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The chart below brings together drugs data from various sources. Most figures are for England and Wales. Scottish figures, where available, are shown in brackets.
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|
Class |
More details |
Estimated no. users |
Users, % of population |
Average price |
Deaths, 2007** |
Cocaine

 |
A |
Stimulant made from leaves of coca bush. Increases alertness and confidence but raises heart rate and blood pressure and users crave the drug. |
776,000 |
2.6 (1.5) |
£43 per gram |
196 (47) |
Crack

 |
A |
Cocaine mixed with baking soda to form smokeable lumps. Gives an intense high but is very addictive and causes paranoia and agression. |
53,000* |
0.2 (0.2) |
£20-25 per rock |
**See note below on cocaine and crack |
Ecstasy

 |
A |
MDMA or similar man-made chemicals. Causes feelings of well-being but also anxiety and high body temperature. |
502,000 |
1.8 (1.2) |
£2.40 per pill |
47** (11) |
Heroin

 |
A |
Sedative made from the opium poppy. Can be smoked or injected. Users feel lethargic and content but experience severe cravings for the drug.
|
39,000* |
0.1 (0.3) |
£43 per gram |
587 (289) |
LSD

 |
A |
Man-made drug which has a strong effect on perception. Effects include hallucinations and loss of sense of time. A "bad trip" can cause anxiety. |
83,000 |
0.2
|
-
|
- |
Mushrooms

 |
A |
Fungi containing the naturally occurring compound psylocibin. Users may experience giggling fits, hallucinations and altered perception. |
302,000 |
0.6
|
- |
- |
Amphetamines

 |
A/B |
Man-made drugs which increase heart rate and alertness. Users may also feel paranoid. Newer form, methamphetamine or crystal meth, is very addictive. It was reclassified as a Class A drug in January 2007. There are no official usage statistics available. |
426,000 |
1.3
|
£9.80 per gram |
97** (-) |
Cannabis

 |
C |
The cannabis sativa plant or resin from it. Cannabis is a relaxant but stronger forms can also cause hallucinations and panic attacks. |
2,655,000 |
8.2
|
£55-134 per ounce, depending on type and quality |
12** (-) |
Class A |
|
1,082,000 |
3.4 |
|
Any drug |
|
3,329,000 |
10.5 (8.0) |
|
2,640 (455) |
|