Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is an offence to:
If you are concerned about drug use or drug dealing in your area, contact Surrey Police on 101 or Crimestoppers (if you wish to stay anonymous) on 0800 555 111.
Drugs and young people: If your child is taking drugs, you may notice changes in their behaviour, such as sudden mood swings, bad temper and aggressiveness, loss of appetite, loss of interest in sports, hobbies, schoolwork or friends, and needing more sleep. Other signs might include money disappearing, smells, stains or marks on their body or clothes, and powders, tablets, burnt tinfoil or needles in their possession.
If your child is taking drugs, the dangers are from accidents while intoxicated, accidental overdose or becoming addicted. Drugs also have side-effects which include hallucinations, mental and emotional disorders, infections, sores, blood poisoning, and other illnesses. Drugs can also be fatal.
Solvents: Solvents are found in products like aerosols, glue, lighter fuel, paint and petrol. When their vapours are inhaled, they produce a similar effect to alcohol.
Sniffing these vapours can depress the bodily functions like breathing and heart rate, and can cause disorientation and unconsciousness. Solvent sniffers can lose control of their behaviour, become more reckless and less able to deal with danger.
Solvent abuse can cause death through suffocation, or from fright or exertion through the effect it has on the heart. Someone who has sniffed until they are unconscious can die through choking on their own vomit.
If you think your child is taking drugs, you can seek help through one of the following links:
National drugs helpline: www.talktofrank.com
Tacade: (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education for Children and Young People) www.tacade.com
The Samaritans: www.samaritans.org
ADFAM: (Information and support for the families of drug and alcohol users) www.adfam.org.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk