1. DESIGNER DRUGS
An Overview of harm by Dylan Kerr
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

2. Who?What?Why? How?
■ This guide was originally written to meet the needs of people who encounter
“designer drugs” in their day to day life:
-SchoolTeachers
-YouthWorkers
-HostelWorkers
-Addiction Professions
-HealthcareWorkers
-Parents
-Users
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

3. What is a designer drug?
This guide was written in response to the growing numbers of “Designer Drugs” that have
been flooding the market in recent years.
To contain every fact and detail in about every single drug would run into the realms of
creating something akin to the British National Formulary – a medications reference book
for doctors.
Not every fact or detail is in this guide, but it is a good detailed starting point for any
member of staff who is concerned or interested in understanding “Designer Drugs” better.
As I have began to write this guide there has been many changes concerning law, findings
and information published.This has led me to review and rewrite some sections of this
piece of work as I have gone along
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

4. Over recent years, there has been lot a press about new drugs that have
found their way on to the market. With varied names, ranging from the
complex to the baffling and with some with rather worrying or unusual side
effects. It is often quite hard to keep up with what is going on. Some drugs
are sold under the guise of different products like plant feeder and industrial
cleaners. Some of these new drugs are even sold under the guise of illicit
drugs such as Ecstasy (MDMA) or Cocaine – as in the case of BZP
(Benzylpiperazine).
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

5. Whatever the drug, if dependency occurs it will
usually always affect a person’s health (physically and
mentally), wealth (drugs always cost something or
effect people’s ability to work), relations (family and
friends) and possibly have some impact on the law.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

6. So, why designer drugs?
■ The term “Designer drug” is an umbrella term means that the drug is specifically
designed to produce a certain effect, whether that is hallucinogenic, exciting or
sedating. Most designer drugs and legal highs are not medicinal drugs (drugs used in
medicine), sometimes they have other uses such as industrial cleaning agents.
Designer drugs are sometimes called “Research Chemicals”, “Legal Highs”,
“Supplements”
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

7. How?
■ So why is it that these drugs are gaining so much popularity now? Some were synthesized many years
ago, for example mephedrone was first synthesized in 1929, so why has it only just emerged as a
favourite recreational drug of choice? [2] A common reason for a lot of these drugs appearing in the
first place is the legality of these drugs, the drugs appear on the market firstly as legal highs, which
means that there is currently (as of 2011) no law governing the sale of these drugs if they are not sold
specifically for human consumption. These means the market has a great potential to grow. There
have been reports of people becoming millionaires through investing in mephedrone when it was
legal (mephedrone was made illegal in 2010 and is now a class B drug). During this period of legality
the drug will be sampled by many who are seeking new highs and those who are looking to avoid
legal repercussions for their actions. Sometimes, as in the case of some of Phenethylamines (which I
will introduce later), the new drugs will offer a new experience to the user that is unlike previous drugs
used.
■ On 3rd November 2010 Professor Les Iversen, Interim Chair,Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs
revealed in a conference that although not a great number of people had been come forward for drug
treatment for new designer drugs, frank the national drug helpline had received an increase in volume
of people calling up who had ingested the drug. Many, according to anecdotal information collected
had never tried drugs of that nature before and had become alarmed at the powerful effects of the
drug. However the Scottish Drugs forum in June 2010 that questioned the drug habits of young
people in schools returned that 7.1% of those who’d taken legal highs had never taken an illicit drug
before[3]
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

8. THE POPULAR
DRUGS
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

9. GBL
■ Status: Class C controlled drug – Made Illegal in 2010 (criminal offence to supply or
possess under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971)
■ Appearance: Clear white liquid with a strong solvent smell, usually stored in a small
plastic bottle with a dropper.
■ Cost: 50p - £15
■ Method of taking: Usually always served in a drink or taken orally directly from bottle
■ Type of drug: Depressant (similar to alcohol), also has hallucinogenic properties
similar to ketamine
■ GBL commonly called “G” it is most popular amongst the gay community and most
commonly seen in raves/nightclubs.Although seen in nightclubs it is not as popular as
drugs like ketamine, mephedrone, amphetamine-like drugs and ecstasy.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

