Your+Voices+logo+FB.jpg
 

Drugs in the UK: YourVoices

YourVoices is a campaign to foster debate about drugs and drug policy in the UK by collecting and sharing the experiences and views of real people. The campaign is non-judgemental and has no position on UK drug policy, but we do want to break through some of the stigma which prevents honest conversations about drugs.

The real life stories and voices on drugs we’ve collected are shared on the campaign Instagram account @yourvoicesuk. You can see the 16 most recent stories below - click on the images to read each story, and follow the Instagram account to join in the conversation!

 
“I have multiple health problems, all of which have benefited from my use of cannabis. This has worked for problems where pharmaceuticals have either failed or caused too many unpleasant side effects. Unfortunately my oldest son who was at one time taking meth got caught up with the black market and cannabis. To be honest he lost a beloved friend to suicide and I was relieved when they stopped hard drugs. My youngest had to wait over 3 years for spinal surgery; combined with all the trauma and pain he ended up with an opioid addiction. He is one of the lucky ones who fought his way onto a subutex withdrawal program but even on that he has struggled to get help for other mental health issues. I worked in the community for 25 years running education and training. We did a lot of drug awareness training, fundraising and community development. Successive UK governments have wilfully failed their own people by not being willing to look at the factual science, statistical data and the positive changes other European countries have made in harm reduction. Meanwhile the UK is the world's largest producer and exporter of medical cannabis, yet our own people are denied the benefits of a simple plant which has the potential to treat so many conditions.” - Andrea, 52, community worker in Scotland
“Cannabis allows me to function normally and without using unpredictable and expensive prescription drugs. Unfortunately it is impossible to know what you are getting, as the UK government would rather people buy this medicine from criminals than allow it to be sold to adults (like alcohol or caffeine or paracetamol) from licenced vendors. Thousands of people would benefit from this drug being made legally available. People who suffer from seizures or anxiety disorders are being neglected in favour of corporate greed. You can either listen, or shake your head, put your fingers in your ears and continue to put money in the hands of criminals. People will always consume this substance, but the government has the power to regulate it, tax it, and catch up with the rest of the world on this issue. Prohibition is ineffective and irresponsible, and frankly, makes us the laughing stock of the modern world.” – Harry, 23, Designer in London
“It started off slow with my dependency on weed whilst my mental health deteriorated. It helps with everyday functioning as it calmed me during hard times. I've sadly moved onto stronger things now and do a lot of ket when I can (usually 5 times a week). I try to escape to deal with life as I don't have many outlets to deal with what I’m going through. For nights out I do coke and MDMA and smoke crack sometimes but they're a lot less often. I think government should offer more help regularly and have check ups on people because it's a slippery slope once you get the right dealer. I just think that everything could be so different if I had counselling from the start and didn't use instead.” – Hannah, 19, student in the South West
“I became dependent on drugs to the point where I couldn’t get through the day without something. Had a habit of rolling on ecstasy and taking painkillers, often leading to me overdosing and showing up to class out of it, slurring and falling apart. Some days, I think it felt like my head was genuinely deteriorating, I couldn’t speak or move properly and it’s taken a long time to wean myself off painkillers. I still use ecstasy recreationally and in all honesty it makes me feel worse, but I have a habit of turning to substances impulsively, just to make myself believe I’m doing something about my dark thoughts. During my roughest months, I took many, many overdoses, which are now haunting me. My long-term partner also suffers with substance misuse, and it breaks my heart sometimes because it feels like I’m losing her to them. I’ve fallen out with a lot of friends because they picked that lifestyle over our friendship, because I can’t put myself in intense social situations anymore, such as parties, because it brings back traumatic memories. I struggle daily with substances, and it has completely altered my life. It’s accelerating my symptoms of mental illness such as psychosis, and it continues to ruin my life in more ways than one, yet I still take ecstasy recreationally.” – Tia, 16, student in the South East
“I’ve suffered with severe anxiety and depression for 12 years. The NHS mental health service is overloaded with patients and the service is terrible, often leaving suicidal people without help for days and weeks. I’ve tried all the available drugs prescribed which didn't help me but had terrible side effects. In the end after I was just left to cope a friend suggested cannabis. It changed my life! Specifically indica dominant strains (no satvias). Weed makes me normal again. This plant should be legal so I can afford to use this medicine daily. As it is I have to buy it from the street and I'm never sure of the quality.” – Jane, 35, IT support in the North West
