ECSTASY Ecstasy comes as small colourful pills that users swallow. They can cost as little as £1! Ecstasy makes a user feel they have lots of energy. This leads to lots of dancing and a risk of dehydration. Users feel euphoric and experience extreme feelings for others. Colours and sounds can take on an emotional context. Users should drink a pint of water an hour and replenish salt loss with crisps or nuts.

POPPERS Or amyl or butyl nitrates. Poppers come as a liquid which is inhaled by a user. It must not be swallowed for it burns the skin. Poppers open the blood vessels in the body and users feel a ‘rush’ as blood flow increases. Usually causes giggles.

COCAINE Cocaine comes as a fine white powder that is usually snorted or injected. Cocaine is an intense stimulant, and users feel much more alert, confident and feel they have more energy. Users may become violent. The effects last about 30 minutes and users are left wanting more – highly addictive and very expensive!

CRACK Crack comes as a small white block of cocaine, and is smoked. Crack cocaine is a massive stimulant but its effects last for as little as 10 minutes. It is similar in effect to cocaine, but is even more addictive, can cause convulsions and side effects are generally more grievous. Heavy users often use heroin to null the craving for crack after its use.

HEROIN Heroin is a dirty white or brown powder that is most commonly injected, smoked or snorted. Causes drowsiness and relaxation. Massive depressant: Can lead to comas and death. Very addictive and very difficult to withdraw from. Tolerance develops very quickly.

CANNABIS Cannabis comes as dried leaf, a manufactured brown resin, or oils accumulated from burning the resin. Getting ‘stoned’ on cannabis makes users relaxed and talkative. It heightens senses. Causes paranoia and anxiety, may lead to memory disorders, and affects coordination.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS Liberty Cap is the most common magic mushroom and grows wildly in the UK. It is brown and looks very pitiful. Magic Mushrooms cause hallucinations and make users very relaxed and ‘spaced-out’. Trips last for up to 4 hours, and once started there can be no stopping it. Vitamin C can reduce the effects somewhat; Kiwi fruit is recommended. Hallucinogens cause complicated mental health problems.

AMPHETAMINES Amphetamine, or speed, comes as a dirty white powder, and is usually swallowed or snorted by the user. It can be prepared for injection though this makes the drug far more dangerous. Amphetamines are a stimulant, and make users’ hearts and breathing quicken. Users feel more confident and energetic. Appetite is suppressed. After effects include tiredness, depression, memory loss, and psychosis

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) LSD usually comes as tiny squares of paper with printed images on one side. The picture means nothing about the strength or quality of the drug. LSD causes hallucinations that can last up to 12 hours, known as a ‘trip’. Effects depend on the users mood, their surroundings, and the quality of the drug. Accidents may happen due to hallucinations, and it can trigger complicated psychological problems.

ANABOLIC STEROIDS Anabolic steroids most commonly need to be injected but some may be swallowed. Steroid users claim they make them more aggressive and able to train harder. With exercise they build muscle mass. MEN: erection problems, breast growth, shrunken testicles, sterility, acne, heart attack and liver failure. WOMEN: facial hair growth, deep voice, shrunken breasts, random menstrual cycle, acne, miscarriage and stillbirth.