Crashtest.im

There is no failsafe guide as to how much you can drink and stay under the limit. The amount and type of alcoholic drink and your weight, size, age and metabolism will all play their part. Any amount of alcohol will affect your judgment, starting with your judgment about whether you should have another drink.

The legal alcohol limit for drivers on the Isle of Man is:

• - 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath
• - 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood
• - 107 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine

Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive - even a single drink affects your driving performance.

If you drive after drinking, you’ll:

• - be less alert and careful, however slowly you drive
• - have trouble judging your speed
• - be slower to react to hazards and it will take you longer to stop

There’s no safe way to calculate how much alcohol you can drink and stay below the limit. The way alcohol affects you depends on:

• - your weight, age, sex and metabolism (the rate at which your body uses energy)
• - your stress levels at the time
• - what you have eaten recently
• - the type and amount of alcohol you’re drinking

The only way to be sure you’re not over the limit is not to drink any alcohol if you’re driving.

The answer to this question will vary from country-to-country and the response below is based on current Manx law. In short, the answer is no, it is currently illegal to use marijuana/cannabis for medicinal purposes.

People have used marijuana/cannabis for all sorts of medical reasons over the years to treat things like nausea, pain and insomnia.  It has also been used by people suffering from multiple sclerosis to relax muscles and relieve pain.  There have been cases where individuals have used cannabis as a way of coping with stress or anxiety.  However, regardless of the reasons why, the use of cannabis remains illegal. In some situations the case for any real benefit is doubtful too.  This is especially true for mental health issues: cannabis should be avoided wherever there is a history of mental health problems or where there is a family history of mental illness.

On the more technical side, cannabis itself has no approved medical use and cannot be prescribed by doctors on the Isle of Man.  A cannabis extract has been developed as an oral spray, but this is specifically for use for those with multiple sclerosis.  A synthetic cannabinoid has been developed to counteract nausea in those undergoing chemotherapy.  With both of these drugs there needs to be very specific medical conditions before a prescription will be written.  So the answer to the question is yes you can use prescribed marijuana/cannabis for medicinal reasons but only under tight conditions. Any other cannabis use is against the law.

Yes, Crash Test Tim offers anonymous help and advice on drugs, sexual health and alcohol. You can submit a question with or without contact details. Where a contact email is provided this will be used solely to reply to your question, after which your contact details will be deleted. If you don’t provide a contact email address just check back to the FAQ section of the site and we’ll post a response to your question there.

Thanks for asking and feel free to ask anything you want on sex, drugs or alcohol.

I am concerned about the side effects of this mephedrone stuff. Particularly I am concerned about info/comments regarding impotence as a side effect. Can you give me some info on whether or not this is a confirmed side effect and how commonly it occurs or quickly it develops? Also, is there anyway to verify that this stuff is in fact mephedrone?

Buying something off the streets especially when you don’t know your supplier is always dangerous.

With regard to Mephedrone itself the longer term effects are unknown as yet as this is a relatively new drug. What is known is that it can raise blood pressure, cause agitation, poor sleep, anxiety, weight loss and mood changes especially when used in high amounts. All these effects could potentially cause impotence/erectile dysfunction/loss of libido.

Both Methadone and Mephedrone can be detected in urine but only for a limited period of time.

The purity of Mephedrone has definitely reduced and has been found to be mixed with a lot of different substances.

When it comes to testing Mephedrone the police are obviously able to do this through their labs but I doubt if the police would check the substance out and if they did and it contained an illegal substance then it would be likely that you would be charged with possession.

If you are worried about having any of these symptoms you should consider approaching your GP for a physical check which will be conducted confidentially.

I’d also say if you are concerned about the group you are associating with or the purity of the substance that you really should consider whether it is worth the risk.

(I’m assuming you’re talking about Cocaine. If not then the answer is probably just bad for your teeth.)

A tricky one to answer as everyone’s definition of ‘bad’ is different. There are plenty of facts to show that Cocaine is harmful and perhaps by sharing these you can make your own mind up.

The way in which cocaine works on your body means that it can affect both your physical and mental health.

Cocaine is toxic to your heart and can lead to heart attacks, in fact it is thought to be one of the more common causes of heart attacks in the under 40`s.  Taken with Alcohol, Cocaine forms another drug called Cocaethylene which is highly toxic to your liver and heart and leads to an 18-25 fold increase in risk of sudden death. Really does make you think!

Cocaine can cause seizures, raise your blood pressure and increase risk of stroke.

In Pregnancy Cocaine use increases the risk of miscarriage. Babies born to mothers using Cocaine are often premature and have low birth weights.

Some of the effects of Cocaine use can include anxiety, panic attacks, depression, paranoia and have even been known to trigger a schizophrenic like illness. Snorting Cocaine can cause nosebleeds and in some cases the destruction of the lining of your nose.

The purity of the drug has reduced in recent years so you can never tell what other substances you`re ingesting if you take Cocaine. It has been found to be mixed with a variety of substances such as mouth ointments, treatments for tape worm, drugs to lower your blood pressure, and banned painkillers that are thought to cause cancers.

Cocaine use has been implicated in 16% of all drug related deaths and this appears to be a rising trend.

i had sex but with a condom but my period is a few days late, there was a 
hole in the condom though, am i pregnant?

I can imagine that you’re a little worried and anxious at the moment so the best thing is to get the facts.

If your period is late and you have had sex where contraception has failed, like a condom with a hole or condom slipping off, or if contraception has not been used there is always a risk that a pregnancy could happen.

With out you taking a pregnancy test it’s impossible to say if you can be pregnant.  It’s really important that you get a test to know for sure. You can buy a self-test from the chemist or get one from the family planning clinic or possibly even your own GP for free. Maybe you can ask your boyfriend or another friend or relative to help you. But please don’t just wait for your period, get tested so you will know and can then decide what to do next.

I’ve provided an answer to a similar question here, which should help.

If you’re worried you should certainly go and speak to a professional who will be able to provide confidential advice and let you know if you are pregnant or not.

Option 1 - Go and see the Practice Nurse at your GP Practice as they will be able to advise, if the Practice Nurse is not available leave your telephone number with the receptionist and they will pass on your number for the Practice Nurse to call you.

