Advice & info on common party drugs

We hold a harm reduction policy regarding drugs and alcohol. This means we acknowledge that drug consumption is illegal, and we do not condone the use of drugs at HSU, but we understand that does not stop people from using them. Our priority is the wellbeing of our students, and we want to provide you with information that could help you stay safe if you or your friends choose to take drugs.

Select the following drop-downs to view descriptions and advice around common party drugs. 

Cocaine

Cocaine is classified as a Stimulant on the Drugs Wheel (Increases energy, alertness and heart-rate).

Cocaine is normally snorted, although it can be absorbed through soft tissue like the gums. Some people will choose to inject cocaine, but it is normally turned into crack before being injected.

People use cocaine to increase confidence and feel more alert, especially when drinking alcohol. Because cocaine increases the electrical activity in the brain and alcohol slows it down, people find cocaine can counteract the effects of alcohol and they feel unable to get drunk when using cocaine.

But all the usual risks of drinking alcohol are still there, impaired decision making and judgement, strain on the liver and dehydration – which will result in an hangover combined with a comedown!

Cocaine releases large dumping of dopamine on the receptors, dopamine is associated with rewards. We get hits of dopamine when we have achieved something – and what our brain hears is “whatever you just did, do more of that”.

Tips when taking cocaine: Cocaine is rarely 100% pure. We always recommend testing before taking anything, so you can get a better picture of what you are ingesting. When snorting, be hygienic. Use a clean straw, not a bank note and clean surfaces. Grind the cocaine into a fine powder to prevent clumps. This will stop you snorting too much at once. Tell your friends what and how much you’ve taken Start low, go slow

Signs of a cocaine overdose: Seizures Confusion Tremors Difficulty breathing Vomiting Fast heart rate High body temperature Nausea Paranoia Hallucinations Anxiety or panic

If you think you or someone you know is having an overdose, seek medical help by ringing 999 immediately. You or the person you are with will not get into trouble.

MDMA (Molly/Ecstasy)

MDMA is classified as an empathogen on the Drugs Wheel. Empathogens increase a person’s feeling of empathy and benevolence towards others, as well as feelings of being socially accepted and connected. MDMA is commonly sold in powder form, thought to be purer than pills (‘ecstasy’). The contents of ecstasy pills are unpredictable and can be a combination of MDMA, caffeine, ketamine, MDA, methamphetamine, PMA, and many others.

Advice on taking MDMA:

MDMA is also sometimes taken nasally. The effects take shorter to appear, but this is not recommended, as it decreases the length of the experience, cause nasal pain and can cause a more severe comedown. If you were to snort MDMA, make sure the powder/crystal is finely crushed. Clean your nostrils after snorting and alternate them if snorting more than once. You can also take MDMA orally which will have less damage but you should be mindful of your teeth and gum health.

Tips when taking MDMA:

MDMA and ecstasy are often mixed with other chemicals, from caffeine to methamphetamine. We recommend that you always test your pills using a Test Kit. Accidental deaths have occurred due to ingesting compounds such as PMMA in a pill that was thought to be MDMA.

Drink around 500 ml of water (2-3 glasses of water) per hour to avoid overheating and dehydration. Excessive water decreases salts in the body, so be careful not to drink too much as this can be fatal.

MDMA can change your body temperature regulation, while dancing increases your body temperature. These combined can lead to heat stroke, so take a break from dancing from time to time to cool down.

A common mistake which can lead to a bad experience (or even to hospitalisation) is taking another dose of MDMA because the first one did not have an effect. This leads to ‘coming up’ twice as hard, which is very dangerous. MDMA takes a long time to digest and absorb, so be patient, and wait for it to kick in.

Tell your friends what you have taken and how much.

Signs of an overdose: Vomiting Headaches Dizziness Serotonin syndrome: increased heart rate, shivering, twitching, over-responsive reflexes, extremely high temperatures

If you or someone you are with is experiencing these symptoms, ring 999. You/the person feeling ill will not get into trouble.

Ketamine

Ketamine is classed as a dissociative on the?Drugs Wheel?(Meaning it distorts the user’s experience of sights, sound, and touch as well as perspective on time and reality). Most people choose to snort ketamine, but it can also be swallowed or injected. Low doses can give the user a sense of euphoria, calmness, and an enhanced sense of connection with people and things, but bigger doses increase the likelihood of having a more negative experience, such as K-holing. “Falling into a K-hole" means the user has used a high dose of ketamine (this will vary depending on tolerance) and the user is no longer able to control movement of the body and the awareness of the world around them can become impaired – unfortunately people in this state can be vulnerable to sexual assaults, muggings or hyperthermia from passing-out outside on a cold night, and is often an unpleasant experience.