10. GBL■ Effects:
■ GBL can cause loss of consciousness with strong doses, sometimes first time users can lose consciousness due to strong
biological reaction and rapid absorption into the body. The drug overwhelms the user and they are rendered unconscious. It
is not uncommon for people who regularly use the drug to have experienced an over-dose at some point. Loss of
consciousness is potentially very dangerous; it can cause injury, induce a coma and potentially kill.
■ Harm reduction: Generally speakingGBL is best not consumed at all. It poses a great risk to those who have never
ingested the drug before. It should not be consumed with alcohol as this increases the sedative effects of the drug and puts
the user at greater risk of overdose. If someone is consumingGBL they should consider the following:
■ - Be aware of the sedative effects of the drug.
■ - Not use the drug when no one else is around, make sure that someone is watching out for them.
■ - Be aware that GBL can cause delusions
■ - Do not mix with alcohol
■ - If consumed with alcohol stop drinking and switch to soft drink or water
■ - Be aware that sedative effect can alter ability to move/function
■ - If someone is unresponsive call an ambulance immediately.
■ - Be aware that GBL can cause anxiety following usage
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

11. GBL
■ Why do people use the drug?
■ The experience is generally regarded as being “fun”, people find the sensation enjoyable
and rewarding. In higher doses GBL can cause introspective delusions similar to drugs like
ketamine and LSD. Some people find the dream-like state of these delusions interesting
and enjoyable. A lot of users say there is no come down from a taking “G”, some users
enjoy the fact they can take it during the week, sleep on in and then go to work the
following day with little immediate consequences. However this can lure users into a false
sense of security whereby they feel they can cope with the drug and begin using heavier
amounts which can result in severe side effects.
■ When dependency starts to form people are usually using the drug to escape certain things
they find very difficult to deal with.The sedative effect reduces anxiety, memories of
trauma and severe depression. When people start using GBL for these reasons they will
find it very difficult to give up the drug, as this becomes their only way to cope with these
feelings. GBL also causes insomnia, loss of appetite, anxiety, shaking involuntarily and
drug induced psychosis.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

12. GBL
■ Where do people get it?
■ GBL isn’t illegal in all countries so it can be purchased via the internet, it is difficult for
customs to stop the drug entering the country as it is often disguised as something
else such as a cleaning product. GBL is used in manufacturing to clean alloy wheels on
cars and other industrial purposes. It can be obtained in nightclubs and from drug
dealers illicitly.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

13. Mephedrone /4-methylmethcathinone
■ Status: Class B controlled drug
■ Appearance: White powder or clear crystals
■ Cost: £10-£25 a gram
■ Method of taking: Chopped into lines and snorted or taken orally in rizla/paper wraps
(bombed). Mephedrone can be injected and smoked but it is very uncommon.
■ Type of drug: Entactogen, Cathinone, Stimulant
■ Mephedrone became popular with young people in 2008 – 2009 due to its availability and
previous legal status. Young people found the drug to be considerably easy to access and
available.At its peak the drug could be delivered by a moped service 24hours a day in cities
like Brighton and London.
■ Mephedrone was sold under the guise of “plant feeder” originally and labelled as “not for
human consumption”, this was to get around laws governing what can be ingested by.
■ Since mephedrone became popular, there are a lot myths attached to the drug, mostly
publicised by the media.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

14. Mephedrone /4-methylmethcathinone
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

15. Mephedrone /4-methylmethcathinone
■ Mephedrone became popular with young people in 2008 – 2009 due to its availability
and previous legal status. Young people found the drug to be considerably easy to
access and available.At its peak the drug could be delivered by a moped service
24hours a day in cities like Brighton and London.
■ Mephedrone was sold under the guise of “plant feeder” originally and labelled as “not
for human consumption”, this was to get around laws governing what can be ingested
by.
■ Since mephedrone became popular, there are a lot myths attached to the drug, mostly
publicised by the media.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

16. Mephedrone /4-methylmethcathinone
■ Effects:
■ Mephedrone has a similar effect to cocaine and ecstasy; the user will feel excited,
more awake and more alert. In larger doses the user can experience a state of intense
euphoria where they will feel at ease with the world and more sociable.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

