Throughout the UK, drug abuse is a problem of rising proportions. It is of benefit to you and those you care about to know the facts about drugs, so that you are able to make more informed decisions and help others around you to do the same.

Below is a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about drugs and drug abuse:

How can I get help for myself/for someone I care about?

• Are you/they under 18?
• Are you/they 18 or over?
• Do you/they need urgent help?

What to do if you/they are under 18:

The Young Person's Specialist Substance Misuse Service (YPSSMS) is a service aimed at young people (under 18’s) with drug issues. This service provides assessment, advice and information to anyone who is concerned about their drug use.

For more information, call: 01633 436 893.

Alternatively, CRI Young Persons Service offers counselling and educational information to young people who are concerned about their own or someone else’s drug or alcohol use.

For further information, call: (029) 2080 7625 or (07557) 059663

What to do if you/they are 18 or over:

Drug Aid Caerphilly provide a service to people aged 18 and over, with a substance misuse problem.

For more information call (029) 2086 8675.

What to do if you/they need urgent help:

If you have a life threatening emergency – dial 999 and ask for the ambulance service.

How can I keep myself safe?

• What should I do to keep myself safe when using drugs?
• What shouldn’t I do when using drugs?

What you should do to keep yourself safer when using drugs:

No drugs are “safe” to take; however if do you plan to take drugs, the following advice will help to keep you safer:

If you plan to inject:

• Always use clean needles/spoons
• Make use of your local needle exchange
• Rotate injecting sites every time you inject
• Clean your skin with a swab before and after you inject
• Remove as much air as you can from the syringe before injecting
• Be aware of your tolerance levels, and the levels of those around you – especially if you haven’t injected recently or have just detoxed.

If you plan to use other substances:

• Don’t mix alcohol with drugs
• Be aware of your tolerance levels, and the levels of those around you – particularly if you haven’t taken the substance recently or have just detoxed.
• Get yourself checked for your hepatitis B/C status – the sooner you are treated if you have it, the better you’ll recover.

What you shouldn’t do when using drugs:

• You should never use drugs when you are on your own – if you have a reaction or overdose, there will be nobody there to help you.
• Don’t ever share needles/syringes/spoons – you could catch a blood borne virus.
• If you’ve just detoxed or not recently used drugs, don’t use your standard amount – your body may not be able to cope and you may overdose.
• You should never mix drugs with alcohol.
• Never drive under the influence of drugs (or alcohol).
• You shouldn’t assume that all substances will be the same strength as the last time you bought them – you may be buying a very strong batch.
• Never leave substances around for children to find.

What do I do if I’m worried about someone?

• Do you need to know what the signs of an overdose are?
• Do you need to know about the recovery position?

The symptoms of a drug overdose:

Symptoms of a drug overdose may include, but are not exclusively:

• Problems with vital signs (temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure) are possible and can be life threatening.
• Sleepiness, confusion and coma are common and can be dangerous if the person breathes vomit into the lungs.
• Skin can be cool and sweaty, or hot and dry.
• Chest pain is possible and can be caused by heart or lung damage.
• Shortness of breath may occur. Breathing may get rapid, slow, deep or shallow.
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are possible. Vomiting blood, or blood in bowel movements can be life threatening.
• Specific drugs can damage specific organs, depending on the drug.

If you suspect that someone has taken an overdose, call 999 immediately.

The recovery position:

If you find an unconscious person who is still breathing and has a pulse then follow these instructions to place them in the recovery position:
Tilt the patient's head back, then:

Move the patient's nearest arm, as though they are stopping traffic

Lift the patient's furthest knee, and bring their furthest hand to the near side of their face

Using the patient's knee as a lever, pull them onto your knees 

Adjust the patient's position, as shown. 

Then immediately call 999 for assistance.

When an unconscious person is laying face upwards, there are two main risk factors that can lead to suffocation:

The tongue can fall to the back of the throat, due to loss of muscular control.

The back of the tongue can then obstruct the airway.

Fluids, possibly blood but particularly vomit, can collect at the back of the throat, causing the person to drown. When a person is laying face up, the oesophagus tilts down slightly from the stomach towards the throat. This, combined with a loss of muscular control, can lead to the stomach contents flowing into the throat. As well as obstructing the airway, fluid that collects in the back of the throat can also then flow down into the lungs.

Many fatalities occur where the original injury or illness that caused unconsciousness is not itself inherently fatal, but where the unconscious person suffocates for one of the above reasons.

This is a common cause of death following unconsciousness due to excessive consumption/use of drugs or alcohol.

What should I do if I find a discarded syringe?

• What should I do if I find a discarded needle or syringe?
• What should I do if I feel I need to do something myself?
• What should I do if I am injured by a discarded needle or syringe?

If you find a discarded needle or syringe:

Discarded hypodermic needles and syringes can be a danger to everyone because of the risk of injury and infection to the finder. They may be found in many places, but most commonly tend to be found in parks, recreational areas and vacant properties.

Do not put yourself or others at risk from discarded needles and syringes. If you find a needle or syringe, please contact: 01443 873727.

By contacting the Public Services department, you will ensure that the disposal of any discarded needles or syringes are dealt with in the correct manner. The council employ staff that are trained how to safely remove and dispose of discarded sharps using the appropriate safety equipment.

Reports of discarded needles and syringes will always be treated as urgent.

Do not:

• Hide it
• Separate the needle from the syringe
• Try to put the cap back on the needle
• Handle the needle or syringe unnecessarily
• Put the needle or syringe in a dustbin, down a drain, down a toilet or in a litter bin
• Ignore it

These actions will put yourself and other people at risk.

If you do feel that you need to do something (which we would strongly advise against):

Do:

• Use thick leather gardening gloves if handling a needle or syringe
• Sweep up needles or syringes with a dustpan and brush
• Place offending items in a plastic screw top jar or an empty drink can
• Call 01443 873727 to arrange for collection.

Do not:

• Handle the needle or syringe with your bare hands
• Wrap the needle or syringe in items such as newspapers, plastic or paper bags, or clothing
• Dispose of the offending items in any other way than by calling your local disposal contact.

If you should be injured by a discarded needle or syringe:

Do:

• Encourage the wound by gently squeezing
• Wash the wound with soap and warm water for 5 minutes
• Cover with a waterproof plaster
• Immediately contact your doctor or nearest Accident and Emergency department for medical advice and treatment

Do not:

• Suck the wound.

Common myths and misconceptions

There are many myths and misconceptions about drugs and substance misuse. This section will ultimately aim to dispel the myths and provide you with accurate information on drugs, their effects and their risks.
If you have any questions about drugs and their effects that aren’t answered below or in another section of this website, please contact the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership.

• Do all drug takers commit other crime?
• Do all young people take drugs?
• Are all drug takers addicts?
• Is Cannabis still illegal?

Do all drug takers commit other crime?

Whereas crime can feed the habits of some drug users, in no way can we generalise to say that all drug takers commit other crimes.

Do all young people take drugs?

No, and neither are all young people responsible for anti social behaviour, graffiti, criminal damage etc.

Are all drug takers addicts?

No, many drug takers can be one-time or casual users.

Is cannabis still illegal?

Currently, Cannabis is an illegal Class C drug in the UK.