NPS trends and the challenges faced by young people in the

community

Rick Bradley

Early Intervention Lead - KCA Young Persons’ Services

Outline of presentation

• Our involvement with new psychoactive substances (NPS)

• Case studies– Folkestone: ‘mystery’ pills and powders– Canterbury: synthetic cannabinoids–Maidstone: proliferation of head shops

• Key challenges for young people• Responding to NPS trends• Additional contact information

KCA Young Persons’ Service

• Commissioned to support YP aged 10 – 17 offering: – Specialist treatment services– Early intervention programmes– Forums and training for professionals– Support for families

• Majority of delivery is around alcohol and cannabis• Level of NPS work has grown since 2009• Initial focus was mainly in relation to pills and

powders• Recent work responding to synthetic cannabinoid

trends

Case studies

Case study: Folkestone• Two head shops:

– A) old school: no under 18s, dialogue with KCA, share information

– B) less discerning: serves YP, monitored by police / trading standards

• First mention of methylone (‘M1’) in ‘09 – 13/14 year old girls

• Mephedrone overtook this in popularity – media profile• Trend towards pills and powders:

–Methoxetamine (‘M-Ket’), ‘Crystal’, ‘Danger K’

• Increased use by YP of ‘adult’ substances:– ‘Blues’ (valium and phenazepam), ‘Gaba’ (gabapentin),

‘Trixies’ (trihexyphenidil)

Case study: Canterbury• Two head shops:

– A) old school: Kent HQ, dialogue with KCA, shares information– B) Skunkworks

• Historic use by YP of cannabis, some hallucinogens – limited NPS reports

• Past 6 – 12 months: increase in use, especially ‘legal weed’, but also AMT (‘legal DMT’) and NBOMe (‘legal LSD’)

• User reports from smoking blends often negative:– Chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, co-

ordination problems, unpleasant visuals, intense anxiety, fear of dying but … they’re cheaper and legal!

• Influence of media reports: ‘stronger than cannabis’

Case study: Maidstone

• Previous lack of head shops

Case study: Maidstone

• Proliferation of head shops:– Three established (including Skunkworks) plus ‘pop up’

shops, all in close proximity of each other within the town centre

• Local worker reports a steady increase in reports of use within the past 12 months:– Initially stimulant pills and powders (‘Charly Sheen’)–More recently smoking mixtures are ‘dominating’ sessions

with some groups – smell not detected by teachers or parents

Key challenges for YP• Cutbacks in local services plus limited

education in schools on general substance use:– Basic information on substances / decision making is

lacking– Fewer mentors and positive role models

• Naïve use and confusion around terminology:– Ignorance re: dosage; SCRA as 'legal weed', etc.– Some assume NPS industry is well regulated, hence safe

• Street purchases of NPS becoming more common:– Even harder to gauge effects and risks, some sold in

baggies– Involvement with more experienced user groups

• Age range of services hinders young adults:– NPS users don't see themselves as problematic, reluctant

to attend service centres

Responding to NPS trends

• Information sharing:– Trends database established for practitioners– Information sharing with partner agencies

• Promoting awareness to local young people:– Information leaflets developed (harm reduction advice included)– Targeted sessions, outreach, festivals– Responding to local trends

• Links with head shops: – Exchange of information: trends, negative reports– Information leaflets given out

and most importantly …

TRUST EXISTING

KNOWLEDGE BASE

"It’s great when I can't cope with my situation. It completely takes me out of my body - 2 or 3 puffs and I'm tripping …“I feel safe when using ‘Zebra’ - no one can touch me”

(Quotations from a service user)

For further information:

01227 456744

rbradley@kca.org.uk

@RickBrad1ey