A new killer drug is sweeping the UK, causing death and destruction wherever it takes hold. The research chemical, HydromethOxyAnciliaXanthane (or HOAX for short), is being sold as round red tablets with a fishbone logo imprinted on one side. Known on the street as ‘Red Herrings’ the drug was first developed by the news media to scare the pants off parents. In the latest development, the drug is now being force-fed to a gullible public by hacks desperate for a news fix to stave off the withdrawal symptoms after a disastrous lack of rioting across the country in recent days.

One journalist, who refused to be named, whined “It was fantastic when the riots began. We could loop video clips of people breaking the same shop window until it kicked off all over the place. Pretty soon we were gorging on mass hysteria and righteous indignation. Then, just as quickly as it had arrived – poof! – it was gone. Now look at us. We’ve resorted to scraping the bottom of the newsroom barrel to cobble together scraps of old stories, just to get by.”

The authorities have warned, “This is a dangerous new development in the War On Drugs. Our advice is, don’t buy it. And whatever you do, don’t swallow it!”

But seriously, folks…

What the hell is being sold, and consumed, out there? Nobody knows for sure. In recent weeks there has been a ketamine drought, so many people are necking tablets of dubious content.

What has hit the headlines today on Merseyside is the death by a ‘new drug’ PMA. A coroner has reported that a 29 year-old man died after taking a ‘fatal concentration’ of PMA (plus a cocktail of alcohol and cocaine). Despite this terrible tragedy, the media has jumped all over this story to warn of the dangers of taking drugs. But lazy journalism obscures the real issue of the risks of taking anything on the say-so of a dealer – “Got any PMA?” “Sure. What colour d’ya want?”

PMA, or PMMA, is Para-Methoxy-Meth-Amphetamine, a member of the amphetamine (speed) family, as is ecstasy (Methylene-Dioxy-Meth-Amphetamine or MDMA). So the effects – and risks - are similar.

PMA has been implicated in a number of deaths in Canada (in1973), Australia (six in1997) and the USA. Most PMA deaths have been in users who have taken tablets sold as "ecstasy". The first case of death from PMA in the UK was reported in 2002. An ‘active dose’ is between 50mg and 80mg – one tablet. Taking more than one tablet increases the risk of death.

Click here for PMA/PMMA guidance and advice

Alan Matthews, a colleague of ours at Substance, popped in with some 'old skool' drug information called 'Chill Out a Ravers Guide' which we had written and some of the Substance team had produced, during the halcyon days of 1992. When whistles, gurning and 'how many yer ad' were the order of the day. Hard to believe It was slated by local rag, the Liverpool Echo, and some of the national red tops. Seems quite tame now!

Most alcohol interventions targeted at young people aim to prevent or delay initiation into alcohol use. The assumption is that any delay in starting drinking reduces the risk of serious long-term harm. But once young people start drinking alcohol, and most do before they are legally entitled to purchase it, they also face the risk of harm associated with the acute effects of alcohol intoxication. There is little to suggest that current primary prevention activities reduce these alcohol- related risks.

When considering this general issue, a number of important findings emerge for this study. Firstly, the risks of teenage drinking are real. Young people do engage in risky behaviours when drunk and the outcomes of these actions can be severe. Secondly, most young people learn to moderate their alcohol consumption as they get older and suffer few long-term consequences of their teenage drinking exploits. Thirdly, this learning is gained through trial and error, in the company of other young people trying to get drunk but not caught, and without any real adult input. Finally, the strategies (drinking culture) used by teenagers to control their drinking and intoxication are relatively simplistic, prone to failure and of little use if the context changes.

It is argued, therefore, that there is a clear need and justification for the development of more pragmatic interventions for underage drinkers that are focused on reducing the acute risks associated with drinking. In essence, these interventions could attempt to teach young drinkers better strategies and techniques to control and regulate their consumption and to reduce instances of excessive intoxication.

Full report here

A new 'legal high' with the brand name Ivory Wave is implicated in the death of 24 year old man from the Isle of Wight (guardian.co.uk). We shall have to wait for the results of the toxicology tests before it can be confirmed that the drug was found in his system and if it played any part in his death. But, as many times before, lurid newspaper headlines about new 'killer drugs' will create a level of hysteria which makes it difficult for health professional to provide balanced and credible health information around the use of new and emerging highs.In March 2010, Mephedrone was blamed for the death of Louis Wainwright, 18, and Nicholas Smith, 19. The result of the media frenzy was Mephedrone and all cathinone derivates becoming a class B drug in March this year. Toxicology tests later found that they had not taken the drug.

As a result of the recent legislation, manufacturers of previously legal highs are passing off their stockpiles as completely new legal highs. Tests carried out at St Georges Hospital University, London, in 2009 found Ivory Wave is MDPV, a drug made illegal in the UK in April 2010, but which is still being sold on various websites (see image above) as a new legal high.

The best health advice we can give for anyone using any of the new highs, legal or illegal, is to assume that it isn't what it says on the tin. Even if you have bought it from a normally reliable source it could be something completely different, or a mixture of substances. Don't dive straight into using your normal amount. Start with small amounts and give it time before you decide to use more.

You can download our FREE factsheets on new and emerging drugs here.

We have just published our new cocaethylene awareness and harm reduction leaflet which outlines the risks and offers advice on how to get your alcohol and cocaine use under control. Please feel free to submit a product review, we would appreciate the feedback.

There is very useful report, in PDF format, which you can download, titled 'Responding to combined alcohol and cocaine use' you may find this useful if you need more detailed information.

Read the full story here

You can see clips form the docmentary on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ac80htxPoo

You can read the article here

Seems that the recovery agenda is picking up momentum and a lot of harm reduction practitoners are wondering how they will fit into the new approach.

An interesting blog by 'Wired In' titled 'The Real Recovery Agenda' here