Youth Matters - BLOG

The top 5 drugs that young people get hooked on are:

1. Cannabis
2. Cocaine
3. Ecstasy
4. Hallucinogens (e.g. magic mushrooms, LSD)
5. Amphetamines (speed)

Other legal drugs - like alcohol, glue, petrol and aerosols - can also be addictive.

So what gets young people hooked?

• Image/pressure - you might take drugs to look cool

• Personal problems - you might be stressed, lonely or unhappy

• Feeling - you might like the feeling and want to keep experimenting

• Confidence - you might feel more sure of yourself when you take drugs

Let us know what you think. Do you agree or disagree with these reasons? Any more to add?

How do you know if you’re addicted?

If you think about drugs and alcohol all the time, find it hard to say 'no' or think they're a big part of your life, you might be addicted.

Where to get help

Talking to someone you trust - like a friend, family member or your doctor - can really help.

These websites will also point you in the right direction:

Drugscope
Frank
Know Cannabis

The top 5 drugs that young people get hooked on are:

1. Cannabis
2. Cocaine
3. Ecstasy
4. Hallucinogens (e.g. magic mushrooms, LSD)
5. Amphetamines (speed)

Other legal substances – like alcohol, glue, petrol and aerosols – can also be addictive.

So what gets young people hooked?

•    Image/pressure – you might take drugs to look cool
•    Personal problems – you might be stressed, lonely or unhappy
•    Feeling – you might like the feeling and want to keep experimenting
•    Confidence – you might feel more sure of yourself when you take drugs

Let us know what you think.

Do you agree or disagree with these reasons? 

Any more to add?

 

How do you know if you’re addicted?  

If you think about drugs and alcohol all the time, find it hard to say ‘no’ or think they’re a big part of your life, you might be addicted.

 

Where to get help

Talking to someone you trust – like a friend, family member or your doctor – can really help.

These websites will also point you in the right direction:

http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/databases/helpfinder.htm
www.talktofrank.com
http://www.knowcannabis.org.uk/

Did you know that...

• South London has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the UK?

• Young people under 20 get 40% of all cases of gonorrhoea?

• The highest rates of chlamydia are in 15 to19-year-old females and 20 to 24-year-old males?

• Genital warts and herpes are increasing in young people?

If you're under 18 and in need of some friendly and helpful advice, call the FREE Sexwise helpline on 0800 28 29 30. It's open 7 days a week from 7am-midnight.

You can also visit www.ruthinking.co.uk for more information about contraception, sex and relationships.

Sexual health clinics for young people

Read more: Sexual health – advice and services

 

Useful Contacts for Young People

The following group of pages provide contact details of key social support
organisations providing useful advise to young people.

 

 

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Home and Away	Unit 6, Hermes House, 59 Josephine Avenue, London SW2 2JZ 020 8671 9292	Ages: 13-21 years Support for you and your families Emergency accommodation
Talk Don’t Walk	www.talkdontwalk.org.uk	Support and advice if you’ve run away from home or care (or are thinking about running away)
Shelter	www.shelter.org.uk/knowyourrights	Ages: 16-25 years Housing and homeless advice

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
After Adoption	www.afteradoption.org.uk	Support and advice if you’re adopted
The Who Cares? Trust	www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk/	Support if you’re living in care
Voice for the Child in Care	www.voiceyp.org	Telephone advice and info if you’re living in care
A National Voice	www.anationalvoice.org	Online info and support if you’re living in care or leaving care

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Angries Out	www.angriesout.com	Info on how to manage anger

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Bullying UK	www.bullying.co.uk	Help and advice for you and your parents if you’re being bullied (or have been bullied)
Beat Bullying	www.beatbullying.org	Help and advice about bullying
Voice for the Child in Care	www.voiceyp.org	Telephone advice and info if you’re living in care
Childline	www.childline.org.uk	FREE 24-hour helpline if you’re in trouble, danger or distress

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
	www.depressioninteenagers.co.uk	Self help ideas and relaxation techniques if you’re suffering from depression
Student’s Against Depression	www.studentdepression.org	Infor and help if you’re feeling depressed

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Life Train	www.lifetrain.org.uk	Training and life skills for young people and people with disabilities

