Chemists are staying one step ahead of drug laws by toying with the chemical make-up of illegal stimulants such as ecstasy, speed and crystal meth to make an increasingly popular range of legal highs. Mike Power reports on the substances…
Tag Archive for firsthand accounts
Druglink article 2008 – Peaking vallies by Max Daly
Diazepam is set for a return to notoriety – not in its previous incarnation in the 60s and 70s as one of ‘mother’s little helpers’ – but as a rising player in the illicit drugs market among Class A users.…
Druglink article 2008 – In the flesh by Beth
In the wake of the launch of the new drug strategy, the daily grind of dealing face-to-face with some of the UK’s most damaged people carries on regardless. In this frank and revealing piece, drug worker ‘Beth’ describes the two…
Druglink article 2008 – The only ones by Diane Taylor
As the pull-out section of this issue bares out, what constitutes ‘successful’ drug treatment is a much disputed battle zone. What is certain, is that people’s path out of drug addiction is always unique. Diane Taylor interviews Marc about his…
Druglink article 2007 – Damaged lives by Adrian Clarke
Between 2004 and 2006, Adrian Clarke, a former duty solicitor at King’s Cross police station, photographed and interviewed a network of people in the North east linked to Gary Crooks, an ex-drug dealer, gangster and armed robber. The result, Gary’s…
Druglink article 2007 – The land that time forgot by Chris Drouet
The history of heroin prescribing is a colourful tale of maverick doctors and moral outrage. Chris Drouet, who was a scripted heroin user in the 60s and 70s, describes an era of caring and chaos. The land that time forgot…
Druglink article 2007 – Methadone in the madness by Peter Wayne
He has spent 25 of the last 30 years committing petty crime to fund a drugs habit – only to be locked up in jails teeming with drugs. But Peter Wayne’s dealings with a disjointed criminal justice system look set…
Druglink article 2006 – The waltz of addiction by John B Davies
The treatment industry is perpetuating addiction by colluding with drug users to cast them as helpless victims rather than people capable of taking charge of their lives. John B Davies on the downside to just going through the motions. The…
Druglink article 2006 – Junky journals: writing through the wringer by Peter McDermott
The appearance of an addiction memoir at the top of the US bestseller list reflects the growing popularity of ‘my drug hell’ books. Junky journals: writing through the wringer (PDF)
Druglink article 2005 – For tomorrow we die by Mark White
The gay club scene has a reputation as a trend-setter for new chemical highs and for heavy drug use. Mark White on how a powerful brew of sex, hedonism and liberation has combined to push the boundaries of how the…