Illegal drug use

Despite government efforts to prevent drug use, illegal drug use is still extremely common in the UK. Government figures from 2008/2009 showed that 10.1% of adults aged between 16 and 59 used illicit drugs within the last year and 3.7% of adults used Class A drugs during this time. The same report showed that 15 percent of children aged between 11 and 15 took drugs within the last year.

Which types of drug are used most commonly?

Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug. Other commonly used illegal drugs include cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, LSD, ecstasy (also known as MDMA). Drugs are generally classified into three categories, according to the effect they have on the body; these are:

• Hallucinogens: these drugs make people hear, see and feel things that are not actually real. The most well-known example of a hallucinogen is LSD.
• Stimulants: these drugs make people feel energised, hyperactive and ‘high’. Examples include cocaine.
• Depressants: these drugs make people feel drowsy and relaxed; heroin is an example of a depressant.

Drugs and the law

Most drugs are illegal in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act; drugs are classified according to the risks they present to the individual. Drugs are classified as Class A, Class B and Class C; Class A is the most dangerous. Examples of Class A drugs include heroin, ecstasy and cocaine, examples of Class B drugs include cannabis, barbiturates and amphetamines and examples of Class C drugs include tranquilisers and ketamine.

The Misuse of Drugs Act states that it is illegal to be in the possession of controlled substances; it is also illegal to sell drugs or intend to sell drugs. The penalties for the possession of drugs are severe; possession of Class A substances carries a 7 year jail sentence, an unlimited fine or both, while dealing Class A substances may carry a life sentence, an unlimited fine, or both.

Why do people take illegal drugs?

There are many reasons why an individual may take illegal drugs; these include:

• Getting ‘high’: many people take drugs if they are going out for the night, for example, to give them the energy and buzz they need to last the night.
• Peer pressure: many people, especially young people, take drugs because their friends take drugs and they feel they need to fit in with the crowd.
• Escape: some people take drugs as a form of escape or a distraction from their everyday life.
• Coping mechanism: some people take drugs as a form of coping mechanism; if they experience a loss, or they lose their job or are under financial pressure, they turn to drugs rather than facing the situation.
• Habit: once people start taking illegal drugs, they may become addicted very quickly. Once somebody has an addiction, they will continue to take drugs on a regular basis and this will become the ‘norm’ for them.