17. Mephedrone /4-methylmethcathinone
■ Negative effects:
■ Since mephedrone is so new there is little known about the long-term effects. Mephedrone was originally linked to 52 deaths in 2010
however; it now thought that only two of these deaths were a direct result of taking Mephedrone, one was a 46-year male who
repeatedly injected the drug. Mephedrone has been recognised as drug of addiction, although people do not form a physical
addiction it is mentally addictive. Many users have self reported that they do the drug in excessive amounts which increases the
likelihood of suffering from negative side effects.
■ Mephedrone is a vasoconstrictor – this means that it narrows your veins and reduces blood flow. Some users have reported they feel
chest pains and tight sensation in their chest. This could lead to eventual heart damage over time or cardiac arrest. Anyone with a
pre-existing heart condition should avoid taking this drug. Some users report feeling pains in their arms and legs as a result of taking
the drug, this is thought to be down to decreased flow of blood caused by the vasoconstrictive effects of the drug.
■ In the research and questionnaire carried out in researching this guide, Mephedrone was one of the most common and popular
designer drugs cited. During the questionnaire I asked people to comment on the negative side effects they experienced by their use
of designer drugs, more than half of the people said they encountered some feeling of discomfort associated with their heart or
blood flow whilst on the drug. 80% of those who answered the survey were under the age of 35 years old (with the other 20% in the
age 35 to 45-year-old category), this is a remarkably young age group to be experiencing feeling of discomfort of the heart. Whilst
52.5% of the people asked said they only felt the negative symptoms rarely (45% said they never experienced negative side effects) it
is nevertheless a sign for concern that such a relatively young age group should be experiencing these problems at all.With continued
persistent use, users may see the onset of cardiac problems prematurely in their life – as has already been documented with
cigarette, alcohol, amphetamine, and cocaine usage.
■ Mephedrone has been cited as being a neurotoxin, which can cause some damage to functioning of the nervous system. Users self
report that they do have memory recall problems whilst on the drug and some report that they feel they are unable to concentrate
well for periods following mephedrone usage. The full extent the neurotoxicity is not fully yet known due to limited number of tests.
Early tests suggest it is similar to that of amphetamines, but not as toxic as MDMA.
■ Mephedrone can be addictive for some people, there is no physical addiction currently associated with the drug – however people
quickly become accustomed to the feeling of stimulant drugs and can often feel exceptionally withdrawn and tired in days after the
drug usage which can cause users to re-dose to combat the feelings of exhaustion or tiredness, thus re-enforcing addiction.
■ It has also been indicated in recent studies that mephedrone may cause liver and kidney damage.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

18. Mephedrone /4-methylmethcathinone
■ Harm reduction:
■ Since there is still a lot unknown about the harmful effects the best advice would be not to do at all or
take very infrequent. Like all drugs, the increase of the dose is likely to increase the negative effects.
■ Stimulant-type drugs can generally make people behave in a compulsive way, feeling the need to re-
dose frequently; this can lead to addiction for some people – especially if they have easy access to
large amounts of the drug. It is best advised that people who wish to experience the drug do not
horde large amounts of the drug, as there are many anecdotal experiences reported how people have
lost their ability to control their intake.Their tolerance to the drug rises within weeks and they find
themselves at a point whereby they are doing up to four times as much over the same period.This is
much more likely to accelerate the harmful effects of mephedrone.
■ Some people seem to have less control over their ability to control their substance use than others –
whether it is alcohol, cocaine, cigarettes or any other drugs that can be consumed compulsively. It is
important for people who have already experienced control issues or addiction to substances to
evaluate their ability to cope with drugs like mephedrone which is already showing psychological
addictive properties.
■ Since some of the drug-deaths associated with mephedrone have been in combination with other
drugs and alcohol it should be recommended that mephedrone is not taken with other drugs,
especially other stimulants. If a person exceeds more than 600mg (just more than half a gram) in two
hours they are likely to suffer from the negative side effects moreso.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

19. Mephedrone /4-methylmethcathinone
■ Why do people use the drug?
■ Feels good
■ Stimulating experience
■ Exploring their own mind
■ Feeling of closeness
■ Ability to stay awake for hours
■ Avoid social awkwardness
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

