One of the main risks associated with heroin found on the street is that it is rarely pure. It is estimated that street heroin on average contains approximately 7%-10% pure heroin. The maximum percentage of street heroin that is pure is about 20%, with the remainder consisting of diluents and adulterants. The content of street heroin varies from region to region. This is because a wide range of substances can be added for different reasons. Adulterants, such as powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil are added to heroin to mimic its effects or increase the potency of the dr ..read more

There is no universally objective definition of harm reduction, but in general, it refers to limiting the damage inflicted by addictive behaviours to the greatest extent possible without breaking addiction entirely. It encompasses a range of services, both heath-focused and social, that apply to limiting addiction damage. Some of the programmes include: Drug consumption Needle programmes Employment initiatives Overdose prevention Psychosocial support groups These programmes are cost-effective and have an overall positive impact on individuals and their attribution to community health. Lea ..read more

A new report from the US National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) looks at the problem of comorbid substance misuse and mental illness. It shows that half of the people in the United States who have substance misuse problems will also have either AMI (‘any mental illness’) or SMI (‘serious mental illness’). In this article, we will look at the source of the NIDA data and summarise their suggestions as to why this might be the case. What is SMI and AMI? Serious mental illness (SMI) or any mental illness (AMI) are groups of mental health conditions. According to NIDA, SMI is a diagnosable ..read more

Have you ever pictured yourself living a different life? Most of us have. Perhaps you’ve imagined living the life of the rich and famous. On the other hand, you might have imagined a life having lost everything. There are many versions of you to imagine. There are the possible selves you’d love to become and those you’d fear becoming. A person might visualise being the fit and healthy sort who can run marathons and hope it happens. That same person might imagine gaining weight, becoming really inactive, and worrying it will happen if they don’t introduce an exercise routine. Where you are, t ..read more

There has been a surge in demand for opioids in recent times. This has led to the increased prevalence and availability of dangerous illicit street drugs like heroin and fentanyl. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) estimates that approximately 25% of people who use heroin will develop opioid dependence. In 2017 in the UK, almost 60,000 people started treatment for opioid dependence, which at the time was 35% of the total number of people starting treatment for opioid dependence in the entire European Union. The prevalence of opioid abuse in the United States also makes for gr ..read more

In 2017, there were over 14 million prescriptions written for benzodiazepines in England. Research shows that they’re prescribed more often in areas of social deprivation.(1) It’s important to be aware of this drug group in terms of dangerous side effects, the potential for addiction, and how to approach the consequences of use as well as rehabilitation. What are benzodiazepines? Benzodiazepines are very strong and highly addictive sedative medications. In the UK, they’re available on prescription. This type of medication is usually prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia. It’s usually offer ..read more

Many studies have highlighted the link between trauma and substance dependency. For those that have suffered traumatic experiences, it is not uncommon for symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to emerge. Symptoms can include: Increased stress and anxiety Flashbacks Nightmares Restlessness Irritation Unstable emotions Social isolation As a result, many people turn to substances as coping mechanisms and addiction can quickly emerge. Clinicians have noted that many people that suffer from PTSD and addiction find it hard to overcome substance dependency without PTSD interventio ..read more

The UK government is about to enact a range of compulsory drug treatment programmes in its latest efforts to ‘win’ the ‘war on drugs’. This is despite the fact that the best evidence available indicates that compulsory substance misuse programmes do not work. In this article we will look at the government’s policy document, reflecting on a 2016 systematic review of such programmes to show the viability of these proposals in the eyes of research already done. What Has The Government Said? In early December 2021, the UK government published a new approach to tackling drug misuse. Including ov ..read more

A paper published in 2021 has shown that most young people (aged 12-25) with newly reported opioid use disorder (OUD) or opioid poisoning had presented with mental health problems or other substance use disorders in the two years before. The paper, focused on those in receipt of private health insurance in the US, showed that more females had reported mental health or substance use disorders than males. It also showed that more younger people (aged 12-17) had such treatment than older people (18-25) in that age group. The paper suggested that this presents an opportunity for young people to ..read more

Heroin addictions and how heroin is consumed Heroin is one of the most addictive substances in the world. When consumed, it provides short-term euphoric highs that are extremely sought-after. Generally, heroin comes in the form of a white powder. However, due to variations in manufacturing as well as the purity of the substance, heroin can also appear as a brownish powder or even black and tar-like. The appearance of heroin is very similar to that of cocaine or other amphetamines. To consume the drug, there are a few common methods which individuals may use, each with their own preparation a ..read more