New Psychoactive

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Contents...SPECIAL FEATURENew Psychoactive Substances .................................................................................... p 2-4Real or No-real – Internet Influence on NPS ........................................... p 5Hwb Wales – The E-Safety Zone ............................................................................. p 7Drug in the spotlight – Cocaine ................................................................................ p 8What’s new?.......................................................................................................................................... p 10

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This autumn’s issue is packed full of interesting features, includinga special feature on New Psychoactive Substances.

Not enough is knownabout how many people aretaking NPS and what harmsthey can cause.National Assembly for Wales Inquiry into Psychoactive Substances 2015”“

Substances

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are syntheticversions of drugs, which mimic the effects of illegal drugs.

The term NPS covers a variety of herbal and plantproducts, synthetic chemical compounds and even gases.

NPS are referred to in the media as ‘Legal Highs’ which isboth mis-leading and mis-informs people making themthink that these substances are somewhat safer to take.

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Things to rememberabout NPS Legal does not mean that they are safe Risks include the reduction of

inhibitions, drowsiness, excited orparanoid states, coma, seizures anddeath

Risks are increased if used withAlcohol or other drugs

They have similar health risks to drugslike Cocaine, Ecstasy and Speed

They are easily accessible to youngpeople

It is likely that NPS may actuallycontain one or more substances thatare actually illegal.

Can young people getinto trouble if they arecaught with NPS?Young people can be arrested forbeing in possession of NPS as theymay contain an illegal substance.The found substance may be testedto determine what it is.Any arrest and/or conviction willremain on the person’s record andwould show on any future DBS checksconducted by employers. It is notsomething to be taken lightly.

Why do youngpeople take NPS?There are many reasons theymay be attracted to trying NPS,formerly called NEDs: A young person may be curious

about drugs

NPS are perceived as legal, theyoung person may think they aresafe

NPS are relatively cheap to buyand easily available online

Young people may be subject toincreasing peer pressure and willtake a substance to fit in with aparticular group

NPS are marketed as being legaland therefore young peopleperceive them as being safe.

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New Psychoactive Substances

Signs and symptoms of usingNPS may very well be similar tothe use of illegal substances.Substances may affect usersdifferently.APPEARANCE – Intoxication,weight loss, loss of interest inappearance, eyes lookingdifferent, skin problems,unusually energeticBEHAVIOUR – Unpredictable,unreasonable, deterioration inschool performance, criminalactivity, changes in socialcirclePERSONALITY – Mood swings,irritability, tiredness,withdrawn, depressed, poorconcentration, unusually chatty

Things to look out for

In support of your school’s PSE programme, The All Wales School LiaisonCore Programme has responded by creating a new lesson called New andNasty, with a focus on NPS for Key Stage 3. Also available is a presentationaimed at parents and available for use in schools, delivered by SchoolCommunity Police Officers.Please contact your SCPO for more information or to arrange a lesson delivery.

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‘Real or no-real?’

Some online sites are managedby drug users themselves. This initself is of concern as it’s difficultfor the individual to validate theinformation that’s presented tothem. Young people areparticularly vulnerable to this andevidence has shown that youngpeople find it difficult knowingwhich sources of information totrust.

The Internet providesopportunities for children andyoung people to accessinformation relating to drugs.Some online information can beunreliable with some sitesnormalising drug misuse.

Often NPS are referred to as‘Legal Highs’ which can misleadsome people in to thinking thatthey are safer versions of illegaldrugs. Policing the Internet isdifficult therefore it is importantthat we direct our young people toreliable sources of information.

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How will I know if the onlineinformation relating to drugsis reliable? Look for sites from established

organisations e.g. DAN 24/7 Look for sites managed by Health

Specialists, Police or DrugCounsellors

Check the date of the site Stay clear of commercial sites

– If a site is selling an NPS, then theinformation is most likely unreliable

How reliable is the

Internet?

This app provides parents and carers with all ofthe essential information and advice needed tounderstand the important issues around youngpeople and drug misuse.

Completely up to date information on the latestdrugs on the streets, their effects, dangers andkey signs to look out for – including new ‘legalhighs’.

The app contains 60 short videos relating to theeffects of drug taking and what to do in anemergency. The Frequently Asked Questionssection offers answers to the questions mostfrequently asked by parents and carers.

Avoid anonymous authors– They may not want to beresponsible for their post orpublications

KNOW DRUGS: The Parents’ Guide iPhone/iPad app

Wales Drug and Alcohol HelplineCyffuriau ac Alcohol Cymru

Freephone0808 808 2234

Or text DAN to81066

Point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting furtherinformation or help relating to drugs and or alcohol

dan247.org.uk

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According to OFCOM, what % ofUK children are likely to haveaccess to a tablet device?

