What is tobacco? Tobacco is the dried leaves of plants from the Nicotiana genus that grow in many parts of the world. Around 70 species of tobacco are known, but the species grown commercially is usually N. tabacum. The main…
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Recovery
What is meant by recovery? Recovery means different things to different people but can generally be thought of as a process of improved physical, psychological, and social well-being and health after having a substance-related problem. It may or may not…
Needle exchanges
Needle and syringe exchange schemes provide injecting drug users with access to sterile needles, syringes and other equipment, and provide a means for drug users to safely dispose of used needles and syringes. This is important in helping to reduce…
Butane hash oil
BHO, Marijuana wax, budder, honeycomb, shatter, dab, amber, oil, wax butter Butane hash oil is made by using the solvent butane to dissolve THC (the main active ingredient in cannabis) from cannabis plant material. The highly concentrated oil is then…
Etizolam
Etilaam, Estazolan, Etizest, Etizola, Sedekopan, Depas, Pasaden. Etizolam is a benzodiazepine analogue. Analogues are chemically very similar to benzodiazepines but often considerably more potent. Etizolam has become a popular street drug in the UK. Download this DrugWatch factsheet on Etizolam…
Empathogen
Also known as entactogens The term empathogen means “generating a state of empathy” where empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Empathogenic drugs have psychoactive properties and can produce feelings of emotional connection and…
Betel Nut
Betel quid, Betel chew, Betel pan Betel nut (more correctly known as areca nut) is actually not a nut but the seed of the Areca palm, which grows in Southeast and South Asia, and in parts of east Africa. It…
Eutylone
Eutylone is a strong and long-lasting stimulant drug with empathogenic properties. (Empathogens are psychoactive substances that produce experiences of emotional connectivity and openness, such as MDMA). Eutylone was first developed in the 1960s but only seems to have come to…
The smoke and mirrors of vaping
A new report about the tobacco harm reduction potential of safer nicotine products (SNP) such as e-cigarettes tries to clear the air of lies, propaganda and misinformation confusing smokers and politicians alike. By Harry Shapiro I have spent the last…
No REST for the vulnerable
The threatened closure of London’s only specialist support service for those battling tranquiliser dependency underlines the parlous state of UK healthcare for this patient group. By Harry Shapiro Based in north London, REST (Recovery Experience Sleeping Tablets and Tranquilisers) has…