Option 2 - Visit the Family Planning Clinic they will also be able to advise you.

Option 3 - Speak to a Pharmacist for advice.

I hope this helps and good luck.

The best thing is to get your son’s bleeding checked out medically as there’s no way of knowing what’s really causing it without a proper examination, regardless of the suspected cause. Your son’s GP will be able to provide specific confidential medical advice and will do this with the least embarrassment. It’s really important to get this checked.

If you are worried about your son’s drinking and drug taking then there are a number of places you can go for help – both for you as a parent and for your son.

If you look at the Help and Advice section on the Crash Test Tim website it provides the contact details for Isle of Man drug and alcohol services who will be able to speak to you and your son and provide any help or support you need.

OK, my area of expertise is usually around drugs, and sexual health but I’m happy to give my point of view on relationships too

In my opinion I’d just say be confident, make conversation and ask him if he’d like to go to the cinema, bowling or whatever it is you think you might have in common.

It’s always going to be a little scary but that’s all part of the fun. If you really don’t know how he’ll respond then just be prepared for if he does say no and don’t feel bad, these things happen and there can be all sorts of reasons – he might be shy and nervous or he may not be ready for going on a date.

Talk to your friends too, they can be good support when you need it most. Good luck!

Blood in the urine (called haematuria in medical speak!) is most commonly caused by a urine infection and there can be pain when you wee or when you want to wee too. It’s important to see a doctor who can check it out with a quick ‘dipstick’ test into a sample of your wee and give you antibiotics if needed. Don’t be embarrassed doctors are used to seeing other peoples wee!

Blood in your wee could also be because you’re having your period (if you’re a girl obviously – not a boy!) or because you have damaged the skin around where the urine comes out of your body somehow – again its good idea to see a doctor if it doesn’t stop soon.

The person best placed to answer this question would perhaps be the GP who identified the irregular heartbeat in your daughter.

It really is impossible to say without conducting a physical examination and assessment as irregular heartbeat can be attributed to a number of causes.

As a fairly new drug, the long-term effects of mephedrone aren’t fully understood either which makes a diagnosis like this difficult. To complicate matters further, there is often other substances present in mephedrone which may cause long term complications.

I would certainly advise discussing this with your daughter and either asking her to discuss with her GP or go together to discuss your concerns as they may be able to look into this further for you.

... I have recently lost my virginity but we realised there was a small hole in the condom - he had not ejaculated but I’m still concerned. What advice can you give me?

Firstly, well done for using a condom for your first sexual experience! This is really important and may protect your health in future.

If you are concerned I’d certainly speak to the Family Planning Clinic who will be able to provide free, confidential advice in your situation.

Whether or not ejaculation has occurred you could still be at risk of pregnancy if you are not using any other method of contraception. Depending on when this happened, you may need to consider emergency contraception if you suspect that there is a chance you may be pregnant. Assuming you’re as Isle of Man resident the Family Planning Clinic can be contacted on 642186 for further advice. If you think you may need emergency contraception, contact them as soon as possible.

You could also be at risk of STI’s. Your boyfriend may be your first sexual partner, but are you his? If he has had other sexual partners then you may be wise to get yourself checked out. It’s free and confidential to get a check up at the GUM clinic on the Isle of Man. You can contact the clinic on 650710 for advice and they will sort out an appointment for you.

It is unusual for condoms to have holes in them so there are a few things I’d check.

First of all I’d check where you or your boyfriend got the condoms from. If you have any more, check the expiry date and where they have been kept. Condoms need to be stored correctly in a cool dark place (i.e. out of direct sunlight) otherwise they can go out of date and ‘perish’.

Secondly, be careful when opening the condom packaging, some people use their teeth, and this could puncture the condom! Jewellery and sharp fingernails can damage the condom too.

I’d also check that the condoms have been made to a relevant British standard. Reliable condoms should have the British kitemark on the packaging. This Kitemark gives you the assurance that the product you have bought really does conform to the appropriate British Standard and should therefore be safe and reliable to use.

The most common reason a condom splits is that is not put on correctly, so to minimise the risk of this happening here are a few tips which I hope might help.

• The condom should be put on before there is any genital contact.
• Condoms come in different shapes and sizes it may be worth trying different types
• Some lubricants are not suitable for use with condoms, so if you do use a lubricant, make sure it is water based and not oil based.
• Never the use the same condom more than once. 

The GUM and Family Planning Clinics are happy to give advice and will demonstrate correct condom use for you and your boyfriend if required. They are really experienced and friendly and do this regularly, so don’t be embarrassed to ask for help.  Condoms are supplied free of charge to registered patients as well.

Remember that the Family Planning Clinic and GUM Clinic are there to help you so certainly don’t be afraid to get in touch and put your mind at ease.

Not been asked that before and actually it is not illegal to have cannabis seeds as there is no cannabis present in the seed itself. However, it is illegal to cultivate the seed and grow cannabis and this can lead to up to 14 years imprisonment if convicted.

It’s also important to consider that if you are found in possession of cannabis seeds the police are likely to search you and/or your premises.

This is a great question and one that as always isn’t straightforward to answer ☺

It is a complex area and has been widely debated. Many of the issues come from the fact that people actually produce alcohol naturally so the base level of alcohol in the system will vary naturally from person to person. There is also a small amount of alcohol in some cough syrups and mouthwashes which makes the zero limit unrealistic.

Interestingly, the aviation industry, which is one of the most safety regulated communities in the world, has a limit of 20 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. The current driving limit is 80mg/100ml.

Ultimately, this is a matter for parliament and legislation to resolve. If it were to be reduced, they would also need to decide whether this would be a phased reduction or a single drop from 80mg/100ml to the new limit.

It is illegal for you to take drugs because it is against the law.  This is like asking “why is it illegal to drive at 50mph in a 30mph zone?”.  The reasons are similar.  To reduce risk to the individual and others and to society in general.  Again there is an historical perspective to be considered when looking at questions like this.

...or at least be controlled in the sense that they
 aren’t altered to include pollutants?

It would be safer for drugs to be produced by respectable companies as this would mean that they are subject to regulation in regards to production, additives, toxicity etc.  This also depends on what you think of as a pollutant.  Look at tobacco and the number and scope of additives that contains.  However, it is probably fair to say that it is unlikely that a gram of coke bought at a Supermarket would include brick dust as it would probably be subject to the Medicines Act or equivalent.

