Today, DrugScope publishes the findings of its annual Street Drug Trends Survey, undertaken by the organisation's magazine Druglink.The key trend identified by the survey of frontline drug services is a rise in the use of the tranquiliser diazepam, primarily among heroin and crack cocaine users.
DrugScope's Street Drug Trends Survey compiles information from 100 drug services, drug action teams and police forces in 20 towns and cities across the UK and represents a snapshot view of current UK street drug trends.
The class C drug, better known under the former brand name Valium, has been on the illicit market in the UK for some years but 15 out of 20 locations reported rising levels of diazepam use among class A drug users over the past 12 months. Known by street terms 'blues' or 'vallies', diazepam is being used as a heroin substitute and is often taken alongside alcohol and methadone to ease the comedown from crack cocaine, a potentially lethal combination. There was some evidence that diazepam was also being used by problem drinkers, powder cocaine users and among some young people.
The rise in diazepam use is thought to be in part due to an increase in illicit imports, of both genuine and counterfeit versions of the drug; police and customs seizures of diazepam have gone up sharply, from 300,000 pills seized between July 2003 and June 2006 to 2 million between July 2006 and June 2008.In some areas of the UK, a reported drop in the availability and quality of street heroin may be behind the increase.During the survey period (July - August), the quality of street heroin had dropped in 12 of the 20 towns and cities surveyed, with 5 noting an outright shortage of the drug on the streets in recent months.
Other drug trends
National average street drug prices have remained relatively stable over the past 12 months, with only minor fluctuations in price.The key trend identified in last year's survey, the development of a two tier cocaine market, was still prominent, with dealers selling low quality powder for an average of £30 per gram and higher quality for £50. Across most towns and cities surveyed cocaine continues to be a popular drug. In some areas expansion of the cocaine market has led to the emergence of a separate trade in the chemicals used to 'cut' or adulterate the drug.
Polydrug use - using combinations of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy - was highlighted by several respondents as a significant problem, among some young people.Commercially home-grown skunk cannabis was dominating the cannabis market in many areas, with users finding it hard to obtain lower strength resin or imported herbal cannabis. In the ecstasy market, there was an increase in the amphetamine-like drug BZP, better known as being sold as a 'legal high', replacing MDMA as the ingredient in pills. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is currently considering the drug BZP to provide advice to Government on its classification.
Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, commenting on the survey findings said:
"The rise in the use of illicitly imported diazepam is concerning particularly as drug users face a high risk of overdose when using the drug in combination with other drugs such as methadone and alcohol. With the proliferation of counterfeit diazepam comes unpredictable quality and strength".
"The fact that the survey identified some evidence of increasing diazepam use among young people is also worrying. We know from last year's research that some young people are combining use of alcohol, cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy. The addition of diazepam increases risk, including where the drug is mixed with alcohol",
"At first glance, a heroin shortage might appear a positive development, especially as it can lead to more people entering treatment, but it can bring its own problems. Users may be more inclined to inject rather than smoke the drug during times of shortage or poor quality. And there is a higher risk of overdose when the heroin market readjusts to more normal levels of supply and quality."
Notes for editors
For interviews and further information contact Andrew McNicoll in the DrugScope press office at andrewm@drugscope.org.uk or on 020 7520 7563 (07736 895563 out of hours).
IMPORTANT NOTE: DrugScope emphasises that the survey represents only a snapshot view of the current UK drug trends and average UK drug prices.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to the 'Related links' section to download the full survey article from Druglink magazine.
Average UK national street drug prices
| Drug Type | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Herbal cannabis (standard quality) per oz | £70.00 | £87.00 | £89.00 |
| Herbal cannabis (good quality) per oz | £121.00 | £134.00 | £131.00 |
| Resin cannabis per oz | £54.00 | £55.00 | £51.00 |
| Heroin per gram | £46.00 | £43.00 | £49.00 |
| Cocaine per gram | £43.00 | £43.00 | £42.00 |
| Ecstasy pill | £3.00 | £2.40 | £2.30 |
| Crystal/powder MDMA per gram | £40.00 | £38.00 | £39.00 |
| Amphetamine per gram | £9.70 | £9.80 | £9.00 |
| Ketamine per gram | £28.00 | £25.00 | £20.00 |
| Diazepam per 10mg tablet | | | £1 |
As with the 2006 and 2007 surveys, Druglink found that most heroin was being sold by the bag and most crack cocaine was being sold by the rock. In 2008, the average bag of heroin weighed 0.15g and the average cost was £10. The average rock of crack cocaine weighed 0.15g and the average cost was £10. There was no significant change from the 2006 and 2007 figures.
[1] How the survey was completed
Druglink magazine contacted 100 drug and alcohol services, drug action teams (DATs), police forces and service user advocates in 20 UK towns and cities: Belfast, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Gloucester, Ipswich, Liverpool, London, Luton, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Nottingham, Penzance, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Torquay and York. The survey was carried out in July and August of this year and the survey has been carried out annually since 2004.
Since 2006, the survey has focused on drug trends rather than drug prices. Trends are a more reliable indicator of problems in specific areas as they develop over time and tend to be more sustained. This approach meant that last year DrugScope highlighted public health concerns surrounding the increased affordability and availability of powder cocaine after the survey identified the emergence of a two-tier market for the drug. The 2006 survey highlighted evidence of an increasing use of anabolic steroids by younger people.
Prices can fluctuate in any given area due to factors such as the sudden arrival of a group of dealers who may drive down the price of certain drugs. The national average street prices have remained relatively stable since 2006 and this is consistent with this year’s findings.
[2] The distinction between diazepam and Valium Diazepam is the generic name for the benzodiazepine drug originally marketed as 'Valium' by Hoffman-La Roche. Diazepam is a tranquiliser commonly prescribed for conditions such as insomnia and anxiety. The drug has not been marketed under the trademark 'Valium' since Hoffman La-Roche's patent expired in 2002.
In the UK, all benzodiazepines (including diazepam) are Prescription Only under the Medicines Act. This means they can only be supplied at a pharmacy by a pharmacist, in accordance with a doctor's prescription, and it is illegal under this Act to supply them in any other circumstances.
Benzodiazepines are also controlled under Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act, which makes it illegal to supply the drugs or be in possession of them without a doctor's prescription. There are also restrictions on the import and export of these drugs, requiring licences to do so, other than for patients travelling abroad for less than a month.
[3] The methods and effects of diazepam use
Diazepam tablets are most commonly taken orally, though some users are known to crush and inject tablets.
The drug is a tranquiliser, a type of sedative which slows reactions and make people drowsy, lethargic and forgetful. They relieve anxiety and tension and can make people feel more relaxed.
Long-term, dependence can develop quickly with regular use so that withdrawal can lead to intense anxiety, nausea, insomnia, irritability and headaches. Sudden withdrawal from very high dosages can be very dangerous and result in confusion and serious convulsions. Many people find it very difficult to give up the drugs and may need a gradually reduced dosage to do so.
A lot of tranquilisers have to be taken to fatally overdose when used in isolation, but there is a significantly increased risk of overdose when the drugs are combined with, for example alcohol.
[4] Seizures of diazepam tablets
Statistics obtained by Druglink from the Forensic Science Survey Drugs Intelligence Unit show a marked increase in the number of diazepam tablets seized by police and customs in the last two years. In the period 2006/07 to 2007/08, 1,982,614 tablets were seized compared to 295, 666 in the three year period between 2003/04 and 2005/06.
