Current Trends:
NPS and Young People in Midlothian
Contents
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Overview of MYPAS services
A warning from history and an experts view
Emerging trends in Midlothian
One to one support – drug of choice and how old?
Trends – factors affecting change
Young people’s NPS of choice: introducing
Synthetic cannabinoids
Key points
Contact Details
Overview of MYPAS Services
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Sexual health = Drop-ins in Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg
and Penicuik
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Mental health =
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Substance use = One to one support, group work
and educational inputs
Counselling, Art Therapy and
Family Counselling
Mephedrone: a warning from history
In 2009 the Sun ran the following headline about
mephedrone:
“Legal drug teen ripped his scrotum off”
Other myths the media often repeated during 2010:
 mephedrone had led to the deaths of over 20 people
(not one coroner blamed these solely on the drug)
 teachers were unable to confiscate the drug from
pupils
An expert’s view on mephedrone
“Mephedrone was the perfect drug….Water-soluble,
not that toxic, and a very effective stimulant.
Enormously enjoyable, users say, and very profitable
for the dealers. People absolutely loved it. Well, they
still do, actually – Britain is awash with the stuff.”
John Ramsey – Toxicologist at St George’s Medical
School
Emerging trends in Midlothian
Handle this information with care:
 Alcohol still widely used
 Increasing use of energy drinks
 More reporting of cannabis use
 More reporting of use of New Psychoactive
Substances – synthetic cannabinoids
 Ecstasy makes a comeback
 Increased reporting of use of Diazepam
One to one support – drug of choice
April 14 to end Dec 14 = 46 young people engaged in
on-going support (22 female and 24 male)
Primary drug of choice reported at assessment:
 Cannabis: 25 (13 also reported use of NPS)
 Alcohol:
13
 NPS:
6
 Ecstasy: 1
 Diazepam: 1
One to one support – how old?
Age range (at time of referral):
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12 years: 1
13 years: 7
14 years: 13
15 years: 12
16+ years: 13
Trends – factors affecting change
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Cost
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Purity
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Prevalence
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Legal status
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Social acceptability
Young people’s NPS of choice: introducing
Synthetic cannabinoids
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First on sale in the early 2000s
Often powder/crystal form – sprayed onto inert plant
material
Varying degrees of potency – pinch the size of a
match head is an active dose
£5 to 20 per gram – cheaper than cannabis
Mostly smoked (joints, bongs) can be eaten
Legality – regularly changes. Bags sold can include
illegal chemicals.
Cost of synthetic cannabinoids
Cost of synthetic cannabinoid brands sold in well known
head shop in Edinburgh on the 29th July 2014
Cheapest brands listed: Diesel, Hazel, Amnesia, Puff, Blend 88
 1g - £5, 4g - £17.50, 0.5oz - £50, 1oz - £90
More expensive brands:
 Chillum Black and Puff Adder: 1g - £13, 3g - £22
 Gold Seal: 1g - £12, 3g - £26
 Soft Black: 1g - £8, 3g - £20
 Dutchy: 1g - £8, 3g - £18
Flavoured variety:
 Herb – ½ g £5, 3½ g - £20
Synthetic cannabinoids
Effects:
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Some people may get the giggles, feel hunger pangs
and become very talkative. Others get more drowsy.
Mood and perception can change and concentration
and co-ordination may become difficult.
Some will have quite bad reactions. Paranoia, panic
attacks, vomiting, aggression and forgetfulness are
all associated with use
Dependency and withdrawals
Key points
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Is everything you read or are told about NPS true?
Numbers of young people reporting NPS use has
increased in the past few years
More 12 to 14 year olds are being referred for
support
The popularity of drugs (including NPS) can change
over short periods of time
Synthetic cannabinoids are readily available,
attractively packaged for young people, cheaper
than cannabis and often more potent
Contact details
Paul Hunter (Team Leader)
Midlothian Young People’s Advice Service (MYPAS)
Tolbooth Hall
176 High Street
Dalkeith EH22 1AY
Tel:
Fax:
Email:
Web:
0131 454 0757
0131 454 0844
enquiries@mypas.co.uk
www.mypas.co.uk