Student film highlights dangers of underground drug
A student film describing first-hand the effects of a legal recreational drug has highlighted its dangerous effects.
University of Lincoln graduate Dane Vincent, 21, made his eight minute film, All Bonged Up, about the latest in legal highs – mephedrone.
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The perfectly legal drug is described as plantfood and is not for human consumption. It is connected to the plant Salvia.
This perfectly legal substance is described by its sellers as plant food and not for human consumption.
But despite its intended use young people are buying it in shops and over the Internet to get high in clubs across the country and in Lincolnshire.
Mr Vincent was made aware of the phenomenon when his girlfriend told him some of her friends were using it.
"When she told me about that they could just buy it from a shop, I thought it was strange," he said.
Mr Vincent managed to buy some from people who were taking it.
"A couple of my friends said they would try it. It was funny but strange at the time," he said.
"One of my friends started dribbling and slurring his words and just went a bit strange.
"It left me a bit indecisive about it."
The effects of the drug, that induces euphoria, have been likened to ecstasy, speed and cocaine.
But the darker side are the anecdotally reported side-effects including heart palpitations, vomiting, blood circulation problems, seizures and joint or spinal aches for several days after use.
Mr Vincent's film has attracted a BBC Journalism Award at the Connect & Create Conference.
And it has also sparked the interest of the university's vice chancellor, Lord Victor Adebowale who wants to highlight the film and the issues surrounding the drug to ministers.
2 Comments
by Some dim Bird, Lincoln
Monday, February 22 2010, 4:22PM
“I, for one, think that this film is very much needed to address this rising drug. And I applaud the Lincolnshire Echo for covering this story as it is something that is widely being used in Lincolnshire with little knowledge of effects or long lasting illnesses and psychological problems this 'drug' may bring. Anything that highlights the uses and dangers of something that has had little research can only be a good thing by drawing attention for the need of this to be tested thoroughly and real substantial evidence of how dangerous it is or is not. It only takes a quick search of forums to realise the extent of it's use and the side-effects users are experiencing to see that it needs to be addressed properly. How are A+E departments supposed to handle incoming patients under the influence of this substance with little knowledge of how it can be counter-acted. It has already incurred deaths in the last year and no doubt there will be more. It's not a case of scare-mongering, bans or classifications, it's a case of providing those who will use it with or without it being a legal substance as to the health implications of use, regularly or irregularly. I know personally hard-drug users who will not touch the stuff purely for the fact that the outcome is so erratic. If that doesn't say something, nothing will.”
by Lou, Lincoln
Monday, February 22 2010, 8:21AM
“Firstly the drugs are hardly 'underground', if they are being sold freely and openly on the high street, internet and at festivals up and down the country.
Secondly what is being highlighted here exactly? a group of 'students' sat around taking drugs legal or otherwise, is hardly cutting edge journalism, its tiresome and boring and if we want to see this kind of self absorbed attention seeking rubbish we can watch it on you-tube.
Thirdly these legal high drugs may be more freely available than in the past, and sold in a more consumable form, but legislation will not get rid us of legal highs.
Alcohol is the most widely sold legal high, and creates more health and society problems than any other, and it is unlikely this will ever be banned.
Plus where would it end? banning anything that would give someone a 'high'? What exactly would be left in our gardens, kitchens and bathrooms and chemist/herbal shops then. Lock up your spice cabinets they are coming for your nutmeg next!
In reality the majority of 'highs' being obtained each week apart from alcohol will be the illegal variety. Like alcohol some people will have good experiences and some bad, and like alcohol some people may suffer long term dependency and health problems.
Only education, delivered first hand from people who have experienced the harsh end of drug use, and fully supported drug programs that people can get onto the day they wish to quit, will reduce the amount of people using drugs.
I think the only thing i found interesting about this 'film' is that Lord Victor Adebowale found its contents so surprising. Surely someone who is Chief Executive of the Turning Point Organisation; a service which provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse and mental health problems would be fully aware of the role of legal highs in society. After all legal highs have been around for a very long-time, in many cases longer than the illegal ones.”