This week a BBC documentary has exposed Leeds as the party drugs capital of the UK.
‘Crazy for Party Drugs’ was aired on BBC3, following the stories of three young people in Leeds.
Leeds Student spoke to Tony, who was featured in the documentary and regularly takes party drugs. He spoke of the popularity of substances like mephedrone and ketamine, particularly with students at the University.
“All over the University there’s a massive drugs scene. Pretty much all the students I’ve met over the past few years have always got involved in drugs because they’ve gone to Leeds, purely because of that”, he said.
Tony added: “There’s a lot of students who deal a big amount. It starts off as easy money for them”.
Leeds Student also spoke to Megan, a Leeds student studying Sports Science. She said: “I’m from down south and it’s much cheaper up in Leeds for everything and it’s so readily available.”
Leeds is the first city in the country, outside of London, to have a clinic dedicated to helping people addicted to party drugs.
Dr John Roche, from Leeds Club Drug Clinic, talked about the phenomenon. “Drugs are popular all across the country, there are some hot spots though, and Leeds is one of them.”
He said that few students come to clinics “because they’re worried about talking about illegal activity”.
Dr Roche explained that the party drugs scene is always changing. “There are some potentially lethal heart shaped “ecstasy” pills out there at the moment, possibly containing PMA – there may well be some of these pills in Leeds”.
Student Megan spoke of the dangers of getting hooked on seemingly innocent recreational substances. “Some people get very obsessed with it”, she admitted.
Tony spoke of one friend who was addicted to Ketamine because it was so cheap. “She got really depressed and was expecting better grades in her work. She was one of them that took it too far, she was on daily use even if she was on her own.”
When asked whether she was worried about possible repercussions of being part of the documentary, Megan joked “If someone remembers me in ten years time I would be proud!”
Another Leeds University student also confirmed that “there is a massive drugs scene in Leeds, it’s not difficult at all to find drugs”.
Dr. Roche urged anyone affected by these drugs to come to the weekly Thursday drop-in sessions at the Union or visit leedsclubdrugclinic.com.
Words: Rehema Figueiredo
Photo: Leo Garbutt