“Cannabis oil has helped me manage pain from chronic conditions that I used to take prescribed opiates for. The opiates never fully took my pain away and I was addicted if I didn't have my pills quick enough in the morning, it would have physical effects on my body, I put a lot of weight on and had no energy and enthusiasm for life. I now take the cannabis oil as it controls my pain and as an unexpected bonus it has taken down joint inflammation making me able to kneel down for the first time in almost 13 years. I am asthmatic so was not able to take anti-inflammatory drugs as it could adversely affect my asthma. I have also started losing weight and have dropped two dress sizes, I have more energy and zest for life. "The war on drugs" has failed it's time to retreat and think of some new tactics, the war on drugs has not helped people who use non-prescribed drugs or society as a whole. The only people to benefit in any way from the war on drugs are the dealers who have gotten rich from prohibition. Cannabis particularly has many health benefits and does less harm that alcohol to society. Drunk people cause havoc in our city centres at the weekend with violence, vandalism and anti-social behaviour, while stoners are generally at home watching box sets on TV. I feel if we legalised drugs and regulated them our young people would be less likely to take harder drugs. Now when they visit a dealer they will push other harder addictive drugs like heroin and crack onto the kids when they go to buy cannabis. Keeping kids away from dealers and using licensed dispensaries would also protect our younger and older people from getting adulterated drugs from these criminals. If drugs were regulated and taxed we could use the money to fund our NHS and other valuable resources. If people were allowed to use cannabis oil for pain, MS, fibromyalgia, cancer treatment and many other ailments it could potentially save the NHS a fortune, especially if people have the right to grow and self medicate that would save a phenomenal amount of money.” – Nicola, 51, self-employed in Scotland.
“With the massive cuts in police (neighbourhood, proactive, intelligence) drug dealing gangs have taken over the streets, spreading to drug free zones as well. It has led to massive increase in violence including murders, shootings & stabbings. Recovering drug addicts are targeted with free samples with dealers basing themselves outside where they are housed. Drugs like cannabis, crack, heroin, meth. Huge amounts of the drug addicts’ theft and burglary offences are simply not reported now because there are no police. Government policy has made areas more lawless & we need proper funding in police, courts & rehabilitation. Huge amounts of addicts want to get clean but when dealers rule streets it is impossible.” - Gareth, 42, Police Officer in London
“I’ve had many experiences with drugs such as mdma, cocaine, ketamine, cannabis and spice. The good sides to drugs are you can experience feelings that we are otherwise incapable of feeling. I have never felt so good in my in entire life and I wouldn’t exactly say I regret experimenting with drugs. I got to understand and connect with people on a level much deeper than an everyday conversation. Also it was a lot easier to dance for longer, and I didn’t get as easily tired. Obviously I’m not saying drugs are good, they did effect my mental health. Especially cannabis, I used to smoke cannabis multiple times a day, but now I smoke it much less. I have more of an appreciation as cannabis just helps me unwind, I don’t particularly enjoy alcohol it’s just not something I enjoy every much in comparison to cannabis. Spice should very much be illegal and I literally had the most traumatic experience in my entire life. I feel like the government’s approach to drugs need to be altered. Drugs should be legalised but controlled very strictly and risks should be outlined clear, like alcohol and cigarettes. If drugs were pure and regulated many problems of the illegal drugs trade would dissipate. People would know what they were getting, safety precautions could be given for safe doses, and the drugs should be not easily accessible as they do pose health risks. And small quantities should be given to prevent overdoses.” – Heather, 17, college student in Yorkshire and Humber region
“My son has had problems with drugs since he was 15, he’s now 25 and the struggle is daily. His drug of choice is Cannabis although he has had periods using Crack and Heroin and anything else he can find. Although he is currently employed and lives in a room in a shared house it is a knife edge that he lives on. There are periods of sofa surfing and mental meltdowns. He is one step away from being homeless and this could happen at any time. He has been to prison twice due to behaviours while on drugs. All of his drug problems stem from mental health issues that have never been addressed by any doctor, even in prison. Prescriptions of mirtazapine are not the answer. Cuts to mental health services are directly responsible as are cuts to all drug services. If there were more readily available and effective community drug services I really feel he would be on a more even keel by now. He wants to change but there is just no help for him. The effect it has had on my life is massive. I have anxiety, I don't sleep well. Every time my phone rings or there is a knock on the door I feel sick, like I am waiting for the police to tell me he has killed himself or overdosed or he has been arrested. I am a loving supportive mother but this has had a great impact on relationships, work and my mental health. This Government does nothing for those with drug misuse problems other than cut services for the most vulnerable. It's quite appalling the way services have been cut over the years and from what I can see will be cut again. What kind of society do we live in that treat our most vulnerable like this?” - Lorraine, 56, PA in the West Midlands
“I’ve smoked Cannabis since age 16 and now run a large company. Brought up in Brixton and everyone was smoking. Smoked cannabis every day since, now 54 years old and enjoying life. Still smoking daily…” – Ian, 54, Managing Director in London