Whilst using ketamine on its own does have its risks, most people who die or end up in hospital from using ketamine have combined it with another substance.

Ketamine + Depressants like alcohol, GHB or benzos can have a rapid and unexpected effect, resulting in falling unconscious, slowing or stopping the breathing and chocking on vomit.

Ketamine + Stimulants like cocaine or MDMA will add more strain on the heart, some users report increased anxiety or an inability to judge risks like how far away a car is when crossing the road or how high a wall is when jumping off.

Ketamine bladder – with regular usage, ketamine can cause irreversible damage to the lining of the bladder and in severe cases people have had their bladder removed and a catheter is used to remove urine from the body.

Whilst that all sounds very scary, if you are experiencing difficulties urinating or bladder discomfort from using ketamine, most people find if they stop using ketamine early on in this process their body can heal itself without serious medical intervention.

If you’re concerned about your bladder due to your ketamine use, speak to your GP as soon as possible.

How to reduce risk

Mindset

If you're in a bad headspace or you are under a lot of stress, this is likely to affect the experience you have. Using any substance to escape feeling bad can result in the user not being able to control how much they use, and it doesn’t always work how they intended it to. Sometimes it can intensify the negative feelings you were feeling beforehand, and will make you feel worse, not better.

Setting

Use in a safe environment with people you trust. It’s really important to let people know what you’ve taken and how much, so they have the right information should you need medical help. Many people consider trying a new drug at a festival, this can be a really challenging environment – loud music, thousands of people and the only safe space being a tent can be really overwhelming and can be a factor in some people having a bad experience on trippy drugs like ketamine or LSD. The same is also true for large club events or raves.

Start low, go slow.

Start with a small amount, especially with a new batch. Remember just because someone has offered you a line or pill – you don’t need to do the whole lot, everyone's tolerance will vary and what suits someone else might not suit you. Allow plenty of time before redosing - it can take up to 30 minutes to feel the full effects. You should also avoid mixing alcohol and different drugs as this can change or increase the effects substances may have you on you and certain combinations can be dangerous.

Test before you ingest!

Testing kits, or reagent test kits are legal and available online. These tests can tell you what drug you are taking. Often drug related hospitalisations occur when someone takes a drug thinking it’s something else, like methoxetamine, which looks the same as ketamine but is more potent and therefore more dangerous. Drugs and Me is a brilliant resource for information and advice about a huge range drugs. It includes info about dosing, onset, effects, duration and interactions with other drugs and risks. Check it out!

Safe(r) Ways to Use Drugs

  • Smoking: Using a pipe, bong, or stem. Make sure you have your own mouthpiece or filter.
  • Snorting: Crush the powder as fine as possible and do not share straws or roll-ups.
  • Swallowing: Mix your own drink and wait an hour before consuming more. Do not share drinks.
  • Injecting: Do not share equipment such as needles, syringes, and gear.

Safe Travel

  • Try and have a designated driver.
  • Only go home with friends.
  • Either way make sure you plan your route, how long it will take you and text a sober friend that you're setting off.
  • Make sure your card has enough money in, and that your phone has enough charge!
  • If you are in immediate risk, Call 999.
  • If it is a non-emergency, call 101.

Myths about drugs and alcohol

  • A person cannot overdose the first time taking a drug. 

    Fact: Drug overdose happens when a person takes too much of a drug. So, an overdose can happen at any time and to anyone.

  • A person cannot overdose on marijuana. 

    Fact: Fatal overdose from only marijuana is very unlikely, but it is still likely that people can consume or smoke too much of the drug. Too much marijuana can cause anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, fast heart rate, delusions, hallucinations, confusion, and severe nausea.

  • If you have been using drugs for a prolonged period, it is impossible to overdose.

    Fact: An overdose can occur at any given time to anyone consuming too much of a drug.

  • If someone is overdosing, give them a cold bath or shower. 

    Fact: It is never a good idea to give a person who is overdosing on drugs a cold bath or shower. Changing an individual's body temperature too quickly can cause them to go into shock and this results in their body shutting down.

  • A person cannot overdose on prescribed medication.

    Fact: If an individual takes more medication than prescribed, there is a high risk of them overdosing.

  • A person cannot overdose on inhalants. 

    Fact: Anyone can overdose on inhalants, even after using them once.

  • You can ‘sober up’.

    Fact: Alcohol and any other drugs affect people differently, and this can depend on weight, medications, age, how much was consumed, what was eaten and how healthy the individual is. Only time will allow alcohol to wear off.

  • Alcohol makes sex better.

    Fact: There is a direct link between drinking and the risk of committing sexual assault. Furthermore, a person who is intoxicated cannot give consent to any sexual activity.

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