Risks and Consequences
It’s no surprise that drug dealers do what they do to earn money … so why would they give away money or drugs to you or someone you know when they could save the money and do it themselves? Probably because the delivery of the drugs is the point at which someone is most likely to be caught … and guess what … if you’re caught, it’s you who gets the criminal record and that has to do the time. So you take most of the risk while the dealer takes most of the reward – doesn’t sound like a fair deal does it!
So what are the criminal consequences of getting caught supplying drugs or being caught with more than just ‘personal use’?
| Class | Examples | Maximum Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A | Heroin, Cocaine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Crystal Meth | Up to life imprisonment and an unlimited fine or both. |
| B | Cannabis, Ketamine, Synthetic Cannabinoids (such as mamba/spice). | Up to 14 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine or both. |
| C | Anabolic steroids, Benzodiazepines (such as diazepam). | Up to 14 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine or both. |
Alongside the consequences of a prison sentence or a fine, there are lots more consequences to consider including; difficulty getting a job or college placement, being banned from travelling to some countries in the future and you may end up with licence conditions including a curfew/tag.
More than that, it’s worth considering that the police will seize any drugs that they find you with. While the drugs are in your possession, dealers consider them to be your responsibility. If you’re robbed or caught and the drugs are taken from you, the debt will still be yours when you are released from custody or prison … often interest will have been added on to! Dealers might threaten or put pressure on your family and friends to pay this debt for you – how would you protect them from inside a prison?
There have even been cases where the dealers have arranged for young people to be robbed of the drugs so that they end up in debt and become trapped having to deal more and more drugs to pay off the debt (that means you’re not earning any money or getting any benefit from dealing).
Young people who are being criminally exploited are often at risk of violence from rival dealers, drug users and also from the person or people they are being exploited by. This leads some young people to feel the need to carry a weapon for protection (check out the knife crime section of the site for more information and advice about this).
Feeling trapped or isolated is common amongst young people who are being pressured into committing crime for others; this is what the criminals rely upon to keep young people working for them. This can leave people feeling scared or intimidated, especially when they’re put into dangerous situations where violence or aggression is likely.
Often, young people don’t realise what they’re getting themselves into until it’s too late and they have become trapped by the criminal(s). Whether you think you’re trapped and can’t get out or know someone who might be, there are ways that you can get help and support Take a look at our how do I get help page to find out more.
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