Yes it would reduce the crime rate drastically across the world in relation to illicit drug manufacture, supply and consumption, but where there is demand for a substance and a profit to be made there will always be criminal elements involved.  For example look at counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol and tobacco and alcohol being smuggled in and out of countries as examples of legal drugs being traded illegally. 

It is your body, take what you want, but be aware that there is a risk of harm and that not all harm is reversible. You also need to consider the legal implications of taking drugs.

Liberty cap mushrooms are often called magic mushrooms because of their psychedelic effect, which means that they basically cause hallucinations or distort reality.  For some people this is positive and pleasing, for others it can be scary.  Generally they are easy to pick when in season and so free, another possible positive (unless you’re caught picking them, or preparing them, then they have a negative effect: criminal justice involvement).

As with all drugs any effect depends on how much is used, where it is used and who with, and the mindset of the person using.

The active ingredient in liberty caps is psilocybin and there is no way to measure the amount that each mushroom has.  Things like size, age and how they’ve been stored may all have an impact.  It is similar to LSD and generally doesn’t last as long in effect, so possibly another positive.

Low doses of mushrooms often produce feelings of relaxation and being chilled out, a bit giggly, with heightened sensations, so that colours might be more intense, music is better appreciated, touch is more sensitive.

At higher doses there is a more intense experience for the user, more similar to LSD.  Colours and light can become very vivid, vision becomes distorted, true hallucinations occur ie experiencing sensation in the absence of any stimulus.  Put simply: seeing/hearing/feeling/tasting things that aren’t there. There may also be an intense feeling of well being associated with heavy use but the flip side is that there may just as easily be an intense feeling of distress.

It’s vital not to confuse liberty caps with other mushrooms as the chances of misidentification are high and other mushrooms can be poisonous.  Obviously in these circumstances picking and eating at the same time would be a stupid thing to do!

Recent research suggests magic mushrooms might help in the development of antidepressants.  However, this does not mean that taking mushrooms is the same as taking an antidepressant.  As a matter of fact where there is any family history of mental health problems, or if you have underlying mental health problems the advice is stay away from psychedelics like liberty caps.

This is obviously a complex area and there are a number of reasons. Some drugs are legal and others are controlled because of the idea that some drugs are more harmful than others, and because of historical factors including socioeconomic considerations and the impact of war (eg Defence of the Realm Act WW1). Due to the complexity of this question this is perhaps an area we’ll explore in more detail on the site shortly.

Missing pills means that the hormone levels that keep you safe and protects you from pregnancy is reduced, if you have been having sex that is – if you’re not having sex, obviously you can’t get pregnant!

It’s not clear from your question whether you have finished the packet and are on a normal break/pill free week. If that’s so and you have taken all the pills correctly in the weeks before then you are less likely to be pregnant and it may be that your bleed is just a bit delayed or isn’t going the happen this month – both of which can happen normally. You should restart your pill as usual after the 7 day break anyway, even if you start to bleed and are still bleeding when due to restart the pill.

If you have been taking the pill for a while and have taken all the pills at the correct time and not missed any or taken tablets that could interfere (stop) the pill from working – it might be that your body doesn’t need to bleed this month.

If you have been taking the pill for a while and have missed or been late taking them - maybe you vomited some back, had diarrhoea, have taken other tablets that could stop the pill from working - and have been having sex, then there is a risk you could be pregnant. The best thing to do is to get a pregnancy test (scary thought I know!) You can buy pregnancy tests from chemists and supermarkets or go to the Family Planning Clinic in Douglas and take a test for free. They only take a couple of minutes and are really accurate.

It’s scary to think you might be pregnant if that’s not really what you want – please find someone who knows about these things to talk to, maybe a sister, mum, auntie. If you don’t want to talk with them, then talk to a nurse either at your Doctors, the Family Planning Clinic or at school if there is one there, all of them will talk with you confidentially and won’t tell anyone else without your say so. Try not to panic.

If you are pregnant it’s good to talk about being pregnant and find out what you need to do next – again your practice nurse or GP/doctor, the family planning clinic nurse or school nurse will be good to talk to if you don’t want to tell anyone else at first.

On the other hand if you have been trying to get pregnant you could be really happy and want to tell everyone about it!

Good luck!

Cannabis is a plant that grows widely all over the world.  Let’s look at the two main types usually found on the Isle of Man, resin and grass.  There are loads of other names for it that you’ve probably heard, including blow, draw, weed, rocky, skunk, etc.

Resin (hash) comes in a block form and looks a bit like a piece of brownish slate or rubber.  It can vary in colour from light brown to black and can be rock hard or even squidgy to the touch.  It has a distinctive smell, which is difficult to describe.  Resin is made from the sticky glands from the plant’s flower heads, which is pressed into a block.  It is not unusual for other parts of the plant such as leaves to be included and there have been stories of resin having stuff added to it to bulk it out such as dust or milk powder, or vegetable fat to help it stick together.  Remember, health and safety is not a priority for a drug dealer.

Grass is the dried buds and flowers of the plant and occasionally the leaves.  Most of the grass here tends to be ‘homegrown’, cultivated in cannabis farms in the UK.  This form of cannabis is usually stronger than resin, which means it has more of the active ingredient THC.  Over the years different strains of cannabis have been grown with different THC content, the most notorious is called ‘skunk’ because of its very strong and distinctive smell.

When we talk about cannabis farms we’re not talking about a couple of hippies in a sunlit field happily digging organic compost into their plants.  We’re talking about a multi million pound industry where plants are cultivated using chemical fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides, and where the bottom line is how much money is to be made.  There have been cases of crops being sprayed with fake snow to make the leaves look as if they’ve got THC on them and to increase their weight (and the profit).  Remember there is no such thing as health and safety!

Newer studies looking at the toxins from cannabis smoking compared to tobacco smoking, show that cannabis tar contains about 50% higher concentrations of chemicals linked to lung cancer, compared with tobacco tar.

Cannabis smoke, like all smoke still contains carcinogens. It’s the actual burning process that causes a lot of the toxins in smoke - the high burning temperature produces chemicals.

