Myth Busting
Urban Myths: There are always well known things that everyone swears is true, we've selected a few here for you but would appreciate any you have heard of. Please send them in to us. Contact us
Cannabis makes you mentally ill: In fact through hundreds of scientific studies around the world one thing for certain is that some people at different times may experience effects closely akin to those of schizophrenia and other mental health disorders. Auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoia and other feelings will appear very real at the time.
Most will return to normal as the person stops using the drug and once the levels of the drug in the body subside. However some people with underlying mental or emotional disorders may experience early onset of these problems as a result of using cannabis and alcohol etc.
Skunk is 20 times more powerful than the cannabis of the sixties: Boy you must have been getting really poor quality stuff in the sixties! Whilst the development of hybrids such as Skunk has higher concentrations of THC (one of the main psychoactive chemicals in Cannabis) they are in no way 20 times higher than street level ‘soap bar' cannabis that has been around for a long time.
It is believed by many that the moderating chemical CBD which helps to balance out the more negative effects of the THC is reduced in these high THC strains. Therefore leading some people to experience more negative effects.
Legal Highs are weaker or safer than other drugs: Legal Highs mimic the effects of illegal drugs and therfore often have similar effects and risks. Strengths can vary dramatically between different products and so it is possible for them to be stronger than their illegal counterparts.
Legal Highs are always legal: The name legal highs suggests they are legal but as drug legislation catches up with drug trends, many legal highs come under control. Products which have become recently illegal often remain on the market for a period and are sometimes marked as "new formula, legal in UK". Approximatley 1 fifth of legal high products contain illegal substances.
You can tell good cocaine by rubbing it on your gums: It is not possible to tell the quality of cocaine by rubbing it on your gums. This is due to many of the cutting agents used to adulterate cocaine containing anaesthetic properities which will give the same numbing effect. As batches vary with regards to purity, it is a good idea to always take a test dose first to judge the strength if you are determined to use.
Illegal Drugs are cut with rat poison/drain cleaner/glass: Let's face it, it's not in a dealer's best interest to poison their customers and while it may have happened we can find no evidence of it in the UK.
However the fact that drugs are illegal and that there is no quality control means that people can cut their drugs with whatever comes to hand and there have been some unsanitary and downright unsafe materials used in the past.
Ecstasy containing heroin: There is no evidence to back up this claim for one thing would be hugely costly to the dealer (heroin more expensive gram for gram) to be doing this and make little or no financial sense to do so.
However recent analysis of tablets has consistently shown up all manner of other drugs masquerading as ecstasy and these include. Piperazines, Ketamine and Caffeine.