20. 2Ci, 2Cb, 2Ct7 and other “Psychedelic
Phenethylamines”
■ Status: ClassA controlled drugs – All 2C drugs are classified as classA drugs
■ Appearance: White powder, small shards of crystals, various coloured pills, white
powder inside gel caps
■ Cost: £5 - £10 a dose (sometimes more)
■ Method of taking: Usually swallowed but sometimes snorted. Can be prepared for
injection but very uncommon
■ Type of drug: Phenylethylamine, psychedelic-stimulant
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

21. 2Ci, 2Cb, 2Ct7 and other “Psychedelic
Phenethylamines”
■ If you do not know who Alexander Shulgin is or what a psychonaut does
on the weekend then you may not have heard of any of the 2C drugs.
2C drugs are psychedelic stimulants; they are rare but have gained
popularity amongst those looking to explore new highs and hedonistic
drug users.They offer the user an experience of hallucinations coupled
with feelings of euphoria. Some 2C drugs are more popular than others
are drugs due to the array of effects they cause. 2Ci and 2Cb remain the
most popular because the experiences are generally considered more
pleasurable.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

22. 2Ci, 2Cb, 2Ct7 and other “Psychedelic
Phenethylamines”
■ If you do not know who Alexander Shulgin is or what a psychonaut does
on the weekend then you may not have heard of any of the 2C drugs.
2C drugs are psychedelic stimulants; they are rare but have gained
popularity amongst those looking to explore new highs and hedonistic
drug users.They offer the user an experience of hallucinations coupled
with feelings of euphoria. Some 2C drugs are more popular than others
are drugs due to the array of effects they cause. 2Ci and 2Cb remain the
most popular because the experiences are generally considered more
pleasurable.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

23. 2Ci, 2Cb, 2Ct7 and other “Psychedelic
Phenethylamines”
■ Effects:
■ The effects vary depending on the amount and the type of 2C drug taken and some 2C
drugs have known have fatal consequences, especially when snorted.
■ A common description of these types of drugs is Users often report a feeling of
euphoria, a feeling of light-headedness and observance of patterns, colours and
objects appearing more vividly.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

24. 2Ci, 2Cb, 2Ct7 and other “Psychedelic
Phenethylamines”
■ Harm reduction:
■ 2C drugs are dose specific, check the dosages and do not exceed the doses, this can be very hard to check
these drugs are manufactured illicitly and you have no real way of checking the dose.
■ You should never snort 2C drugs, it is safer to ingest the drugs rather than snort them
■ Avoid mixing 2C drugs with any other substances, mixing substance with drugs like MDMA and prescribed
medication can be fatal
■ Avoid taking 2C drugs if you have asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease or known history of mental
illnesses.
■ Be aware of the setting that the drug is being taken. Some of the experiences on 2C drugs can be very
disorientating and mentally disturbing, although these experiences are rare they are down to individual
interpretations.
■ Be aware that once a drug is ingested you will have to deal with the effects for a long period of time, some
new research chemicals can last for a period of over 12 hours with very strong effects. Once ingested there
is little you can do to counter-act the effects. DOC, 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (you can see why
I didn’t list them all with names like that) last for a period of 24 hours and the peak of the trip (highest point
of intensity) doesn’t fade away.
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

25. DMT - N, N DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE
■ Status: Schedule I Class A controlled drug
■ Appearance: Yellowish crystals, sometimes bright yellow, sometimes duller. Can be
large crystals or very power-like
■ Cost: £50 - £200 a gram (DMT is especially rare and very hard to obtain, hence the
high prices)
■ Method of taking: Usually smoked, intranasal (snorted), sometimes injected (rarely),
if ingested it has no effect on a person
■ Type of drug: Tryptamine
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016

26. THANKS FOR
READING
This has been an introduction to my designer drugs presentation. If you would like more
information please contact me via Dylan.rehab@gmail.com You do not have any
permission to replicate or use any of the slide or information within this presentation
without my expressed written permission.
In order to obtain the full presentation please contact me:
Dylan Kerr - +66625098236 Dylan.rehab@gmail.com
Written by Dylan Kerr originally in 2011, revised in 2016