Curriculum Resource

Curriculum theme: Focus of activity: Resource name: Health & Wellbeing Drugs Education Harm Continuum Cards

Resources and Materials: Copies of the continuum cards (included in resource)

ECM Outcomes: Be Healthy Stay safe Enjoy & Achieve

Timing: 45 mins

Make a positive contribution Achieve economic well-being Equality

Purpose: To encourage youth workers to work with young people to develop their understanding of issues relating to their health. Young people should feel encouraged to make healthy choices based on high quality information and support. Aim: For youth workers to be able to support young people to learn about the effects and harm of drugs. To bring out the issues through discussion and categorise drugs into a harm continuum. To raise awareness about the difficulties a government/ people in power may have deciding which drug is most harmful, given individuals experiences with drugs and outside influences like the media. Underpinning youth work principles, values and ethics: Empowering; equipping young people with the necessary skills and support to tackle their own issues. Responsive; young people's attitudes, values and needs must always be the starting point of acceptable responses in youth work. Informative; ensuring that young people have the means to access information to enable them to make informed choices and fully maximise their opportunities.

Background reading: Local context: http://www.leedspct.nhs.uk/phrc/ http://www.breezeleeds.org/links/home.ikml?p=2 National context: http://www.talktofrank.com/ http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/

What to do: Break the group into 2 or 3 smaller groups and give each group a full set of the continuum cards. Ask the group to order the drug cards in a line that runs from least harmful to most harmful. Once the group have reached consensus and finished, bring them together and compare results. There are no right or wrong answers and it could be that even though a drug is legal, like alcohol or tobacco, the group has it at or near the top of their harm continuum. Discuss this with the group and consider to what extent harm has an influence on the law. Take a photo of the continuums and note on the flip chart some of the key decisions of each group as evidence for accreditation and other outcome/output expectations. Have leaflets and posters on display and ensure young people are aware of local and national services that offer support. Contact Armley Resource Centre to access leaflets and posters.

Practical tips: Have leaflets available for young people about national and local support agencies and with general information about drugs. Contact Armley Resource Centre for support in accessing leaflets and a range of resources. Keeping a record of information discussed along with a copy of the signing in sheet is good evidence for accreditation, REACH targets and the PET Tool. Always pass on information that concerns you about a young persons safety to your line manager or supervisor.

Other uses: With a little thought, the continuum idea can be use with a broad range of topics, including; crime, bullying and sexual health - just design your own cards that are appropriate to the subject.

Possible outcomes - what have the young people learned? Young people know about the effects and risks of drugs to their bodies, minds and health. Young people know about the services and information available to support their health. Young people want to continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of health issues. Young people have a better understanding of the complexities or categorising drugs harm because of personal and environment factors.

4-MTA

Ecstasy

Street names: flatliner, goldeneagle Street price: 1-8 UK users: not known UK deaths/year: 0 recorded Dealers often sell this class-A stimulant as a replacement for ecstasy, but it does not produce the same euphoric high. Users take more thinking it hasn't worked and can overdose.

Street names: E, hug drug, love drug Street price: 1-8 UK users: 500,000 UK deaths/year: 27 An illegal class-A stimulant, ecstasy can cause mild hallucinations, feelings of euphoria, empathy and energy. It causes increases in body temperature and heart rate.

Alcohol
Street price: from 1 UK users: 40 million UK deaths/year: 40,000 Alcohol is a depressant but removes inhibitions at low doses. At higher doses, drinkers may experience slurred speech, reduced coordination, nausea and vomiting. Long-term use can damage the heart, liver and stomach.

GHB
Street name: liquid ecstasy Street price: 5/cap full UK users: not known UK deaths/year: 3 An illegal class-C sedative, GHB makes you happy, sensual and uninhibited in small doses. However, the difference between a buzz-inducing dose and a lethal one is barely noticeable. GHB can also kill when mixed with alcohol.

Alkyl nitrites
Street names: poppers, liquid gold Street price: 2-6 a bottle UK users: 400,000 UK deaths: 0 recorded Alkyl nitrite is a non-addictive, legal drug. Sniffed straight from the bottle, it delivers a short high and relaxes sphincter muscles. Poppers may leave users sick and weak and are toxic if swallowed.

