The Drop - BDP

The Drop - BDP The Drop - BDP’s service for people who use recreational and party drugs

We're at Bristol Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️👉 We'll be marching in the parade then heading up to the downs to give out some expert ...
08/07/2025

We're at Bristol Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

👉 We'll be marching in the parade then heading up to the downs to give out some expert harm reduction advice!

See you there!! 🌈

Today we're highlighting a piece of research regarding synthetic cannabinoids found in vapes in England.👉 A recent study...
02/07/2025

Today we're highlighting a piece of research regarding synthetic cannabinoids found in vapes in England.

👉 A recent study by Gyles and colleagues found that 17.4% of vapes seized from 27 high schools in England were found to contain synthetic cannabinoids. 

👉 Compared to THC, the use of synthetic cannabinoids has been linked to more adverse effects, including:

High blood pressure
Vomiting 
Hallucinations
Psychosis
Seizures
Increased heartrate
Heart attacks
Fatality 

How to reduce the risk?

🔬 Testing is the best way to find out what’s in your substance, you can submit samples to WEDINOS.org to get a component breakdown.

♾️ Or bring it to us on the last Saturday of the month at 11 Brunswick Square where can test it for you.

👉 Start Low Take It Slow. If you’ve purchased a ‘THC vape’ or ‘THC liquid’, start with a small inhale, and wait longer than you usually do before taking another hit to give your body time to react.

👉 If you notice any unpleasant or unexpected effects, stop using.

27/06/2025

Today we're closing off by talking about some research by highlighting LGBTQ+ perspectives of alcohol advertising 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Heading to Glasto this year? 🎪🍻🎉We're jealous we can't join!! Why don't you take our harm reduction advice with you inst...
25/06/2025

Heading to Glasto this year? 🎪🍻🎉

We're jealous we can't join!! Why don't you take our harm reduction advice with you instead...

For more tips n tricks head to:

🔗 bdp.org.uk/thedrop

The Loop Drug Checking Service is back this Saturday! 💊🔬👉 This service gives an opportunity to receive a tailored harm r...
25/06/2025

The Loop Drug Checking Service is back this Saturday! 💊🔬

👉 This service gives an opportunity to receive a tailored harm reduction intervention based on information about what drugs are currently in circulation in the city.

👉 You can submit a substance of concern for drug checking.

👉 These samples will help us build a picture of the drug supply in the city, and this data will help keep people who use drugs safe from dangerous substances.

Drinking in the sun this weekend? ☀️🍻 Let's explore some harm reduction tips...🥪 Make sure you eat before you head out t...
20/06/2025

Drinking in the sun this weekend? ☀️🍻 Let's explore some harm reduction tips...

🥪 Make sure you eat before you head out to drink to help the alcohol absorb slower.

🤏 Set a limit before you head out, and try to stick to it. this will help prevent you from ‘overdoing it’.

💦 Stay hydrated before, during and after drinking. This will keep you hydrated and replenish fluids lost through urination.

🔀 Try alternating between alcoholic drinks and non-alcohol drinks, e.g. soft drinks or no/low options.

⛱️ Consider sitting in the shade and reapply suncream often.

Want support?

🌐 horizonsbristol.co.uk

📞 0300 555 1469

Want more alcohol harm reduction advice?

🌐 bdp.org.uk/alcohol

After a speedy start to 2025 we’re already lacing up our boots and taking to the fields for some festival action.It’s th...
19/06/2025

After a speedy start to 2025 we’re already lacing up our boots and taking to the fields for some festival action.

It’s that time again for live music, DJs and dancing. For some of you, festival season might mean taking alcohol and other drugs, so let’s dust up on some harm reduction advice and explore what you guys have been saying so far this festival period...

🌐 bdp.org.uk/blog

Let's talk K 🐴Ket is a dissociative drug with psychedelic properties. It is used regularly in veterinary and paediatric ...
18/06/2025

Let's talk K 🐴

Ket is a dissociative drug with psychedelic properties. It is used regularly in veterinary and paediatric medicine as an anaesthetic.

If snorted, the effects of ketamine take around 5-15 minutes to come on and will last around 1 hour:

😆 Euphoria

😌 Sense of calm/serenity

🌍 Spiritual connection to the world/other people

🦵 Loss of motor functions and slurred speech

💊 Pain relief or numbness

🥴 Confusion/disordered thinking

🤢 Nausea/vomiting

What is a ‘k-hole’? ❔

👉 At high doses of ket you may experience a ‘k-hole’, where you become unresponsive to external stimuli and experience vivid and sometimes uncomfortable hallucinations.

👉 If someone you’re with goes into a k-hole, keep an eye on them in case they vomit, don’t attempt to make them vomit as this can increase choking risk. Stay with them and try to ground them until they come round. If at any point you’re worried, ring 999.

👉 If you’re trying to k-hole, make sure you’re with someone who understands the effects and potential risks of ketamine, and what to do in an emergency.

Ketamine dosing 📊

As always, dosage will depend on a number of factors such as weight, tolerance and gender, amongst others. These dosages are a guide only and refer to ketamine taken nasally.

