MDMA & ACID HARM REDUCTION INFORMATION
Phoenix Futures Young People s Service Phoenix Futures Young People s Service is Trafford s Specialist Substance Misuse Service. We provide support for young people aged 11 to 25 who are using drugs and/or alcohol and would like to talk to someone in confidence. We offer a flexible service consisting of brief interventions, care planned 1:1 work, group work and prevention sessions. All of which are appropriate to the young person s age and needs. We provide a varied and diverse service to cater for the differing needs of our young people. We recognise that some young people may need support in other areas of their lives so we have built strong relationships with other agencies that can provide this support. We also offer support to family members and significant others who are affected by the young person s substance misuse. As a service our aim is to help young people overcome their substance related issues so that they can sustain a stable and healthier lifestyle and achieve their full potential. If you would like to know more about our service please call the office on 0161 905 1013 or come in and see us at Phoenix Futures, Grosvenor House, 177-179 Washway Road, Sale, M33 4AH Registered charity number 284880
MDMA (Ecstasy) Ecstasy pills can be hard to determine because they come in various colours, shapes, sizes with different designs or logos stamped on them. This can result in them having nicknames e.g. Teddy or Mastercard Safety Precautions MDMA should be avoided by people with a history of mental illness or depression as it can trigger depression or make it worse if you have it already. As MDMA pushes up blood pressure and heart rate, it should be avoided if you ve got any of the following: High blood pressure Heart, liver, or kidney problems The eye condition glaucoma A history of stroke. Give it time to take effect & wait at least two hours before using any more. Physical side effects Dilated pupils A tingling feeling Tightening of the jaw muscles Raised body temperature Increased hart rate Short-term effects can include Anxiety Panic attacks Confused episodes Paranoia and psychosis. MDMA is a Class A drug, so the sentence for possession is seven years plus an unlimited fine. Selling or supplying it carries a penalty of life imprisonment plus an unlimited fine.
Effects / Dangers of taking MDMA MDMA affects the body s temperature control. Dancing for long periods of time increases the chances of overheating and dehydrating, however drinking too much water can also be dangerous. It can cause the body to release a hormone which stops it making urine. The comedown can make people feel lethargic and depressed. Evidence suggests long-term users can also suffer memory problems and may develop depression and anxiety in the long term. Using MDMA has been linked to liver, kidney and heart problems. Some users report getting colds and sore throats more often, which may be partly due to staying awake for 24 hours, which can run down your immune system. Anyone with a heart condition, blood pressure problems, epilepsy or asthma can have a very dangerous reaction to the drug. Between 1996 and 2014 in England & Wales there were 670 deaths caused Ecstasy/ MDMA. Deaths are often due to heatstroke, heart failure or drinking too little or too much water. Mixing MDMA With other drugs Mixing different types of drugs can put strain on the heart One drug may mean you have to take higher levels of another type of drug to feel the effects and this can lead to overdose. The drugs might interact in completely unexpected ways. Alcohol can deaden the effects of MDMA while MDMA masks the effects of the alcohol, making it difficult to tell how drunk you are. Both dehydrate the body, put strain on the liver and kidneys, and raise body temperature. MDMA-related deaths often involve alcohol.
LSD (Acid) Is a powerful hallucinogenic drug this means that users are likely to experience a distorted view of objects and reality, including seeing and sometimes hearing things that aren t there (these are hallucinations). The experience of taking LSD is known as a trip. Trips can be good or bad, but until you take it you don t know how it will affect you and once it s started you can t stop it. Safety Precautions Avoid taking LSD if you re in a bad mood as this could result in a bad trip. People have been known to harm themselves under the influence of LSD, so be sure to have responsible friends around you. Be careful not to take more LSD when you re waiting to come up - some LSD can take a long time to take effect. If someone who has taken LSD is experiencing a bad trip, take them to a quiet, safe place. Speak calmly and confidently to them, reassuring them that what they are experiencing are the temporary effects of the drug, and that it will stop. Stay with the person, keeping them calm until the initial effects of the drug wear off. Physical & Mental Effects Dilated pupils Higher or lower body temperature Loss of appetite Sleeplessness Dry mouth Tremors Delusions Visual hallucinations An artificial sense of euphoria Distortion of one s sense of time and identity Impaired depth perception Impaired time perception, distorted perception of the size and shape of objects, movements, colour, sounds, touch Severe, terrifying thoughts Fear of losing control Panic attacks / Psychosis Flashbacks, or a recurrence of the LSD trip, often without warning long after taking LSD
Effects / Dangers of Taking LSD A trip can appear to involve a speeding up and slowing down of time and movements, while colour, sound and objects can get distorted. Users experience hallucinations (seeing and/or hearing things that aren t there). Trips can feed off your imagination and may heighten a mood you re already in. So if you re in a bad mood, feeling worried or depressed, LSD may just make these feelings worse. Flashbacks sometimes happen. This is when part of the trip is relived after the original experience. Flashbacks usually occur within weeks of taking LSD, but can be experienced months or occasionally even years later. Mixing LSD with other Drugs LSD should not be mixed with any other drug but those who are on psychiatric medications should be particularly careful in order to exclude any potential for adverse drug interactions. Acid is a Class A drug, so it s illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession is illegal and can get you up to seven years in jail and/or an unlimited fine. Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to life imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. LSD could have serious, longerterm implications for somebody who has a history of mental health problems. It may also be responsible for setting off a mental health problem that had previously gone unnoticed. If you feel that you re having or are going to have a bad trip, let your friends know and get their help.
Phoenix Futures for support Summer Drop-in for under 18s 1:00-2:00pm on a Tuesday Starting Tuesday 26th July up until 6th September 2016 Duty Service Daily Monday Friday 9:00-5:00 We have a duty service whereby any young person, known or unknown to our service, can speak to a keyworker either by phone or in person if they have concerns around substances. Phoenix Futures Trafford Young People s Service Grosvenor House 177-179 Washway Road Sale M33 4AH Tel: 0161 905 1013 Trafford.yps@phoenix-futures.org.uk Other sources of support: Talk to Frank 0300 123 6600