Personal research:

Research on substance abuse
:

Interviews: "Have you ever had any experience in using illegal substances recreationally or medically and would you like to expand on your experiences?"  

"no" - aged 15. 

"I have never used illegal substances" - aged 17. 

"I'd say 80% of my friends have tried weed and about half of them didn’t really want to but they weren't pressured they just didn’t want to be left out I guess, there are definitely certain groups of people who do drugs like ket. A couple of my friends have done it either because they were so drunk and didn’t really know what they were doing or because they wanted to impress the group like the boys. I have one friend; my age and she's coming off a coke addiction right now. It all started because of family issues and she did it first to fit in at a party but soon started doing it on her own - I think she does it to numb the pain but she's stopping now, I just feel so bad for her because what probably started as a one-night thing has destroyed her for about a year" - aged 17. 

"well if I'm honest I just had some at a party and it really wasn’t worth it I didn’t really see much of a difference other then it made the time go fast like when you used it I've never really felt pressured I felt more the other way like if I do something ill get judged for it by my closest group" - aged 16. 

"Yes, but not properly and possibly but using those sorts of substances is not something that I particularly like or am into" - aged 17. 

"it was trippy, I felt like I was very light. I would do it again. I didn’t know the people I was with very well, so I was worried about that, but I wasn’t pressured into doing it, I wanted to try it, I wanted to, I think the fact my parents are so against it made me want to do it more" -aged 16. 

"I've used a few drugs recreationally but have never felt addicted and am at a stage where it no longer interests me. I used 1 type of pill medically which is known to be very addictive and I did feel a slight temptation to take it even when not necessarily necessary but then I stopped taking it before the situation got out of hand. I'm not and have never been addicted to any substance's and wouldn’t say that I've ever abused them to a dangerous extent" - aged 17. 

"Yes, I've used multiple, I was worried about some at first but have enjoyed them all except for 1 time which was a one off and is normal. I think that my friends use them more than me, I don’t like risking events encase I don’t enjoy the drug as much as I would if I had alcohol on its own. I've done weed nos MDMA and ket, but I know people who have done shrooms, acid and Cocaine. I was trip sitting the people on shrooms and they just described feeling really light" - aged 17. 

"I have used recreational drugs but have never been addicted to anything and am not planning on that. That was also performed due to peer pressure and I feel indifferent about them. If I am to be offered again, I would probably choose not to do it but I think it’s a good experience to have. Sure, it felt unusually good when I had a night out after, but I don’t feel like I have a temptation to use it" - aged 18. 

"I liked it, it was pretty cool. I just felt much more laid back and it allowed us all to de-stress and relax despite the stress we previously seemed to have" - aged 18. 

"When I did 2 350mg of MDMA pills it activated the psychoactive substances in ecstasy. I felt like there was a rainbow road coming out of my mate's mouth like in Mario kart and it was driving towards me, it was hands down one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced. When I did .3g line of coke it made me think I had god given powers and I could see electricity and balls of energy coming out of my fingertips – it was magical. My last experience was on KET after .7g line and then a nos balloon, I entered a tv show called peaky blinders and was passed out for 2 hours whilst fighting the characters. I first smoked weed as soon as I turned 14 so like last to last August, and then I did my first pill last Easter, I was offered but I didn’t do it because of peer pressure. I asked if anyone had any an d then I was offered and then I took it and whilst on it I took another. My first time doing coke was last summer and was also voluntary. I don't think I'm anywhere near addiction there came a point near Christmas time where it was overuse but not addiction. It's kinda just showed them that it's not all that bad and there now more open to it, not all just started doing it when we first started college, but some did" - aged 17 

"Not personally no, only friends with older siblings who have said its fine just makes you feel a bit sleepy and their experiences have been fine, they're not addicted or anything they’ve just tried it" - aged 16 

"Yes, I have, and I feel intrigued to know more about other drugs however I think it would be educational purposes only, I don’t think I would do any others" -aged 17 

"Yes, I have, its social and fun, there's no harm in it if it's all consenting, and you are aware of the risks. I only use drugs recreationally and I don’t think there's a problem with it. Just people should be properly informed before they do it like otherwise accidents happen and people land jump on the floor n that by the end of the night. I like taking drugs because its relaxing. To be honest, when I'm sober I feel uncomfortable and I feel like I'm stupid and ugly but when I'm high I don’t care about any of that, everything is super enhanced, and everything looks and sounds and tastes much better. Sometimes when I take pills I literally feel like I'm never  unna get happier than that moment"- aged 17 

"Lots of my friends and people I went to and go to school with now do drugs, weed and especially I've been aware of friends doing since like year 9. I've smoked it myself at parties, but never felt any pressure to do so. Another one I'm very aware of is MDMA and ket. I personally have never felt pressured to do anything. I have quite a few guy friends who sell drugs, my exs friend was found with cocaine and is currently waiting on his trial/hearing whatever you want to call it. He's only 17" - aged 17 

"I have had experiences and it did not go well - I ended up hallucinating and was so desperate to re-enter reality I resorted to calling an ambulance who assessed me medically and found I was okay. It still stresses me out mentally 9 months later and I'm hoping I will be able to block the experience out mentally one day – it taught me not to mix substances and to proceed with caution, but it won't stop me from suing them again" - aged 17