While there is conflicting evidence about the actual physical harm caused by cannabis use there is no doubt that tobacco causes a whole range of physical health problems.

One of the problems associated with mixing cannabis and tobacco is that there is often a change in the pattern of use of tobacco, which affects exposure to its harmful impact. For example people who smoke joints often hold the smoke in longer than they would for a cigarette in order to ‘absorb’ more of the cannabis/THC into their lungs.  This extra time in the lungs however allows the tar in tobacco and cannabis extra time to be deposited.  It might be only a few extra seconds, but if they are added up for every puff then that’s a lot of extra time for smoke to be in your lungs, allowing more exposure to harm.  Look at the filter in a used cigarette to see how tar accumulates, or if you use a bong or a tube in a bucket you’ll see how quickly tar builds up in that.

Studies have shown that smoking a cannabis cigarette deposits four times more tar in the lungs than smoking an equivalent amount of tobacco. People who smoke joints also tend to smoke cigarettes in a different way to non-cannabis using smokers.  They will often unconsciously hold cigarette smoke in their lungs in the same way that they hold in the smoke from a joint.  This is an unconscious habit that develops over time.  Check to see if it’s something you might be doing.

Two other points about cannabis smoke.  Smoke produced by herbal cannabis (grass) is considered to be thicker than tobacco smoke which might be more irritating to the throat and lungs, and cannabis resin burns at a higher temperature than tobacco, so the smoke hitting the back of your throat on inhalation is hotter than cigarette smoke.  Regular smokers don’t notice these things as they get used to them but that doesn’t mean that they will not affect you.

Most people say that the labour part hurts – that’s the process when the baby is being born - which is the part I’m guessing you mean.

Having said that there’s 9 months of growing the baby to get used to the idea of becoming a parent and to learn how to deal with the normal labour pain. The midwife team (specialists who look after the mum to be and her baby during pregnancy) will help women learn about all that and the methods of pain control that they might want to choose to use to make it less painful. It’s always important for the pregnant woman to talk to her own doctor to make sure she is referred to the midwife team early in the pregnancy, so she gets their help.
Remember that even if it is painful – most women go on to have another baby and most women say that the pain all goes away when the baby is born, the human body is clever and forgets about it then most of the time too!

Thank you for contacting me and sorry that I didn’t get back to you straightaway

You asked if you could acquire sexually transmitted infections from anal sex.

Yes STIs may be transmitted through anal sex, but the likelihood is greatly reduced if you wear a condom correctly.

It may also be that your partner does not have any STIs to pass on to you either.

The most common STIs in the UK are chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea.

If you are worried you may seek medical advice by contacting the genitourinary medicine clinic (GUM) at Nobles Hospital (even if you are under 16 years of age) or you may contact your doctor.

In short you could abbreviate this answer to all drugs can kill you.

Lets break this down:

Prescription drugs These are usually safe, if prescribed by your doctor and you follow the instructions of how to use the drugs. If you take more drugs than the doctor prescribed this is considered a drug overdose. Some people think that overdose only happens when taking street drugs, but this is not always the case.

Over the counter drugs Some of these drugs can be powerful and again you need to read the medication instructions carefully, before use, or talk to the pharmacist.

Legal drugs There is a whole range of legal drugs, which could be found in the home - OR - even more alarmingly, purchased over the Internet. This has increased over the last few years. These drugs are known as “legal highs”.  People purchasing these drugs do not know the deadly toxics they may contain. The drugs have not been tested or passed any regulations to be sold. People taking them are the guinea pigs as to the effects of the drugs. Sadly, there have been a number of people dying as a result of purchasing these unknown ‘legal drugs” despite lots of public warnings. However, laws are presently addressing how the selling of these substances can be stopped.

Alcohol You need to be aware that alcohol is a legal drug also and if abused may also lead to overdose and death.

Some of the reasons why people may die from the effects of drugs may be due to the physical and mental effects on their body, such as suppressed breathing, choking on their vomit, heart attack, over heating, brain damage, liver damage, accidents due to lack of coordination or by being totally out of it.

Thank you for taking time to ask the question.
Have a safe and merry Christmas
Tim x

Some people have reported that speed has a bitter taste; they have associated it with a chemical likeness. Please be aware that sometimes speed can be mixed with another drug or a bulking agent such as talc, baking powder etc that of course may affect the taste.

“i believe its class b in uk, but here is a grey area? Two people had parcels intercepted by police, tested, and returned on proviso it was not sold and only for personal use, just months ago, is this still the same situation i.e. could i get send 5grams and not get into trouble?”

The short answer is ‘yes’ you will get in to trouble if caught. Further more this could have implications on employment and travel to other countries if you get a drug conviction.

This drug is cathinone type stimulant, and as such is Class B in the UK (with the subsequent penalties that implies), and also a Class B on the Isle of Man because of the reciprocal agreement.
Even if it were legal there have been reports of it being bought from ‘reputable’ vendors online and then found to have illegal additives added (e.g. amphetamine).

If someone was caught in possession of any suspicious substance, they would be arrested, interviewed, the substance tested and a decision made as to the disposal.

As with any drug, caution is advised when taking it.

People generally feel sex is ‘good’ in a healthy, respectful relationship, where partners are sharing a mutually pleasurable experience.

Having said that – like most things, it takes practice to feel the best! So don’t worry if you and/or your partner don’t ‘feel’ it straight away.

Have fun, experiment, be careful and safe – use condoms to help stop infections and don’t forget contraception to stop pregnancy.

It’s also important that you don’t feel you have to have sex to feel good. If you are not ready to have sex don’t feel pressured.

Another tip would be don’t have sex if you’re wasted…... you can’t legally consent to sex if you are wasted or drunk, so it’s certainly something important to consider.

Alcohol and drugs can reduce your inhibitions and might result in you do something you wouldn’t normally be comfortable with. There is no turning back the clock in the morning! Aside from that, you probably won’t remember feeling anything anyway so what’s the point!?

As with all drugs there are risks, which are heightened when taken as ‘cocktails’. Tripstacy is sold as a mix of LSD and Ecstasy and as with all drugs there are potential side effects, not to mention significant long-term effects. You really need to read about the drugs individually to find out more about the effects, why people take them and what the risks are.

