Drugs and drug use

It’s important to know more about the substances you’re taking and how to get support

Drugs: what you need to know

Learn about the risks of drug taking and the steps you should take to protect yourself

If you inject drugs

Advice about drug injection and avoiding overdose

Support for people affected by drugs

General support and information resources available to drug users, their families and friends

Taking drugs in pregnancy

How illegal drugs can harm your baby and where to get help to stop

Common drugs

Benzodiazepines (benzos, diazepam, valium)

Benzodiazepines of all kinds are available in the illegal drugs market

Cannabis

Cannabis can make some existing mental health symptoms worse and has been linked with possible development of mental health issues

Cocaine

Cocaine is highly addictive in all its forms, whether you snort, smoke or inject

Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive drug that can cause physical dependency

MDMA (Ecstasy)

MDMA is the active ingredient normally found in ecstasy pills

Synthetic cannabinoids (Spice)

Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made drugs originally designed to mimic the effects of cannabis