Drugs and the work place
awareness
Signs and Symptoms
Ron Flowers
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Legislation
 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
(General duty to ensure the safety of your employees)
 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs. 1999
( If you knowingly allow an employee under the influence of drugs
to continue working you can be prosecuted)
 Transport and Works Act 1992
(Makes it a criminal offence for certain workers to be unfit
through drink or drugs while working on railways, tramways or
other guided transport systems)
 Misuse of drugs Act 1971
( Deals with all controlled drugs both legal and illegal )
 Medicines Act 1968
( Deals with prescribed drugs )
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Drink Drive Limit in the UK
 35 Micrograms of Alcohol in 100 millilitres of Breath
 80 Milligrams of Alcohol per 100 mililitres of Blood
 107 Milligrams of Alcohol per 100 mililitres of Urine
 1 in 5 or 20% of all positive tests are on the
morning after
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Section 6 Road Traffic Act 1988
 Drinking or being in charge when under
the influence through drink or drugs.
 A person who when driving or attempting
to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle
on a road or other public place, is unfit to
drive through drink or drugs is guilty of
an offence
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The Legal Position
 You have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act 1974 to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
the health, safety and welfare of your employees.
 If you knowingly allow an employee under the influence of
excess alcohol to continue working and this places the employee
or others at risk, you could be prosecuted.
 Similarly, your employees are also required to take reasonable
care of themselves and others who could be affected by what
they do.
 In the transport industry, there is additional legislation in
place to control the misuse of alcohol and drugs.
 The Transport and Works Act 1992 makes it a criminal offence
for certain workers to be unfit through drink and/or drugs
while working on railways, tramways and other guided transport
systems.
 The operators of the transport system would also be guilty of
an offence unless they had shown all due diligence in trying to
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prevent such an offence being committed.
Classification of Illegal Drugs
Class A
Cannabis oil
Heroin
Cocaine
Crack Cocaine
Ecstasy
LSD
Morphine
Amphetamines
(Prepared for
injecting)
Methadone
Opium
Magic mushrooms
Methamphetamine
____________
Poss:
7 years
Poss/Intent to Supply:
Life
Supply: Life
Class B
Amphetamines
Tranquillisers
Codeine
Barbiturates
Cannabis
Spice from 2010
Mephedrone
Naphyrone NRG1 & 2
Class C
Steroids
Temazepam
Diazapam
Valium
Librium
Ketamine from 2006
BZP from 2009
GBL from 2009
_____________
_____________
Poss:
5 Years
Poss: 2 Years
Poss/Intent to Supply: 14 Poss/Intent to Supply:
years
14years
Supply: 14 years
Supply: 14 years
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Types of drugs
Categories of drugs
Stimulants Depressants
(Downers)
(Uppers)
Hallucinogens
(Sideways)
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Drugs that stimulate the nervous
system
Drug names:
Cocaine
Crack Cocaine
Amphetamine Sulphate
Nicotine
Caffeine
Anabolic Steroids
Khat (Qat)
Crystal Meth
MCATT,MEOW
(Mephedrone)
GBL
Solvents
MDPV (Methelyne dioxy
pyrovalerone)
Signs and Symptoms
 Increased alertness
 Raises blood pressure &
heart rate
 Sweating
 Rapid breathing
 Insomnia
 Confidence
 Aggression
 Talkative
 Loss of appetite
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Cancer in the Nose
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Nose Damage
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Bleeding into the skin issue
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Methamphetamine/Crystal Meth/Ice
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MCAT (Mephedrone)
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BZP
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BZP Powder
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GBH/GBL
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Those that depress the nervous
system
Drug names:
Heroin
Opium
Morphine
Methadone
Alcohol
Barbiturates
Temazepines
Cannabis
Solvents
Spice
Signs and Symptoms
 Decreased alertness
 Low blood pressure,
heart rate & breathing
 Intoxication
 Slurred speech
 Un-coordinated
movements
 Pinpoint pupils
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Drugs that depress the nervous system
Alcohol
Solvents ,glue and gas
Heroin type drugs
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Spice
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Injecting tool kit
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A bit bunged up
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Those that alter perceptions
(mind affecting drugs)
Drug names:
LSD
Ecstasy
Magic Mushrooms
Cannabis
Ketamine
Alcohol
Signs and Symptoms
 Distorted
perceptions
 Distorted hearing,
smell & taste
 Paranoia
 Anxiety
 Mood swings
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Drugs that alter
perception
LSD
Cannabis
Magic Mushrooms
Flyagaric / Liberty
cap
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Signs & symptoms of drug use
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Uncharacteristic mood swings
Spending more time away from home
Lateness for, college, work, etc
Excessive borrowing of money
Stealing, lying & secretive behaviour
Poor appetites/ weight loss
The wearing of sunglasses at inappropriate times
Loss of concentration & losing interest
Deterioration in dress or in hygiene standards
Excessive sleeping, longer resting
Unusual aggression
Drunken appearance
Evidence of drug use, Paraphernalia
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PARAPHERNALIA
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Discoloured knives and spoons
Empty aerosol cans, plastic bags,
butane gas containers, lighters, etc
Discarded foil, discoloured possibly
Straws
Metal tins
Small plastic bottles
Shredded cigarettes
Matches, lighters, candles (especially if nonsmokers)
Small squares of paper folded to form
envelopes (Approx 2 inches)
Syringes, needles, unidentified tablets or
powders
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PARAPHERNALIA
Jiff bottles (citric acid) used in injecting
Water phials (pure water)
Tourniquets (to pump up veins)
Needle clippers (old discarded needles)
Syringe covers
Bongs
Pipes
Burnt spoons
Sterile wipes
Patchulli oil (to hide smells) used in
aromatherapy
 Jos sticks
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