On the Frontline

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On the Frontline
Gareth Balmer Dundee Direct Access Service
Remit to provide substance misuse advice,
information and support service to People of
Dundee
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In the beginning.

• 2008 Bubbleluv
• ecstasy alternative amongst recreational users
• 2009 Sudden increase in reports
• Enquiries from schools
• Schools
• White ones
• Pink ones
• Blue ones
• LSD Ketamine Ecstasy combo?
• Never credible
• A mix up on reported effects

mephedrone its very moreish
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In the beginning.

• Reports continue..
• Doctors in Dundee have issued a warning about
  the legal high drug 'bubbles' after five people
  suffered non-fatal overdoses last weekend in the
  city BBC News Nov 2009
• Bubbles take man to brink of suicide in weeks
  DC Thomson Jan 2010
• Party drug bubbles destroyed our son Feb 2010
• Mephedrone teenager risked blowing up petrol
  station STV NEWS April 2010
• Party drug mephedrone contributed to suicide
  death of my son, reveals grief-stricken mum
  Daily Record July 2010

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Prevalence..?

• Mephedrone use and associated adverse effects in
  school and college/university students before the
  UK legislation change Dargan PI, Albert S, Wood
  DM.QJM. 2010 Jul 30. Epub ahead of print
• 1006 individuals completed the survey 501
  (49.8) males and 505 (50.2) females
• 349 classified their educational institute as a
  school and 657 as a college/university
• 205 (20.3) reported previous use of mephedrone
• 23.4 reported using only using mephedrone on one
  occasion previously
• 4.4 reported daily use
• 56 of those who had used mephedrone, reported at
  least one unwanted effect associated with its use
  

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What's in a Bubble?

Most recent info from official sources Methylmeth
cathinone (mephedrone) MDPV Methylone Butylone NR
G-? MDAI ERIC! Dose?
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Who comes to see us and why?

• Drop-in service
• Accident and Emergency
• Psychiatric liaison
• Inpatient psychiatric services
• Dragged in by parents
• Cost/Benefit
• Dose related problems
• Daily use

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Presenting issues?

Anxiety Palpitations Hallucinations Paranoia Cravi
ngs Anger Despair Family problems Money
problems Dopamine psychosis? Why are we
surprised KHAT
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What are we doing?

• Reassurance
• Coping with comedowns
• Harm reduction message
• Most problems dose related
• Coping with cravings

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On the Frontline