friend is using cannabis, what can I do?
Talking to them is a good place to start. But be very careful how you do this as drugs can be a sensitive topic to bring up.
Also, you may want to let them know about the risks of using cannabis:

You can become psychologically dependent
It can lead to isolation and a lack of motivation
It’s illegal and you risk getting in trouble with the law

How are alcoholism and drug addiction different?
Alcoholism and drug addiction are only different in the type of substance abused. Alcohol is an addictive drug that comes in a liquid form. Alcoholics and drug addicts both suffer from a dependence, tolerance and obsession with a mind-altering substance. Both are progressive diseases and both are treatable through abstinence and rehabilitative treatment.

In the UK the drink driving limit is:

35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; or
80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood; or
107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine.

Can you still be over the legal drink driving limit even though you were drinking the previous day?
If you've been out drinking you may still be affected by alcohol the next day. You may feel OK, but you may still be unfit to drive or over the legal alcohol limit.
You could still lose your licence if you drive the next day when you're still over the legal alcohol level.

What can I do to ‘sober up’ faster?
It's impossible to get rid of alcohol any faster. A shower, a cup of coffee or other ways of 'sobering up' will not help. It just takes time.

Can you become addicted to a drug by just trying it once?
In most cases a person will not become addicted to a drug if it is only tried once, however highly addictive drugs such as heroin and amphetamines may create a craving, even after the first use. A person who has tried a drug once may want to continue to use the drug, thus developing and dependence and addiction. Having obsessive thoughts and creating schemes to get more of the drug may indicate mounting addictive tendencies. All illicit drugs are dangerous and should not be tampered with, however, once a person is addicted to a drug seeking proper substance abuse treatment is one of the most productive possible options.

How can you tell if someone has a problem with alcohol?
There are a number of different ways you can tell if someone has a problem with alcohol. Alcohol abusers generally begin to smell like alcohol over extended periods of use because their bodies are trying to get rid of the substance via the pores. People with alcohol problems tend to hide alcohol bottles in places they think other people may not look.
When an alcohol problem becomes more severe the abuser will experience periods known as blackouts when he/she cannot remember what happened during a drunk. Alcohol begins to take its toll on a person’s life causing problems in relationships, work and home life. Usually, if confronted, alcohol abusers will deny that they have a problem, making up excuses and rationalizing their use.

How can you tell if somebody is addicted to cocaine?
People who are addicted to cocaine show a variety of different signs and symptoms including drastic changes in personality and mood. Cocaine users often engage in dangerous and thoughtless behaviors, doing activities that they would probably not do otherwise. Sniffling, bloody noses, runny noses and dilated pupils are all signs that a person is using cocaine. If these signs persist, worsen or become more and more frequent, chances are the person has become addicted to cocaine. Cocaine addiction itself, like other drug addictions is characterized by a tolerance and dependence on the drug. Increased paranoia, anxiety and changes in eating and sleeping patterns are also characteristic of cocaine abuse or addiction.

Can you become addicted to club drugs such as ecstasy?
Ecstasy or MDMA has a chemical structure similar to hallucinogens and stimulants. The drug commonly comes in the form of a pill and is swallowed. Research shows that ecstasy is not a physically addictive drug however users do build up a tolerance to the drug quickly. People who use ecstasy regularly may find that they start to believe they are unable to function normally without the drug. Even if ecstasy is not physically addictive, it is extremely detrimental to the body and mind. Ecstasy can cause muscle meltdown and has caused death because of excessive dehydration and organ (kidney & liver) failure.

Are amphetamines addictive?
Yes, amphetamines commonly referred to as speed, crystal or meth, are highly addictive. These drugs are stimulants and can be snorted, swallowed, injected and inhaled. Aside for being addictive amphetamines are also extremely dangerous. If injected, these drugs can lead to collapsed veins and heart problems. The use and abuse of amphetamines is addictive creating a tolerance and psychological dependence.

What happens at a treatment centre or clinic?
The first step in treatment is a face-to-face appointment with a member of a clinic. They'll ask a series of questions to try and work out the right sort of treatment and help based on the individual. The types of help they might suggest are: - In-patient and out-patient detox.

