Recent comments by Chief Constable Keith Hellawell raise once again the issue of pop stars exerting a baleful influence on the behaviours of young people. Drugs, demons and blue suede shoes (PDF)
Tag Archive for reasons for drug use
Druglink article 1996 – Heroin in the ’90s from A to B by Harry Shapiro
The first Druglink in May 1986 looked at the heroin situation in Britain. In this, our tenth anniversary issue, we revisit the drug and its new found publicity through Trainspotting and ask the question ” is smack back – or…
Druglink article 1995 – Forbidden pleasures: drugs and sexual desire by Tim Rhodes and Alan Quirk
In some drug taking circles taking drugs is thought to enhance sex and sex is thought to enhance drug effects. Interviews with 96 opiate or stimulant users revealed that many of these drugs did not live up to expectations. Drug users…
Druglink article 1994 – Peer pressure: a convenient explanation by Niall Coggins and Susan McKellar
The ideas that peer pressure and low self-esteem cause youth drug use lie behind many drug education programmes in Britain. Such ideas divert responsibility away from the drug user and from their parents and other carers, and conform to popular…
Druglink article 1992 – A researcher reports from the rave by Russell Newcombe
Many thousands of young people take LSD, ecstasy and amphetamine while attending rave dance events. Use is usually occasional and unproblematic but dangers arise from the uncertain composition and strength of the drugs. A minority of ravers take drug cocktails…
Druglink article 1991 – Could do better – an evaluation of drug education by Niall Coggins, David Shewan, Marion Henderson and John B. Davies
A government-funded evaluation of drug education in Scotland surveyed a quarter of mainstream secondary schools and nearly 1200 pupils. Packs aiming to improve decision-making skills were the dominant form of drug education. The study found drug education had no effect…
Druglink article 1990 – Running man – cheat or scapegoat? by Harry Shapiro
Campaigners against the use of drugs in sport argue in simplistic, crusading terms but there is a case for saying these arguments do not justify the restriction proposed. Behind the emotion generated by the issue may be an attempt to…
Druglink article 1988 – When time falls apart by Geoffrey Pearson
In order to explore new dimensions of the relationship between heroin use and unemployment, it is helpful to forget about heroin for a moment and focus on the lives of the unemployed. When time falls apart (PDF) Additional keywords: unemployment…
Druglink article from 1987 – Drugs and deprivation by Ira Unell
Politicians score points and academics wrangle, while to the ‘man in the street’ the relationship between drugs and deprivation probably seems beyond question. Ira Unell investigates one of the most politically sensitive issues in the drugs field today. Drugs and…
Is drug use mainly in deprived areas?
If we use a broad definition of drugs – to include alcohol, cigarettes, illegal and other socially unacceptable substances – it is clear that drug use is nearly everywhere. However, different people living in different areas may have different drug use…