7. DRUGS Awareness

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

The licensing Act 2003

The legislation stresses the importance for door supervisors to take an active role in the fight against drugs on licensed premises.

Main Offences

• To supply a controlled drug
• To possess a controlled drug

Anyone, including door staff, convicted of possessing, supplying or producing drugs illegally could be fined or sent to prison.

Types of Illegal Drugs

Grouping drugs into 3 main types can assist in identification:

• Stimulants
• Depressants (also known as opiates)
• Hallucinogens

Stimulants

1. MDMA

Known by a variety of street names such as the commonly-named Ecstasy or E, XTC, New Yorkers, Love Hearts, Doves, Rhubarb and Custard, Dennis the Menace and Disco Burgers.

1. Amphethamine

Known most commonly as Speed, and also Upper, Whizz, Sulph or Sulphate. Amphetamine is most often sold as a white or off-white powder.

• Cocaine and Crack

Also known as Coke, Charlie, Snow, Base, Stardust and Flake. Cocaine is sold as a white powder and is usually sniffed but can be smoked. Crack, a very powerful form of cocaine, comes as small crystals and is smoked – it is especially dangerous because people can become dependent on it very quickly.

1. Viagra

Also known as Poke, Shagwell and Grandad Special. Originally produced to combat impotency, this drug which is blue in colour and diamond shape, has hit th e clubbing scene in a big way. Viagra is yet to be fully licensed within the UK, although it is available on prescription.

Depressants

1. Heroin

Also known as Junk, Smack, Gear, Scag and H. Heroin comes as a light brown powder. Very occasionally it might be white. It can be injected, sniffed or smoked.

1. Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam)

Also known as Roofie and the Date Rape Drug.

Rohypnol is a powerful tranquilliser legally available over the counter in many countries, but not in the UK. Usually, this drug is administered through spiked drinks and is used by rapists to overcome their victims

1. Tranquillisers

Also known as Tranx, Benzo’s, Eggs, Jellies and Norries.

Tranquillisers such as diazepam (valium), chlordiazepoxide (librium), lorazepam (ativan) and temazepam are often prescribed by doctors for people who are having difficulty sleeping or are feeling very anxious.

• Methadone

Methadone is used to treat people who have become dependent on opiates like heroin. It is taken orally and comes as a green or yellowish liquid. Methadone is also occasionally misused and is often injected.

1. Volatile Substances (Including Solvents)

The big problem with volatile substances is that they are so easily available and most of them are not illegal.

Lots of things normally kept in the house, such as solvent-based glues, lighter fuel and cleaning agents and aerosols, have been inhaled by young people trying to get high.

HALLUCINOGENS

1. Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

Also known as Acid and Trips. Acid is normally sold in small amounts which have been soaked into blotting paper printed with various designs. When a person takes it, they have hallucinations. The way they see, hear and feel the world around them changes.

1. Cannabis

Also known as Dope, Draw, Shit, Smoke, Ganja, Weed, Grass and Hash.

Grass is the dried leaves of the cannabis plant and the other names refer to the resin or oil. It is usually mixed with tobacco and smoked in a ‘joint’ or ‘spliff’, but is also smoked with tobacco pipes

1. Psilocybin/ Magic Mushrooms

Also known as Mushies. These mushrooms grow wild and are usually collected in the autumn.

They are mostly dried and eaten or sometimes diluted with water to make ‘mushroom tea’.

Responsibility of the Door Supervisor in relevance to drugs:

• The preservation of life
• The preservation of evidence

Indicators of Substance Abuse

Disposing of Contaminated waste

When drug abuse is taking place in a venue, there will be evidence and signs that you should be aware of:

Follow ALL procedures & precautions to ensure your own & others’ health & safety.