Drugs and alcohol
Drugs and alcohol can often be used as a way to entice you into being exploited.
If you already have a dependency on drugs or alcohol, it makes you more vulnerable. One example of this is cuckooing, where drug dealers take over your property and use it as a base to store and sell drugs. They can befriend you with the use of drugs and alcohol, knowing that once you are dependent on them, they can easily exploit you.
It is similar to sexual exploitation, where you can be manipulated into sexual activity in return for drugs or alcohol.
Even if you don’t use drugs, you could still be targeted as a victim of exploitation and encouraged to use them. If you become hooked on drugs you become easier to exploit and less concerned about taking part in criminal activity to feed your habit.
It’s important to know the risks involved when using drugs and alcohol and to be aware of how they could be used to exploit you.
What are the signs?
If you have a drug or alcohol addiction and you are concerned about someone trying to take over your property, try to spot the signs as early as possible. Be wary of anyone trying to befriend you with the promise of drugs or alcohol, or someone who refuses to leave after you have allowed them into your home. They might also allow other people to stay without your permission.
If you are drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol each week, or binge drinking (drinking lots of alcohol in one session) you should try to cut down. The recommended adult weekly limit is 14 units of alcohol. One unit is about half a pint of beer (4% ABV) or a single measure (25ml) of spirits. A small glass of wine equals 1.5 units.
You can become addicted to drugs without realising, or refuse to believe that you have a problem. These are all signs of drug or alcohol addiction – and signs that you might need help:
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using drugs or alcohol
- Being unable to cut down the amount of drugs or alcohol you use
- Using drugs or alcohol despite it causing problems in your life
- Lying to friends and family about your drug or alcohol use
- Becoming more tolerant to drugs and alcohol and having to use more to have an effect
- Giving up other things in your life to use drugs or alcohol
You might also be worried about someone else who has started using drugs or drinking too much alcohol. You might notice some changes in their behaviour or appearance, such as:
- Mood swings, becoming angry or anxious
- Having problems at work or being absent
- Being secretive about what they are doing and where they are going
- Smelling of alcohol
- Red eyes and tiredness
- Losing interest in hobbies and activities
What could happen?
If you become the victim of cuckooing, you can lose your independence and be subjected to threats and violence. Your own drug and alcohol use could also spiral out of control.
Using drugs and alcohol can change your behaviour so that you take more risks and make bad choices. You could put yourself into a dangerous situation or do something you regret, such as having a fight, or having unsafe sex, or sex you wouldn’t normally want to have if you hadn’t taken anything. Unsafe sex could put you at risk of sexually transmitted infections, or for women, getting pregnant.
Another danger with drugs is that you don’t know what you are taking. There is no standard for producing illegal drugs, so the effects can vary massively and you could take an overdose, which could kill you.
Drugs are illegal and if you are arrested for possession, you could receive a criminal record, which can cause serious difficulties for you with employment, housing and travel abroad.
Using drugs and alcohol can affect your mood and hurt your relationships with people who care about you. It can cause arguments at home and if your friends don’t like what you are doing, you could lose those important friendships and be left isolated.
You should also be aware of drink spiking, where someone puts alcohol or drugs into your drink without your permission. Sometimes the drugs that are used can sedate you and make you vulnerable to being sexually attacked.