Newsletter Phone: 01978 295629 Email: in2change@wrexham.gov.uk Address: The Info Shop, Lambpit Street, Wrexham, LL11 1AR Spring Edition 2016
Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team
Siop Shop
In2change offers a fantastic Care for the Family parenting course called ‘How to Drug Proof your Kids’, free!! If you would like to make a referral, to book sessions at youth clubs or schools, or would like some advice then please contact us on the details above. Please contact Elise or Carly on 01978 295629
Voluntary engagement l Tailored and flexible support l Education on all drugs & alcohol l Sessions at venues chosen by young people l Diversionary activities for individuals & groups One to one support l Education l Harm reduction l Relapse prevention l Planned reductions Education sessions in schools, colleges & youth clubs on a number of topics: Alcohol awareness l Drugs & the law l Energy drinks l NPS (Illegal highs) Advice & support for professionals l Professionals training l Customised sessions to suit your needs
DRUG DRIVING AND THE LAW New drug driving laws were introduced across the UK on 2nd March 2015. Eight prescription drugs have been included in the list of drugs to be tested by police, with limits set above typically prescribed levels. As well as these prescription drugs, the list also includes eight illegal narcotics Cocaine, BZE (Benzoylecgonine) , Cannabis (THC) , Ketamine, LSD, Methyl amphetamine, MDMA , Heroin and Diamorphine. However roadside drug testing particularly focuses on the detection of cocaine and cannabis in a user’s system. These are known to impair a driver’s reaction times and functions. The use of these drugs can have a serious impact on a user’s ability to drive safely and therefore can put the driver and others at risk of being involved in serious road traffic accidents. The Drugalyser test is a roadside test that police can use if they feel that a driver is under the influence of drugs; they initially test a swab of saliva or sweat , if a positive test is recorded then the driver will be taken
to the police station for an evidential test. The evidential test will consist of a blood or urine sample being taken for analysis. The Drugalyser will most likely only detect THC use within the last 24 hours, but any subsequent testing may show results from 2 days to 28 days , dependent of the levels of use. Habitual heavy users can test positive for a longer period of time, as THC or traces of the formentioned drugs can be stored in body fat and re-released into the bloodstream when the fat is burned. If a driver tests positive for having more than 2µg of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol, or THC (the active compound found in cannabis), per 100ml of blood, then this is considered a positive test, and is likely to lead to prosecution. A 2-microgram limit for THC is considered extremely low and in some cases may equate to the users using less than a joints worth of the drug. The UK government makes no apologies for this, calling it a “zero tolerance” approach rather than a “road safety” approach. The illicit drug limits have been set at the lowest possible level that rules out accidental exposure or ‘passive inhalation’.
Under the new laws, the prosecution does not have to prove that a person’s driving was impaired, simply that the drugs were present in the system. If this can be proven, then the minimum penalty is a 12-month disqualification from driving, a maximum £5,000 fine and up to six months in prison. More serious charges may also be brought if you were found to have caused an accident, caused injury, or caused damage to property, and tested positive for cannabis.
under who may If you have concerns about a young person aged 18 or e contact in2change benefit from support around their substance use pleas . where we can work with them to achieve their goals