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Divorce Aid	www.divorceaid.co.uk	Advice and support if you’re parents are divorced or going through a divorce
	www.itsnotyourfault.org	Infor on divorce and separation

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Frank	www.talktofrank.com	FREE 24-hour, confidential drug and alcohol advice

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Beat	www.b-eat.co.uk	Info on eating disorders, how to get help and how to help someone you know with an eating disorder

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Youth Health Talk	www.youthhealthtalk.org	Interviews with young people about their experience of health or illness
National Youth Advocacy Service	www.nyas.net	Ages: up to 25 years Info, advice and legal representation

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
NRG CENTRAL (based in Waterloo)NRG CENTRAL (based in Waterloo)	www.queeryouth.org.uk 020 7816 4754 (Tim or Marcia) 07771 858057 (Text) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Email)	Ages: up to 25 years Social group and support for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual (LGB) youth

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
RD4U	www.rd4u.org.uk/	Support for people after the death of someone close

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
YoungMinds	www.youngminds.org.uk/	Advice and support on depression, bullying, eating disorders, mental illness in the family and self harm
	www.need2know.co.uk/health	Info and advice on health, mental health and body matters

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Muslim Youth Helpline	www.myh.org.uk 0808 808 2008	Ages: up to 25 Helpline support for Muslims

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
409 Project	142 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9TQ 020 7326 5138	Ages: 10-16 years Support for young offenders or young people at risk of offending

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Chat Danger	www.chatdanger.com	Advice on staying safe online, online games, chatrooms, email and mobile phones
Thinkuknow	www.thinkuknow.co.uk/	Advice on internet safety and info popular sites, mobiles and new technology
Miss Dorothy	www.missdorothy.com	Info and advice on things like personal and internet safety and domestic violence

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Sexwise	www.ruthinking.co.uk	Ages: 12-18 years Info, advice and guidance on sexuality and sexual health
Brook	www.brook.org.uk	FREE and confidential sexual health advice
Fpa England	www.fpa.org.uk	Details on family planning and sexual health clinics including information on contraception, common sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
Like it is	www.likeitis.org/indexuk.html	Info on puberty, emergency contraception, sexuality, peer pressure, sex and teenage pregnancy
	www.channel4.com/health/microsites/L/lgb_teens	Info and advice about sexuality, with flirting tips, quizzes, blogs and videos
	www.playingsafely.co.uk	Advice and info on STIs and how to find your local GUM clinic

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Young Carers Project	Lambeth Crossroads, Laburnum Court, Barstow Crescent, Palace Road, London SW2 3NS 020 8678 5605	Ages: 5-18 years Support, info, social activities and holidays if you’re helping to look after someone with a disability or long-term illness
	www.youngcarers.net	Online support for young carers, with chatroom and discussion boards

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Newpin young Mum's Project	163 Commercial Way, Peckham, London SE15 1AU 020 7252 8283	Ages: 14-21 years Support and counselling for mothers

Name of the Organisation	Web Address/address	Details
Need 2 Know	www.need2know.co.uk/	Info and advice on health, money, travel, relationships, learning, work, law, housing and the environment
Connexions Direct	www.connexions-direct.com/	Support and advice on education, training and employment
Direct Gov	www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/index.htm	Help and advice on health and relationships, work and careers, money, crime and justice
Lambeth Young People	www.younglambeth.org/	Info about services, activities and events in Lambeth
Youth 2 Youth	www.youth2youth.co.uk	Emotional support by young people, for young people.
Get Connected	www.getconnected.org.uk 0808 808 4994	FREE telephone and email helpline connecting you to UK helplines
BBC	www.bbc.co.uk/switch/surgery/advice	Advice and info on bullying, sex and relationships, drink and drugs, body and mind
Faces in Focus	www.facesinfocus.org.uk	Ages: 13-25 years Counselling and advice
The Site	www.thesite.org	Advice, info and support for young people on sex, relationships, drugs, drink, health, wellbeing, work and study
Youth Access	www.youthaccess.org.uk	Online info on local advice, counselling and support services
R U OK	www.ru-ok.com	Info on coping with common and sometimes serious problems
Youth Information	www.youthinformation.com	Info on crime, law, justice, family, relationships, health and housing