Drugs and Reducing the Risk
Reducing the Risk
If you are going to do drug then you must be aware of the risk involves. Knowing all the facts won’t protect you from having a bad time or even death but it’s better than be clueless.
Addiction and dependence
Don't be fooled into believing that some substances are 'safe' because they're not physically addictive. Being physiologically addictive is just as bad as being physically addictive.
Psychological dependence
Becoming addictive is a risk with any drug. A substance which affects your mood can easily become addictive, especially if you start thinking it's the only way you can feel good about yourself and what you’re doing.
- Smoking blow to cope with the world.
- You need to be drug to dance.
- The only way you get confidence is by doing coke.
While some people are more likely to develop a psychological addiction than others, it's impossible to predict whether you will or not. In this life there are just no guarantees.
Kicking a psychological addiction is just a difficult and kicking a physical addiction
Ecstasy is a stimulant drug that raises body temperature. If you're dancing in a hot environment:
- Take regular breaks
- Keep sipping at a pint of non-alcoholic fluid per hour such as fruit juice or isotonic sports drinks.
Be aware that water doesn't cancel out the effects of ecstasy. It simply replaces fluid lost through sweating. If your body does start to overheat or dehydrate, however, don't ignore the warning signs:
- Dizziness, nausea and/or sudden tiredness.
- Aching limbs and/or cramp.
- Headaches.
- Breathing problems.
- Difficulty urinating.
Stop dancing, and find somewhere cool to chill out. Just be careful about going outside if it's cold as you run the risk of cooling down too quickly and keep sipping at a pint of non-alcoholic fluid per hour.
Injecting drugs
Injecting drugs may be the most immediate way of getting a hit, but it's also the most dangerous. The major risks are:
- Overdosing by injecting more than the body can handle.
- Infection from non-sterile injection methods such as sharing. Use dirty or used needles and you increase the chances of HIV or hepatitis infection.
- Abscesses and gangrene due to missing the vein when injecting. If you're going to inject:
- Always use a new needle and syringe.
- Never share needles or syringes.
- Dispose of used needles and syringes safely.
- If you can, use a sharps bin or needle exchange.
Bad trips
A risk with hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD (acid), magic mushrooms, ketamine and ecstasy, all of which can have a powerful effect on the mind. Predicting a bad trip is impossible, but the chances increase if the user feels anxious, unsafe or uncomfortable before and/or during the trip. Warning signs include feelings of paranoia, fear, panic and terror, creeping sensations and/or a lost sense of reality, often due to severe hallucinations.
If someone has a bad trip:
- Stay calm at all times, and reassure them that they will be okay.
- Move them to a place where they feel safe and secure.
- Be aware that their environment (where they are, what they see and what they hear) can affect the course of their trip. Sudden movements or fast, aggressive music can make things worse.
- A trip can last up to 12 hours. During this time, do not leave them alone until you are sure the effects of the trip have subsided.