Prescription of medication
Counselling
Group therapy or complimentary therapies (like acupuncture, meditation)

Some of these suggestions may involve being put on a waiting list first (which could be quite long, but worth the wait). Also in some cases you may need to get a GP referral.

Should a person that uses marijuana on a daily basis seek substance abuse treatment?
Marijuana contains the chemical THC which is a mood and mind altering drug. THC occurs naturally in marijuana plants and when taken into the body causes a ‘high’ feeling in the brain. Marijuana is most commonly smoked, although it can be ingested in the form of various foods. It has not been scientifically proven that marijuana or THC is addictive, however if used over extended periods of time in a habitual manner, a person can develop a dependence on marijuana.
Many people use the justification that, “marijuana is not physically addictive”, therefore they do not have a problem, however, marijuana can negatively affect a person’s life on a number of different levels. Marijuana decreases short-term memory capacity, creates confusion, paranoia, anxiety and restlessness. In addition marijuana can negatively impact a person’s motor skills as well as his/her ability to feel emotions. Marijuana is often used in combination with other drugs and treatment for marijuana abuse is available and readily utilized

What can heroin addiction do to a person’s life?
Heroin is one the most addictive drugs on the market. Heroin is an opioid and a depressant, meaning it slows down the brain’s ability to function. Heroin is usually injected and can also be smoked and snorted. Heroin created a highly desirable sense of pleasure and euphoria and almost immediately creates a craving for more of the drug.
A person who becomes addicted to heroin has no desire to do anything but to get more heroin. He/she will most likely lie, cheat or steal in order to find the next high. People addicted to heroin lose relationships, especially those that are most important to them and are unable to function in daily life. People who inject heroin, meaning they use it intravenously are at risk for diseases such a HIV, AIDS and hepatitis. Heroin addiction can lead to debt, insanity and death.

What does THC mean?
THC is an abbreviation for 11-nor-delta9 Tetrahydrocannibinol-9-carboxylic acid, the primary metabolite of Marijuana. Marijuana is a hallucinogenic agent derived from the leaves, flowers or seeds of the hemp plant. In general, the production and "curing" of the marijuana plant into its useable form closely resembles that of tobacco. Marijuana is almost always smoked and inhaled into the lungs where it is quickly metabolized (or changed) by the body into 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid which is excreted in the urine

What does PCP mean?
PCP is an abbreviation of phencyclidine which is an arylcyclohexylamine. One street name is "angel dust".

Amphetamines 1-2 days

Anabolic steroids (Stanzolol, Stanazolol, Nandrolene; Steroids, Roids, Juice), oral- up to 3 weeks; injected- up to 3-6 months and more

Benzodiazepines/tranquilsers (e.g, Valium; Roofies, Tranks, Xanax), 2-3 days

Cocaine (Candy, Coke, Crack, Flake, Snow, white), 1-2 days

GHB (GBH, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X), 1-2 days

Heroin (Brown, Horse, Smack), 1-2 days

Gases, glues, aerosols just a few hours

Ketamine (K, Special K, Vitamin K), 2-4 days

LSD (Acid, Blotter, Microdot, trips), a few hours or up to 5 days

Marijuana ( Blunt, Grass, Herb, Pot, Smoke, Weed), 2-5 days (the daily, heavy user can sometimes be detected up to 30+ days)

MDMA (Ecstasy, E), 1-5 days

Methadone, 1-7 days

Methamphetamines (Glass, Ice, Speed), 2-4 days

Nicotine (Cigarettes, Cigars, fag, snout), 1-2 days

Opiates (i.e., Opium: China, Dreams, Laudanum, Paregoric; Dover's Powder), 1-2 days

(note:- These times denote an average and can vary depending on amount used, duration and person.)

If a drug test is positive, can you determine how long ago the drug was taken and over what period of time?
No. Drug of abuse testing by blood, urine, or saliva can only detect whether or not a specific drug or drug metabolite is present at the time the test is performed. While there are very broad estimates as to how long a particular drug may have been in the system, no fluid based drug test, regardless of method, is intended to include a time variable. Many factors unique to the individual being tested determine the actual half-life of the particular drug including such variables as age, weight, sex, metabolic rate, overall health, amount of drug consumed over what period of time, etc. Therefore, no conclusions can be drawn as to when a particular drug was taken or how much was consumed with these types of drug of abuse tests.

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