Ecstasy
LSD

You also need to be aware of what you might actually be taking. Drugs sold as Tripstacy are often found to contain other substances, which may themselves be harmful to you, or even fatal. On a legal note, both LSD and Ecstasy are illegal on the Isle of Man and are class A drugs, so possession can result in imprisonment.

On whether it is fun or not is down to your own interpretation of what ‘fun’ is and the reaction you may have to taking the drug. Tripstacy can create intense and vivid hallucinations so users do need to be aware of what environment and in what company they take the drug.

An intriguing and interesting question – thanks for that one. It’s not so much a case of good or bad – but is it the right thing for you? The law, your own thoughts and feelings and your own beliefs about life will all play an important part in deciding whether to have sex with someone or not.
The law says it’s too young to have sex under the age of 16 and so makes rules against it and you have to be aware of these.

On the Isle of Man the law says:

1.  any person who has sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 13 shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on information to imprisonment for life - that means if someone has sex with a person under 13 they could possibly get a life sentence
2.  any person who has sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16 shall be guilty of an offence an liable on conviction on information to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years – that means that if someone has sex with a person under 16 they could go to prison for up to 7 years
3.  Indecent assault (can be defined as touching another person in a sexual way without their consent) - a person under the age of 16 cannot consent (i.e. agree to do this) with another person – the person who does this can go to prison for up to 7 years

Indecent assault includes action such as sexual touching and ‘touching’ covers all physical contact, including touching with any part of the body, with anything else and through anything, for example, through clothing.

Are you ready for sex?

It’s important that anyone having sex does so because they want to and not due to peer pressure, for instance because all their friends say they should or that they all are. You should only have sex when you’re ready and if you aren’t 100% ready you don’t have to have sex. Don’t feel that you have to say yes to please others or because they pressure you to do so – and always say no if you don’t feel ready yet. 

Peer pressure is when your friends try to get you to do something because they want you to do it and you don’t want to. Think about what you want to do and what’s right for you – not them. You will know when the time is right for you!

Maybe you don’t see that you are being put under pressure, but if any of the things below apply to you, then you could be:

•      You feel like it’s easier to have sex than to say no
•      You feel you’re being pushed into having sex
•      All your friends say they’ve had sex so you feel like you should
•      You’re afraid you’ll lose your girlfriend or boyfriend, or that they won’t love you any more if you don’t have sex with them.
•      You’ve been drinking or taking drugs to help you feel more confident.

Here are some facts that might help you:

•      Most people aren’t having sex under 16 - studies show that most people wait until they’re at least 16 to have sex, and some wait much longer
•      Being in love doesn’t mean you have to have sex, and having sex doesn’t mean you’re in love!
•      Not having sex isn’t a sign you’re immature
•      Saying no to sex is a sign of confidence and maturity

Deciding to have sex for the first time is a big thing and you may be nervous – it’s important that as a couple you are comfortable with each other and can do what makes them both feel good. At first, it might be awkward and not go exactly as planned. Remember, even if you do decide to have sex, it is completely OK to say no or stop at any point if you don’t want to continue. Nobody has the right to make you do anything you’re not happy to do, so only have sex if you are really happy to. That’s true for the first time and every time you have sex.

Remember sex at 14 years of age is against the law and you and or the person you’re having sex with can be spoken to by the Police and maybe taken to court. Perhaps you have an older brother/sister/cousin/aunt/uncle that you trust to talk to about your feelings and who you can talk to in confidence – who you know won’t share the talk with anyone else but who will have the knowledge and experience to help you decide what’s right for you to do.

But if you feel it’s 100% the right thing for you and your partner to do despite all that, then make sure you are safe – be in a safe place, use contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy, even the first time and yes, girls do get pregnant at 14 years old and boys can become a dad! Use a condom to protect against sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia.

For more information and advice on unitended pregnancies and STIs, see my ‘Life after the night before’ page. It includes contact details for the Isle of Man Family Planning Clinic, the GUM Clinic at Noble’s Hospital and the UK sexual health website, Brook.

LSD has a number of street names including Acid, Blotter, Cheer, Dots, Paper Mushrooms, Smilies, Tab, Trips.

Visit the LSD information page in our Drugs A-Z for more information.

Mephedrone belongs to the cathinone group of chemical drugs, closely related to the amphetamine class of drugs, which includes ecstasy (MDMA) and amphetamine (speed). For more information visit the information page on mephedrone here.

This is a difficult question to answer as it really will differ from person to person. It will be influenced by the individual, how long and how much they have been using. This can be more challenging where drug use is engrained into someone’s daily life.
Studies over the last decade have produced evidence for something called cannabis withdrawal syndrome.  The most common withdrawal symptoms are irritability, anxiety/nervousness, restlessness and sleep difficulties (including strange dreams), anger, and aggression.  Symptoms typically emerge after one to three days of abstinence, peak between days two and six, and last from four to 14 days.
The severity of withdrawal symptoms has been linked with difficulty achieving abstinence.  Identifying typical withdrawal symptoms and patterns in individuals can be an important step in preparing to stop cannabis use.  However it is important to note that not everyone who stops using cannabis will experience withdrawal symptoms, or if they do, there will be varying levels of severity.
The majority of people who try cannabis do not become dependent on it.  As with other drugs, the risk of developing dependence appears to be greatest amongst those with a history of frequent or daily cannabis use and those who initiate use early.
There are some great resources out there to help people looking to quit Cannabis. Assuming you’re a Manx resident, I would suggest you contact the local Confidential Drug Advice Service & Helpline (DASH) who run a specific service for Quitting Cannabis. They also provide a ‘Cannabis Check- up’ to assess your use. Call them on 615622 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

This is a difficult question to answer as it really will differ from person to person. It will be influenced by the individual, how long and how much they have been using. This can be more challenging where drug use is engrained into someone’s daily life.

Studies over the last decade have produced evidence for something called cannabis withdrawal syndrome.  The most common withdrawal symptoms are irritability, anxiety/nervousness, restlessness and sleep difficulties (including strange dreams), anger, and aggression.  Symptoms typically emerge after one to three days of abstinence, peak between days two and six, and last from four to 14 days.

