Here’s a summary of some of the more interesting drug testing news stories and articles from around the UK this week. As always, if drugs are a concern for you, your family or your organisation, Zoom Testing is here to help. Contact us with all of your drug testing requirements.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines belong to a group of drugs known as depressants. Unfortunately, benzodiazepines have an extremely high rate of abuse. In the UK, the most common benzodiazepine is Valium. Slang names for the drug include benzos, temazies, jellies, eggs, moggies and vallies. A benzodiazepines drug test will detect BZD in urine within hours of using the drug and possibly up to 2 – 14 days after use.
- What is Rohypnol?
Rohypnol is the more common name for a drug called flunitrazepam that was invented in 1972 and introduced into the European market by the Roche pharmaceutical company. It belongs to a family of drugs known as benzodiazepines with properties that are similar to those of Valium (diazepam) | Zoom Testing, UK
Cannabis
Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the UK. At Zoom Testing we offer a very wide range of drug testing kits for cannabis. This week, there were a number of cannabis related news stories that caught the eye:
- Halifax power cuts lead to cannabis factory find
More than 600 plants with a street value of £800,000 were spread across five floors of the derelict building in Halifax on Friday, police said | BBC, UK - Cannabis worth £100k seized by police during drugs raid near Devizes
Officers searched a mixture of residential and agricultural buildings at the site as a warrant was carried out with support from the dog unit | ITV, UK
Cocaine
Powder cocaine continues to be the second most commonly used drug of abuse in the UK, after Cannabis. Zoom Testing supply a wide range of drug testing kits for cocaine. In the news this week:
- Hull arrests after cocaine worth £50k found in raids
Two men and two women were arrested on suspicion of importing a controlled drug after the Tuesday raids | BBC, UK - Isle of Man cocaine dealer, 19, spared jail over university place
A teenager who admitted dealing cocaine has been given a suspended sentence after the Deemster said he did not want his life to be ruined by “stupidity” | BBC, UK - Cocaine and crystal meth with a street value of £11m are seized
A haul of cocaine and crystal meth with an estimated street value of up to £11m has been uncovered by police | BBC, UK
Heroin
Heroin is a pain-killing drug, which is derived from the dried milk of the opium poppy. Heroin belongs to a group of drugs known as opiates, other opiates include morphine and methadone. Heroin is also known as smack, H, junk, brown, skag and gear. Zoom Testing is a leading supplier of drug testing kits for Heroin.
- What Is Heroin?
Heroin has various street names. It is also known as smack, H, junk, brown, skag and gear. It is one of the most addictive illegal drugs in the UK. | Zoom Testing, UK
MDMA
The common name for the drug MDMA is Ecstasy which is a controlled substance. Ecstasy Drug Test Kits are available from Zoom Testing. We can also supply party drugs test kits.
- Last three members of Nottingham ‘party drugs’ gang sentenced
The final three members of a gang that focused on supplying young people with “party drugs” have been jailed | BBC, UK
Other Drug News in the UK
Also in the news this week:
- Plymouth county lines drugs raids includes 46 arrests
Devon and Cornwall Police have arrested 46 people in a two-day crackdown targeting alleged drugs-related activities in Plymouth | BBC, UK - Guernsey court sentences drug smuggler to 19 years in prison
A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for bringing almost £250,000 worth of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis into Guernsey | BBC, UK - Manchester and Sefton gang leaders who swapped cars for drugs jailed
Two men who imported huge quantities of cocaine and cannabis, swapped amphetamines for cars and used fellow criminals’ families to launder their profits have been jailed | BBC, UK
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