Answer: 70% of children

hwb.wales.gov.ukThe Welsh Government is strongly committed to keeping children and youngpeople in Wales safe when they go online. They are producing digitalguidance and resources so that children, parents and carers and adults whowork with children all know how to use the Internet safely and responsibly.These resources are available on the e-Safety zone on Hwb.

TOP TIPSFor children, this section gives a range ofadvice and guidance including what todo if they get themselves into trouble,send nastymessagesor use socialnetworkingsites whenthey aren’told enough.

Clicking on the schooltab, teachers can findout what to do whensomebody sets up afake social mediaaccount in their

name, and identifies how confidentschools are when dealing with onlinesafety issues.

RESOURCES

Did you know thatmost of thecommonly usedsocial mediawebsites or appsrequire their usersto be over 13?

13+ADVICEFor parents, this area explains what todo about cyberbullying and talks thoughissues around children watchingpornography.

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Cocaine is a Class A drug, sometimesreferred to as Coke, Charlie, Snow,Dust, C or Freebase. The mostcommon form of Cocaine is a whitecrystalline powder. This is usually sniffedup the nose (‘snorted’), but it can bemade into a solution and injected into avein. Injecting increases the associatedrisks. Crack is a smokeable form of Cocainethat has been made into small lumps or‘rocks’. Cocaine derives from the CocoaLeaves shrub in South America and hasbeen used since 2,500 BC. It wasidentified as a local anaesthetic forsurgery in 1884.

Drug in the spotlightCocaine

What are the risks? Physical effects include damaged

teeth, gum disease, ulcers,kidney failure, bleeding(haemorrhage), liver damage,chest pain, abnormal heartrhythms inflammation of the heartmuscles, respiratory collapse,cardiac arrest or strokes.

Long term damage can occur tonose membranes as a result ofsnorting.

Use can also cause, loss of senseof smell, memory loss, tiredness,paranoid psychosis, socialisolation, hallucinations,obsession, repetitive behavioursor even death.

Effects The first effects can be felt after

12-20 minutes and lasts for 15-30minutes.

Users experience feelings ofexhilaration, confidenceexcitement and heightenedalertness.

Cocaine can lead to aggressivebehaviour, nervousness andirritability, confusion, panicattacks, increased blood pressure,convulsions and weight loss.

Users develop a tolerance anddependence to Cocaine whichcan be financially expensive anddamaging to health andwellbeing.

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Polydrug use is the use of more thanone drug, often with the intention ofenhancing or countering the effects ofanother drug. One example is ‘speedballing’, whereCocaine and Heroin are used incombination. Heroin is a depressantwhilst Cocaine is a stimulant. Anotherextremely dangerous practice is knownas ‘Drinking with Charlie’. This is whena person takes Alcohol and Cocaine atthe same time, increasing andcompounding the danger of each drug.Scientists and researchers havediscovered that when Alcohol andCocaine are combined in the humanliver, it creates a substance calledcocaethylene. This increases the risk ofsudden death from Cocaine usesubstantially. It puts a huge strain on thebody; side effects also include increasedaggressive behaviour or risks resultingfrom getting into vulnerable situations.It takes twice as long to be processed bythe body than normal Alcohol, raising therisk of increased damage to the liver andother parts of the body.

POLYDRUG USE AND COCAINE

Using two or more drugssimultaneously or within arelatively short timeframe can bevery hazardous. There is a real riskof overdose and fatality.

The misuse of drugs,Alcohol or other substancesis still one of the mostdevastating ways in whichpeople can harm themselves,their families and thecommunities in which theylive. We are determined totackle it. – Vaughan Gething, 2015

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Facts about substancemisuse in Wales: Police forces in Wales recorded

11,766 drug offences in 2013-14 There were 135 drug misuse deaths

in 2013

Cocaine andthe LawCocaine powder and CrackCocaine are both Class A drugs.POSSESSION: Up to 7 years inprisonSUPPLY: Up to LIFE in prison

What’s new ?In addition to our new KS3 lesson onNPS, we have compiled a shortpresentation for parents/carers whichaims to raise awareness of the risksassociated with NPS and also toaddress common misconceptions.

Halloween &Bonfire NightassembliesYour School Community Police Officercan deliver assembly presentations inyour school. BE A NICE GUY assembliesare available for KS2 and KS3/4. Theassemblies explore staying safe andavoiding getting into trouble onHalloween and Bonfire Night.

Have fun and

stay safe!

TRICK OR TREAT

BE ANICEGUY

Be safe onHalloween andFirework Night

RESPECT YOURNEIGHBOURS

NO CALLERSPLEASE!

No callerspleaseEnjoy yourevening

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Female Genital Mutilation

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