“I’m disabled and have nerve damage (no cure). I was on a cocktail of pharmaceutical drugs taking 24 tablets a day and actually died from an accidental overdose in front of my wife and young kids. I was dead for four minutes until the paramedics brought me back. I now use cannabis - it is safer/better then pharmacy drugs and has no side effects. I’m happy and enjoy my family again. I was on tramadol, cocodamol, sleeping tablets, fluoxetine (antidepressants), muscle relaxants then shortec and longtec (oxycodone). The UK drug policy is outdated and unfair to patients looking for better medicine.” – Kevin, 43, security worker in the South East
“The UK has its head in the sand about the cannabis issue. It pays too much attention to the red top papers, the alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical industries and not enough attention to the thousands of voters and taxpayers who use cannabis recreationally and medically. Cannabis users are afraid to write to MPs in case MPs pass on their names to the police. The illegality of cannabis makes users distrust the police and falls to heavily on younger, poorer, blacker males. The well off get a good lawyer, the poor go to jail. Since 1979 I’ve spent many hours working to get cannabis legalised. I’ve met many very interesting people from all walks of life in the process at talks, rallies and marches and on TV and radio. I have visited countries and states where recreational and medical cannabis are legal or decriminalised and attended International conferences too in the UK, Netherlands and Austria. The issues with cannabis extend into the difficulties farmers have obtaining Hemp licences from the Home Office. Hemp is a valuable seed and fibre crop to diversify farming income and combat global warming. Licences should be cheaper, less onerous and easier to obtain via the internet or at the Post Office. Adults need to be allowed to grow a few cannabis plants at home - up to 6 perhaps. Until NICE and the NHS can get their act sorted out to provide cannabis medicines, the police should be required to accept doctors’ letters stating that the patient is suitable for cannabis medicine. Cannabis tincture was a medicine in the NHS until 1972. It should be reinstated and sold at Health Food Stores and Pharmacies. Alternatively there should be an allowable THC limit for products so that hemp farmers do not have their crops destroyed for minor infringements of THC levels and Pharmacies and Health Food Stores can sell THC infused items.” – Linda, 69, Teacher working with special needs pupils in Scotland.
“I’ve consumed cannabis for over 10 years, first trying it when I was 19. I have seen minimal negative effects from it, and believe that through education in how to handle the negative side effects such as paranoia it can be applied as part of a healthy lifestyle for most people. I think it is an absolute disgrace that for so many years I have kept it under wraps due to the propaganda surrounding it. And I am also impacted by the potential for drug testing in my employment, with real world consequences such as loss of job based on assumed impairments from having a THC metabolite in urine, this is known to take days-weeks to clear from the system and studies show active impairment only lasts a few hours after use. The amount of time I worry about this is silly and unnecessary. Also the cannabis driving limits could do with a rethink, punishing people based on assumptions doesn’t exactly reflect the liberal state we live in. I have also recently been diagnosed with colitis and find cannabis to be a valuable symptom reliever that should be available in whole plant form on the NHS, much better than paracetamol as it addresses nausea, pain, insomnia and mental health issues associated with the condition.” – Scott, 29, Water Treatment Engineer in the South East
“My 20 year old son died from an accidental drug overdose three and a half years ago. Daniel was a university student and died from drugs bought on the streets of Manchester (dihydrocodeine and diazepam). He was in his second term at university and it was the first time he had lived away from our rural Shropshire home. The lives of myself and my family have been devastated. He was another victim in the drug war that our government perpetuates. Please read my story on the Anyone’s Child website.” - Marie, 63, registered nurse in the West Midlands
“I think it's about time drugs should be legalised, you should be able to see a Doctor and a counsellor and get an identity card. That way you could go and buy your drugs of choice with all profits going into the Government and not into dealers’ banks. While you use your card you can be monitored, if you get arrested your card can be turned off. They say 80% of all crime is down to drugs in one way or another, so by making them available you can slash crime by a huge amount, no more turf wars, no more county lines, no more dodgy rubbish being sold. You might even find that we have too many coppers as most of their business will be eliminated. Britain is already the biggest supplier of Coke and weed in the world. It would be a win win situation all round.” - Jue, 53, Construction Worker in the South West

Tell us your story

If you live in the UK and feel that your life has been impacted by drugs, we’d love to hear your story. You may have been impacted directly, through drug use by friends or family, or through your work. Your experiences may have been bad or good.

Complete our short survey to tell us your story

YourVoices is run by the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group (CDPRG). Responses are treated in the strictest confidence and won't be shared outside of the organisation without your express permission. We will happily change names by request.

For more information about the YourVoices campaign, email hannah.slater@cdprg.co.uk