Heroin
Street names: brown, skag, gear, smack Street price: 10-20/bag UK users: 300,000 UK deaths/year: 700 An extremely addictive class-A drug, heroin may be injected or smoked. When injected it can produce feelings of euphoria. As it affects the part of the brain that controls breathing, an overdose can kill.

Amphetamine
Street names: speed, whiz, dexies or billys Street price: 8-12/wrap UK users: 430,000 UK deaths/year: 35 A class-A&B drug, amphetamines can make users feel energetic and confident. They can be intensely addictive. As tolerance builds up consumption increases, leading to paranoia, depression, panic attacks and violent mood swings.

Ketamine
Street names: special K, vitamin K Street price: 15-40/g UK users: 100,000 UK deaths: 1 This class-C drug is normally used as a horse tranquiliser. It has very strong pain-killing effects but has become a popular illegal drug because it is also a strong hallucinogen.

Anabolic steroids
Street price: 20 for 100 tablets UK users: 42,000 UK deaths/year: 0 A class-C illegal drug used in muscle building, anabolic steriods can make users aggressive and violent and cause sterility, liver failure, strokes and heart attacks.

Khat
Street names: Abyssinian tea, African salad Street price: 4/bunch UK users: 40,000 UK deaths per year: 0 recorded This legal stimulant makes users feel alert and energised but in excess it can cause insomnia, impotence and high blood pressure.

Barbiturates
Street names: pink ladies, red devils Street price: 1-2/tablet UK users: not known UK deaths/year: 20 Doctors prescribe barbiturates for depression, anxiety and insomnia. Illegal users can feel relaxed and sociable. A normal dose and an overdose are difficult to tell apart, making barbiturates very dangerous. Class: A (injected) and B (capsules).

LSD

Street names: Lucy, trips, paper mushrooms Street price: 1-5/tab UK users: 83,000 UK deaths/year: 0 recorded Lysergic acid diethylamide is an illegal class-A drug and gives users feelings of well being, powerful hallucinations and emotional journeys. LSD is physiologically non-toxic.

Benzodiazepines
Street names: benzos, downers Street price: 1 for 4 x 5mg capsules UK users: 100,000 UK deaths/year: 406 These class-C drugs are minor tranquilizers, such as vallium, prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures. Illegal abuse can cause memory loss, nausea, anxiety and depression. Consuming benzos with alcohol often kills.

Methylphenidate
Street name: vitamin R Street price: 15/hit UK users: 15,000 UK deaths/year: 0 recorded The active ingredient in drugs such as Ritalin, this class-A stimulant is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Illegal users crush the tablets and snort them for a quick high. Abuse can cause vomiting, convulsions, tremors, and delirium as well as dependency.

Buprenorphines

Solvents

Street names: subbies, temmies Street price: 2 for 4 x 8mg capsules UK users: unknown UK deaths/year: 2 A class-C opiate normally used to treat severe pain and heroin dependence, this drug is used illegally for its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects. Without medical guidance buprenorphines are highly addictive, and users are at high risk of overdosing.

Street price: from 2 UK users: 30,000 UK deaths/year: 50-60 These legal substances are inhaled so they get into the lungs very quickly and give users a quick high. Many solvents are poisonous chemicals like tolumine and have a very toxic effect on the heart.

Cannabis
Street names: dope, hash and bob Street price: 40-140/ounce UK users: 3 million UK deaths/year: 1 This class-C drug is usually smoked. In small doses cannabis induces euphoria, relaxation and pain relief but in high doses it can bring on paranoia and short-term memory loss. Use can also lead to some form of dependency.

Street Methadone
Street names: the precious, slime, green Street price: 10/100ml UK users: 33,000 illegal users UK deaths/year: 295 Prescribed medically, methadone reduces the withdrawal effects of heroin and tends reduce heroin use. Illegal methadone is often diluted with other ingredients and the strength of doses can be hard to judge.

Cocaine
Street names: Charlie, coke, base Street price: 30-60/g powder; 10-20 crack rock UK users: 780,000 UK deaths/year: 214 Users snort cocaine powder and smoke or inject the rock form, crack. Both forms of this class-A drug are dangerous. Crack reaches the brain almost instantly and leaves users very vulnerable to dependence.

Tobacco

Street names: Fags, cigs, baccy, smokes Street price: from 5 UK users: 10 million UK deaths: 114,000 Tobacco is an extremely addictive drug responsible for 20% of UK deaths, a 10-year reduction of average life expectancy and 40% of all hospital illnesses.