🤏 Light: 15-30mg

🤏🤏 Common: 30-75mg

🤏🤏🤏 Strong: 75-100mg

🤏🤏🤏🤏 Heavy (k-hole): 150+ mg

Harm Reduction Advice 📉

👉 It’s easy to overdo it with ket, stick to a dose you’re comfortable with and don’t try to keep up with the people around you.

👃 Snorting drugs can be damaging to your nose, so always crush your drugs finely, alternate nostrils, avoid sharing equipment and wash your nose out at the end of the night.

🔀 Mixing drugs, including alcohol, can be risky, visit drugsand.me for more info.

💑 Being intoxicated can make you more vulnerable to the behaviour of others, so use around people you trust and look after your mates.

👉 Ketamine tolerance builds up fast, to avoid this, wait at least a couple of weeks between sessions.

Want support?

If you want to know more about ketamine, visit:

🌐 bdp.org.uk/ketamine

Want some support around your drug use? Head to:

🌐 horizonsbristol.co.uk

It's so let's talk about LGBTQ+ drug use and stigma in services. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 👉 LGBTQ+ people who face compounding disadv...
12/06/2025

It's so let's talk about LGBTQ+ drug use and stigma in services. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

👉 LGBTQ+ people who face compounding disadvantages such as homelessness, substance use and racism, often face more barriers to accessing services.

🏳️‍🌈 Our service is open to all, but we recognise that seeking support can be tricky, particularly for people who don’t feel represented in services.

💊 Research suggests that drug use among LGBTQ+ individuals is higher than that of their cis gender and heteros*xual counterparts.

🔄 There is also a cultural intersection between Q***rness and drug use that often makes it difficult for people reaching out for support.

📊 Joined Up North East conducted a study into the experiences of LGTBQ+ people in services.

👉 They found that politics, policies and funding all help to push minority groups further into the margins.

👉 They also found that workplace cultures that allow discriminatory language create services that are unsafe for LGBTQ+ people.

👉 When services are better equipped to deal with certain forms of disadvantages, experiences of racism, misogyny and other forms of discrimination are often not given the attention they deserve.

❔ So how can we change this?

👉 We need to acknowledge that LGBTQ+ people are not a monolith. Not all Q***r people feel represented in services, despite an active effort for inclusivity.

👉 Only by acknowledging the intersection between social disadvantages like LGBTQ+ identities, Global Majority identities, homelessness and substance use, can we create an environment where all LGBTQ+ people feel welcome.

🌐 To read more of Joined Up’s study, head to joinedupnortheast.co.uk

👉 We pride ourselves in evidence-based support, and learning from different communities about how we can best meet their needs is of utmost importance.

👉 This Pride Month we’re platforming LGBTQ+ drug and alcohol research to share the experiences of LGBTQ+ people who use alcohol and other drugs, and learn from what the Q***r community need from harm reduction services.

Let's talk about substances and s*x...💊 Sometimes people use alcohol and other drugs during s*x.📈 For some people, this ...
11/06/2025

Let's talk about substances and s*x...

💊 Sometimes people use alcohol and other drugs during s*x.

📈 For some people, this can improve pleasure and prolong s*x.

⚖️ Using substances while having s*x can expose you to more risks and make you more vulnerable to the behaviour of others, so let’s explore ways to reduce harm...

General Advice:

👉 Grab a condom before you head out to reduce the chance that you will have unprotected s*x.

💧Use l**e to help prevent friction during s*x. This minimises the risk of vaginal/anal tears, abrasion injuries and the transmission of blood borne viruses and s*xually transmitted infections.

👉 Consider using a barrier between your ge****ls and a vi****or if using a toy for a long time.

💊 It may be harder to tell if som**hing is feeling off or causing you injury if you’ve taken substances, so try to avoid activities or positions that you think may cause you harm.

Specific Advice:

🫦 Some people find increased s*xual function when taking certain drugs, such as finding it easier to or**sm and/or experiencing better or**sms.

👉 If you’re finding it hard to have s*x whilst sober, its probably time to take a break.

📉 Many people have difficulty achieving or**sm and vaginal dryness after taking alcohol or other drugs.

👉 If you’re having difficulty performing s*x, or not enjoying it due to the drug effects, it can be helpful to take a break from s*xual activity until some of the drug effects have worn off.

💊 Some drugs such as M**A, speed, cannabis and crystal m**h can make it more difficult to get or maintain an er****on. If this happens, it can be tempting to take Vi**ra (Sildenafil).

🫀 However, mixing Vi**ra and drugs with a stimulating effect such as co***ne can increase risk by creating a lot of pressure on the heart and can cause cardiac arrest.

🌐 For more information on mixing substances, head to drugsand.me

It's that time again! We're hosting another pop-up at Senate House as part of our growing partnership with Bristol SU.Dr...
17/03/2025

It's that time again! We're hosting another pop-up at Senate House as part of our growing partnership with Bristol SU.

Drop-in at any time from 11-3 and grab a free Reagent testing kit, or just come have a chat with us about drugs!

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