The severity of withdrawal symptoms has been linked with difficulty achieving abstinence.  Identifying typical withdrawal symptoms and patterns in individuals can be an important step in preparing to stop cannabis use.  However it is important to note that not everyone who stops using cannabis will experience withdrawal symptoms, or if they do, there will be varying levels of severity.

The majority of people who try cannabis do not become dependent on it.  As with other drugs, the risk of developing dependence appears to be greatest amongst those with a history of frequent or daily cannabis use and those who initiate use early.

There are some great resources out there to help people looking to quit Cannabis. Assuming you’re a Manx resident, I would suggest you contact the local Confidential Drug Advice Service & Helpline (DASH) who run a specific service for Quitting Cannabis. They also provide a ‘Cannabis Check- up’ to assess your use. Call them on 615622 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

This is a difficult question to answer as it really will differ from person to person. It will be influenced by the individual, how long and how much they have been using. This can be more challenging where drug use is engrained into someone’s daily life.

Studies over the last decade have produced evidence for something called cannabis withdrawal syndrome.  The most common withdrawal symptoms are irritability, anxiety/nervousness, restlessness and sleep difficulties (including strange dreams), anger, and aggression.  Symptoms typically emerge after one to three days of abstinence, peak between days two and six, and last from four to 14 days.

The severity of withdrawal symptoms has been linked with difficulty achieving abstinence.  Identifying typical withdrawal symptoms and patterns in individuals can be an important step in preparing to stop cannabis use.  However it is important to note that not everyone who stops using cannabis will experience withdrawal symptoms, or if they do, there will be varying levels of severity.

The majority of people who try cannabis do not become dependent on it.  As with other drugs, the risk of developing dependence appears to be greatest amongst those with a history of frequent or daily cannabis use and those who initiate use early.

There are some great resources out there to help people looking to quit Cannabis. Assuming you’re a Manx resident, I would suggest you contact the local Confidential Drug Advice Service & Helpline (DASH) who run a specific service for Quitting Cannabis. They also provide a ‘Cannabis Check- up’ to assess your use. Call them on 615622 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

This must be very worrying and would ask if you have brought this up with your daughter? It would be impossible to determine if this is drugs or not from the description alone as many things come as a white powder. Even if this is drugs the actual contents would need to be analysed by a laboratory to confirm the identity.

I would strongly suggest you speak to your daughter about it or contact the local confidential Drug Advice Service & Helpline on 615622 who will be able to discuss it further with you. If you are not resident on the Isle of Man then a local drug support organisation will be able to offer you the support you need to deal with this in the best way for you and your daughter. There is a useful support finder tool on the Talk to Frank website to help you find a service in your area http://www.talktofrank.com/multimap.aspx?id=278

Many years ago Ecstasy tablets started to be sold with various logo’s on as a marketing strategy, this also included Teletubby pictures. There is no way to tell what a tablet actually contains unless it is subjected to laboratory testing. The purity of ecstasy tablets varies dramatically and whether it has a logo of the Teletubbies on or not, you cannot really be certain of what you are getting. For this reason there is as much risk as with any other ecstasy pill. In the news recently there have been reports of much higher strength ecstasy pills on the market, which can be extremely dangerous. See the news report on this here - http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/health/ecstasy_strength_warning_1_3646906

Just like many other drugs, continued use of Hash (Cannabis) can potentially result in a psychological or physical dependency. This can vary person to person on individual tolerances. It is also the most problematic illicit drug on the Isle of Man. For more information on Hash see the Cannabis section of our Drug A-Z.

Why when legal highs which have not killed anyone have they been banned, yet
 cigarettes that kill 120000 (uk) people a year are still legal & alcohol
 that directly kills 25000 annually are still encouraged and promoted as
socially acceptable?

Man, where do I start on this one!
I think the first thing to say is this is a huge topic. I can touch on the main points but there are pages and pages dedicated to the discussion on alcohol and tobacco.
Tobacco and alcohol are becoming more heavily taxed and regulated with tobacco legislation moving towards non-use. The historic use of these drugs is often cultural with strong ties that can be difficult to break.
Legal highs on the other hand are unknown and have no cultural or historic use. They have no ties to society and so the impact of making them illegal is likely to have an impact and protect the majority of the population.  There is also little knowledge of what the long-term effects of taking legal highs might be. It is perhaps too big a risk to leave finding this out to chance based on the knowledge of existing related classified drugs.
There are of course much deeper reasons why drugs are made illegal and perhaps beyond what I can answer here. What I would say is that with two already problematic legal drugs in Alcohol and Tobacco it would perhaps be irresponsible of the Government to allow any more.
As I said, this is a huge topic and one that evokes arguments from both sides but I hope the above points provide some insight.

Loving, caring relationships need good communication so it’s great that you want to find out more as well as look after yourself.

I’d suggest the main points to remember would be that genital warts are now the commonest form of viral STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) and not everyone who comes into contact with the human papilloma virus (HPV) through sexual relationships will develop genital warts. That being said, the more sexual partners you have, the greater the risk of acquiring this virus.

HPV is passed on by any form of sexual contact – not just penetrative sex, so touching and oral sex are also risky for passing it on. Using condoms will help to prevent the spread of infection, especially if warts are visible, and for three months afterwards. Condoms can be used during oral and penetrative sex too (use a different one for each though!). Kissing mouth to mouth is ok.

It really sounds as if you could do with talking with a professional face to face. Don’t worry, they know what they’re talking about and won’t be embarrassed to answer your questions and give you the help and advice you want.

Remember warts are the commonest form of viral STI and the professional nurses and doctors are used to talking about it and have heard all the questions and worries before as people like you are naturally worried at first. Don’t be embarrassed, call your nearest GUM clinic for advice or an appointment. The Isle of Man’s GUM clinic can be contacted on 650710.

For more detailed information the links below are great and well worth a read through:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Genital-herpes/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.fpa.org.uk/media/uploads/helpandadvice/genitalwartsjanuary2009.pdf

Can taking mephedrone affect the performance of other medicines such as immunisations for holidays abroad?

Unlike prescribed medication which undergoes rigorous testing before it reaches the market there have been no clinical trials performed on mephedrone and its interaction with other drugs, such as immunisations.

