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- Info & Advice on Drugs In Scotland

Drugs' Effect on You

Purity

There's no 'quality control' for illegal drugs. Speed, for example, is rarely more than 5% pure. The rest is made up of anything that looks like a white powder - often glucose or baby milk powder.

How Drugs Are Taken

Drugs can be swallowed, sniffed, smoked or injected, depending on the type used. Injecting is the worst way to take drugs for many reasons: There’s a higher risk of overdose, and if injecting equipment is shared, infections like hepatitis C, HIV (the virus that can lead to AIDS) and/or septicemia can be easily passed from person to person.

Situation

Drugs can affect you differently depending on where you are and what you're doing. If you've taken ecstasy and gone out dancing to a very hot and crowded club, you're much more likely to suffer from dehydration and heat stroke. And driving under the influence of any drug can be just as dangerous, and illegal, as drinking and driving.

Mood

Your mood can affect how you react to drugs, especially with mind-altering, hallucinogenic drugs. After taking acid, for instance, you're much more likely to have a bad trip if you’re in a bad mood or with people you don't know or like.