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NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Discover insights from a focus group of injecting drug users in 2010, discussing synthetic drugs like Mephedrone and Methylone. Learn about effects, user testimonials, negative impacts, and harm reduction practices. Uncover the dangers and strategies related to the use of these substances.

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NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

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  1. NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Headshop Powders & The Experiences of Drug Users Ruaidhri McAuliffe UISCE/NICDTF

  2. Focus group January 2010 • 10 Participants • All Injecting Drug Users • All clients of Merchant’s Quay / Failtiu • Drug Treatment Centre Board 209 urine tests: 14% Mephedrone 3% Methylone

  3. What they said….. • “It’s exactly like coke, but it’s cheaper and the buzz lasts longer” • “people selling the coke are going mad” • “The shops should all be closed down (because) it’s too cheap and too nice”

  4. Effects: • Euphoric / Amphetamine effect • “Chatty Buzz” • “Love Buzz” • Self-medicating for depression

  5. “Comedown” Paranoia Compulsive re-dosing Addiction? Disorientation “Talkin’ bullshit” Poly-drug use Abscesses Insomnia Psychoses Destabilisation Money trouble Negative Effects:

  6. The Internet • User’s forum • Testimonials • Direct purchases • Monitoring Google searches: “Buy Mephedrone” • Mix Mag survey: 42% lifetime use 34% in last month www.rednetproject.eu

  7. Internet testimonials: ‘The old stuff was clean, had a great dance, chatty then headed off to bed at 5am and had a lovely sleep. No hangover the next day and ready for breakfast’ ‘Very similar to the old crazy snow from months ago. be careful though’ ‘What’s the story? did it get stronger or what? coz I’ve done it before, a load of times, but mad to come down off’

  8. Harm Reduction • Dearth of harm reduction messages • “Don’t use alone” • “Drink plenty of water” • Complementary drugs • Filtering? • Point of sale information • Information at Needle Exchanges

  9. Harm Reduction • Filter drugs before injecting • Snort/sniff rather than inject • Drop (“Bomb”) rather than snort • Avoid alcohol and other drugs

  10. Thank You Ruaidhri McAuliffe Coordinator UISCE (Union for Improved Services, Communication & Education) 53 Parnell Square West Dublin 1 uiscepost@hotmail.com

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