Because of this we really do not know what the interactions might be.  It could increase the effects of certain medications or decrease their effects.  It may have no effect whatsoever.

However, as one of the possible side effects of mephedrone include raised temperature and we know the immune response to immunisation is reduced with fever, there is a chance that the immunisation effect could be reduced by taking mephedrone.
All I can really say is that with safety in mind it would be best to avoid taking mephedrone and other drugs, such as immunisations, at the same time or together.

See our Mephedrone Section of our A-Z for more information. 

Yes, Caffeine is a drug.

Drugs can be defined as “any substance that when absorbed into the body of a living organism alters the functioning of the body.”
Taking caffeine has the effect of speeding up chemical reactions in the body, speeding up the heart and breathing rates and getting more oxygen to the brain. As such, caffeine is considered both a drug and psychoactive substance.
Due to the effects of caffeine on the body, the International Olympic Committee have set an upper limit for the use of caffeine in competitive sports – caffeine was previously banned!
As a natural stimulant, caffeine is also used medicinally to treat headaches.

MDAI follows the trend of ‘legal highs’ and aims to fill the market left by Mephedrone, and more recently NRG-1 being made illegal. It carries the same risks though, and these emerging drugs haven’t been about long enough to understand what the long-term effects of using these substances might be.

It’s very much in the local news at the moment too with the death of a local teenager being attributed to the drug - http://www.energyfm.net/cms/news_story_150964.html.

MDAI is a drug that came from some pharmaceutical research in the US. The research was looking into treatments for medical conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.

Just like ecstasy, MDAI has been derived from amphetimine (MDA). It’s meant to have a less profound effect than MDA and is meant to be less neurotoxic.

Don’t think it would be to everyone’s tastes, there’s no rushing/stimulation/euphoria like with other highs; it’s more of a therapeutic feeling,

I guess MDAI also carries the risk of users developing a psychological dependence on the drug. This was certainly the case for some people on Mephedrone and can lead to social and health problems even in the short term.

There are a number of things that can affect the time taken for Mephedrone to take effect including dose, personal tolerances, purity of Mephedrone used and method of use.

When snorting Mephedrone the effects tend to be experienced within minutes whereas this can be more like 30 minutes after swallowing.

For more information on Mephedrone and the effects of taking it check out the Mephedrone information page.

Great question and one that could involve a long and technical answer. But that wouldn’t be much use so I’ll keep it simple here but may produce a more detailed answer as part of the Mephedrone section of the site.

Basically Mephedrone, like other stimulant drugs, cause the body to create excess neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain that act as signals and can affect behaviour).  So when you take Mephedrone there are more ‘feel good’ chemicals produced in the brain. As these wear off and as the brain’s natural chemical release has been slowed it results in a come down.

This being said, Mephedrone is a relatively new drug and as such there is no real research into the effects, particularly into the long term effects of taking the drug. There are also increasing number of reports showing Mephedrone being cut with other substances. So the purity and effects from one batch of Mephedrone to another can vary dramatically.

If Mephedrone is swallowed it can cause irritation and possibly nausea. When snorted the ‘drip’ effect will irritate the throat so in the same way I’d suspect it may irritate the the stomach too. I have heard and read reports of people having stomach problems after taking Mephedrone.

I’ve been asked some random questions through the site recently. Am I gay? Is Steve gay? Am I a poo? And today… am I real? Of course I’m real! 

There are some things I just can’t answer though, I have no idea who Steve is for a start! But when it comes to drugs and sexual health advice, I’m your dummy

If you’re worried about having an STI and you’re on the Isle of Man contact the Isle of Man GUM clinic at Nobles Hospital on (01624) 650710 of talk to your GP. Even if it is just for peace of mind get it checked!

For more information see the ‘Life after the night before’ page. I’ve added contact details and information that will help. 

I’d also recommend having a read of the Brook website at http://www.brook.org.uk/stis for more specific information on STIs. This is UK focused but has some good information on STIs that may help you.

Good question. I had to do my research on this one but with the screening kits used in the Isle of Man Mephedrone would not test positive for Cocaine.

Yes weed (see Cannabis) can hinder sports performance.There are a number of reported effects of using cannabis including affecting coordination, concentration, experiencing a state of relaxation not to mention some of the other side-effects such as paranoia, nausea etc.

It is also important to consider that Cannabis is illegal and is a prohibited substance in sports.

Yes it can. If a sample is sent to a lab Mephedrone can be detected.

Does it cause any false positives? Will it cause a positive for amphetamine?

Good question and yes Mephedrone can be detected in urine using current pathology lab tests. The test are specific to Mephedrone metabolites so are highly accurate.

Dip Stick testing does detect amphetamine, however, dip stick screening cards to detect Mephedrone have not been established yet. As yet I don’t know of any test for Mephedrone that has recorded positive for amphetamine but I guess this could come back to the purity of the substance.

its defo just the stooopid ones that take to much. how much did the peeps take that died from It

To be totally honest, it is my understanding that at this moment in time there have been no known deaths solely related to Mephedrone: any deaths that have occurred have been due to mixing Mephedrone with other substances or as a result of the depression on the come down rather than a direct physical reaction to the drug. However, it’s my experience that regular use, large quantities and injecting are more likely to cause severe and significant harm.

One other thing to be aware of is the purity of what is being taken. If there is no effect at all maybe it’s not Mephedrone. There are definitely more cocktails now and it’s not possible to test for many of the drugs people are saying they are taking.

Death from mixing Mephs with other substances is the most severe effect that Mephedrone use, or any drug for that matter, can result in. However, there are many symptoms of varying severity along the scale between your friends experience and those who have died. People also react to drugs very differently. A quantity that has no effect on one person could greatly affect another. There are no hard and fast rules here. The truth is nobody knows and that’s the risk anyone taking Mephedrone, or any emerging drugs, faces.

It is also too early to determine what if any, are the long term effects of using Mephedrone.

Like many drugs, Mephedrone is an addictive substance with many users reporting a psychological addiction to the drug. This appears to be particularly prevalent where additional supplies are to hand with the temptation to re-dose very strong.

The idea that you can’t get addicted to Mephedrone is wrong. Ask any of the scores of people who have attended the Drug Advice Services Helpline and Drug and Alcohol Team looking for help because they can’t cope without using it. Too much of their time is spent trying to find the drug and pay for it, because what started out as a bit of fun at the weekend is happening everyday.

