#and yes we are arguably safer here in canada

[bloomingbluebell]

would REALLY love for people to not start rambling about politics and then get surprised/upset/disappointed when i walk out after a certain point

i'm tired of having to correct people and STILL getting shut down

[oldlilymosscrashcourse-blog]

Playing with life and death

Drug use and the death toll that comes with it is at an all-time high for the UK. What we need to ask is should we as a Country be doing more to tackle the problem? With our experimental, curious teens and drug cultured society should safety be more of a concern? The quick answer is yes, and here’s why.

Surveys on the NHS website suggest that 15% of pupils within the UK had tried drugs at least once. Children aged between 11 and 16 are more exposed to drugs than ever before. Both through the drug culture that is prominent within our society and through their peers and possibly even families. The most popular drugs within this age group are weed, MDMA and cocaine. Drugs linger everywhere now days, they appear in a large amount of films and games, not to mention the popular music listened to by many millennials. This culture we live in can be represented by the 6% of 11-year olds who have all tried drugs. The deaths associated with drugs are at the ‘highest level since comparable records began in 1993’ claims the NHS. In 2015 alone, in the UK 2,479 deaths were recorded due to drug misuse; and a whopping 15,074 hospital admissions.

But is this ‘new’ drug crazed society we live in as new as it really seems? I took to the streets of Nottingham to conduct my own small-scale investigation. I asked 15 millennials and 15 people 35+ a range of questions. Here’s the results.

Arguably, I used only 30 people in total for my survey, however my findings are conclusive with what many people 35+ told me. Although drug use is climbing, it has always and will always exist. The use of drugs will never not exist in modern day society. Alongside these results I conducted some interviews, to see what people of different ages and walks of life thought of the issue. All but one person I asked admitted to taking drugs at some point during their life, this even included a 63-year-old!

I asked the people I interviewed a few key questions; Their opinion on drug use and the laws? Have they experienced anyone having an unpleasant time and should more be put in place for those who are going to take drugs? Many of the answers we’re very similar. Many people said their opinion on drugs is that it cannot really be managed, that there will always people trying and using them. All bar a few said that although they had tried drugs they do not condole drug use, but however do not deny many young people will experiment with it. Everyone asked had seem someone have a bad time; things such as panic attacks, overdosing, throwing up blood and bad trips. These effects came from a very large range of drugs, people pushing their boundaries and mostly a lack of education. Things such as lack of knowledge for the deadly mix cocaine and alcohol can create (the chemical compound cocaethylene forms which is toxic). This is responsible for ‘almost 1/3 of ER visits involving drugs and alcohol’. I got in contact with a young lad who had his own very scary experience with drugs, particularly those of the psychedelic type. He had been playing around with things such as LSD and had been enjoying his experiences. Through this he decided to take it a little further and try something called research chemicals, typically found through the internet. Him and the group he was with all took doses of the liquid. But it was he who had the ‘bad trip’. He was rushed into hospital with no clue as to what was going on, there he had to be resuscitated. Both myself and the 17-year-old truly believe this could have been avoided had more information been accessible. Through his story I am now a firm believer that something needs to change, it could quiet literally save lives. His story can be found here. Of all the people I interviewed 100%, and hopefully the vast majority of the UK, can realise that this lack of education for the substances being put into our bodies is one of the crucial issues. The people I interviewed had suggestions for things that could be put in place. Education within schools with true and real information on drugs rather than the misleading ‘keep kids off drugs’ information they currently use. Websites and information packs with dose information and what chemicals actually make up said drug. Test kits should be easily accessible and possibly handed out for free in pubs and clubs. A final suggestion that really took my interest- consumption rooms. Now, you may be wondering what consumption rooms are? They are a safe regulated place for people to take drugs, typically harder drugs such as meth and heroin. They give out sanitary equipment, first aid, rehab information and crucial support. Some even have cheap café’s, laundrettes and showers for those who may be struggling. I had a look into consumption rooms and where else has them. Places such as Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Spain and Canada all have at least one. Now issues like this spark up a lot of controversy, do they work? Does it encourage drug use? The vast majority of these rooms have rules; no drugs if you’re pregnant, not allowed in if you’re already on drugs, if you’re getting treatment (methadone for example) you can use them. All things which help to regulate them. statistics show they have decreased the number of drug related deaths, and that drug use has not gone up within that area. In 2013 a suggestion for the UK to open these rooms was put forward, very little was said or done regarding it. However, this year it had been rules out by the government as they feel it will only encourage drug use, although statistics show otherwise. It seems that the government are some of the only people that are still denial of this issue facing Britain. The average people within society want a safer, more educated population as they feel it will protect our young people from the dangers of drug use, which is bound to continue to happen.