People who get addicted to Mephedrone act in the same way that people who get addicted to cocaine or amphetamine (speed) do: this is because Mephedrone, amphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy are all stimulant drugs.

Making it illegal would hand the trade to organised crime, drive users to commit crime to pay the higher prices that would result, turn others back to existing illegal drugs and create a market for the next generation of ‘legal highs’.

As a ‘legal high’, a large number of Mephedrone users only use the drug because they are under the misunderstanding that because it is legal it is safe.

There is also a growing problem with students at Isle of Man schools being pressured into taking the drug, often by peers their own age. For kids as young as 11 and 12 to be introduced to a potentially addictive and dangerous substance as their first drug experience under the misapprehension of the substance being ‘safe’ and ‘legal’ is extremely dangerous. It’s this inexperience that can lead to excess, addiction and even death.

Many Mephedrone users would be deterred by simply making the drug illegal.

There is plenty of help available on the Island, whether it is for advice or for help with a psychological addiction. Visit our help and advice page for contact details of local support services.

You can also contact your local GP who will be able to offer help and advice.

Mephedrone is a stimulant drug and as such it releases a huge amount of the hormone adrenaline into the bloodstream, plus the chemicals in the brain called dopamine and serotonin.  These are neurotransmitters and are essential for the brain to work properly.

Too much adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin causes the user to feel energetic, high, more alert, a sense of wellbeing, excitement and chattiness, more interest in those around you, butterflies in the stomach, shaky hands, dilated pupils.  However what goes up must come down.

Because the body overproduces these chemicals when Mephedrone is in it, it has difficulty getting them back up to normal levels after use, which can cause low mood, irritability, agitation, and anxiety.

There are no prescribed medicines licensed to treat Mephedrone withdrawal.

For further help and advice contact your local GP or the services offered by the Drugs Advice Services Helpline or the Drug & Alcohol team.

There haven’t been any substantial scientific studies of users as yet but user experiences and case studies from doctors treating patients are revealing the risks of taking Mephedrone. The adverse effects are not always instantaneous and manifest over time such as the development of a psychological dependence.  What starts out as a 1g a weekend habit can quickly turn in to a 3g or 4g habit and excess use through re-dosing to maintain the high.

It’s important to remember that just because you know a lot of people that are doing it, this may not be a representative sample and you could react very differently to the drug.  The short-term or immediate effects of taking Mephedrone are only part of the concern with very little known at this stage what effect Mephedrone may have on users in the long-term.

Legal highs are not illegal to use because manufacturers and dealers have found a loophole in the law. By calling Mephedrone “plant food” they are claiming it is not for human consumption. This means that it does not have to go through the same types of testing that substances fit for human consumption have to.

However, due to the risks posed from taking Mephedrone it is now illegal on the Isle of Man to import or supply Mephedrone, regardless of whether you want it for your plants or not and Tynwald are working to make possession illegal as soon as possible.

It certainly isn’t recommended to mix Mephedrone with anything that will dehydrate you, alcohol included. Many of the side effects associated with Mephedrone are likely to be made considerably worse by the combination.

Short-term effects are the buzz and the high, feeling good and chatty.  Heart rate increases: a typical resting heart rate is about 70 beats per minute (bpm), but using Mephedrone can raise that up to 140 bpm so that sometimes you feel that it might burst out of your chest.  Vasoconstriction occurs: this is when blood vessels tighten and so blood pressure increases. This puts extra strain on the heart and on smaller blood vessels.

Mephedrone is corrosive, so if it is sniffed or snorted it can damage the lining of the nostrils. Users regularly report stinging sensation in the nose, nosebleeds and an unpleasant taste in the back of the throat (the drip) caused by a build up of Mephedrone infused mucus in the sinuses (spaces behind the nose).

Some users report paranoia when high.

Skin exposed to Mephedrone becomes inflamed and sensitive.  When Mephedrone is swallowed, usually wrapped in paper (bombed) or mixed in a drink it can lead to stomach upset and sores on the inside of the mouth.

It is unknown what the long term effects of Mephedrone are but if we assume that it is like other stimulants (and it is in its short term effects) then we can expect to see increased levels of anxiety and agitation, paranoia, and poor memory and concentration which makes learning difficult.

Mephedrone is marketed online as plant food to get around food laws and drug laws. The websites all state ‘Not for Human Consumption’ but this is purely a cover for the sale of the drug.

Mephedrone is a chemical substance being sold online as ‘plant food’. It’s status as a legal high lead to its popularity, largely due to the false assumption that if it is legal it must be safe. This is not the case and there are many incidents and case studies that reveal the serious potential effects of taking Mephedrone.

Chemical stimulants affect natural processes in the body and as a result deliver various effects, some positive, many not.

Chemical stimulants are not manufactured to known quality control standards and are often cut (bashed) with a number of substances to bulk them out.  Substances used to bulk out include talcum powder, vitamin c powder, caffeine powder, and paracetamol. Even cigarettes, which everyone knows are not healthy in the least, have to go through a quality control process.

Side effects of Mephedrone include paranoia, anxiety, jaw grinding, pupil dilation and an increased heart rate. Users have also reported blue or cold fingers from the drug’s effects on circulation, fits and agitation from its effects on the nervous system, vomiting and severe nosebleeds from snorting. Mephedrone has also been confirmed as being responsible for a number of deaths in the UK over recent months.

Since 1st April 2010 an amendment to the Medicines Act 2003 in the Isle of Man has made it illegal to import, export or supply Mephedrone. This has considerable implications for people purchasing quantities of Mephedrone from the Internet.

In the UK, the government has banned the import of Mephedrone and it will be controlled as a Class B drug on the 16th April 2010 along with other cathinone derivatives with Parliamentary agreement.

Mephedrone is not a plant food in any way shape or form.  It is sold as a plant food so that dealers and suppliers can use a loophole in the law to avoid prosecution.

Mephedrone belongs to the cathinone group of chemical drugs, closely related to the amphetamine class of drugs, which includes ecstasy (MDMA) and amphetamine (speed).

Mephedrone users most commonly snort the drug although it can also be swallowed or injected.