Using illicit drugs on your travels

It can be tempting to get carried away on your travels, but make sure it's only with either the spirit of fun or the waves!

The lecture

Now we hate to get all parental on you, but you really should already know that drugs are a very bad idea. They’re not good for your mind, they’re not good for your body and they’re not good for those around you. The effects of drugs can be dangerous and there is a very good reason they’re illegal. If it’s something you have done or are doing you do really need to think about what you’re doing to yourself and why you’re doing it.

A different kettle of fish

You’re abroad, you’re trying new things, isn’t this just another new experience? Well no, and aside from the permanent damage, drugs can really affect the state of your mind and that can make you very vulnerable. It's bad enough being out of control at home, it’s worse in a foreign country. For one thing in most countries illegal drugs are a very serious issue so the people you’re associating with aren’t likely to be very nice, if you start to feel funny they’re not going to get you a cup of tea and tuck you up in bed, you also have no idea of where the drugs came from and what’s in them. The people who were your new best friends an hour ago are not necessarily going to be there when it all starts to go wrong. And quite frankly, that’s a dangerous situation to be in, all alone in another country with no idea where you are or who you are and if you need to get to hospital and you can’t; what might happen doesn’t bear thinking about and we’re sure that’s a risk you don’t want to take.

A little tipple

Just because it’s a social drug and it’s not illegal doesn’t mean we’re not going to mention it as a travel safety risk. We know you’ve heard it all before and we don’t want to sound like kill joys but the same rules still apply; drink sensibly, plan ahead make sure you’re with people you can trust. There won’t be a travel guide on hand 24/7, it won’t be your local and it may not be easy to fall into a taxi and get safely home so make sure you’re alert and aware and able to look after yourself, which means not too many tequilas!!

You thought that was bad

Not only will your decision to take illegal drugs abroad put you in physical danger, if arrested you could also be facing some heavy penal punishments. A British or European passport is literally not a get out of jail free card and does not mean immediate release; it is possible that you could be prosecuted and sentenced without the right to bail before trail.

The severity of sentencing depends on the country you’re in. The least you’ll have to deal with is a hefty fine, the severest prosecution for drug possession can in fact lead to the death penalty and this applies in Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, so what seemed a rather ill advised decision could be the worst you ever make.

Although the death penalty is the worst case scenario, sentences can still be very harsh, a foolish decision could result 40-50 years of imprisonment in most areas of South East Asia; 10 years in India and possession of any illegal drugs could mean spending the rest of your life in a Greek prison cell.

Your career

Never assume that what happens abroad stays abroad. Getting arrested for any drug related crimes, or for anything at all will go straight onto your criminal record back home, you’ll be sent packing and it’s unlikely you’ll ever be allowed to go back to the country you were arrested in. Many countries also have strict entry requirements, which make sure that no one can enter if drugs are found in their blood stream. But it doesn’t always end with the initial test, if you’re teaching English in a country like Korea you’ll be tested every few months and if any substances are found you’ll be sent straight home with not much of a career left in TEFL, so you’re damaging your prospects at home as well as overseas.

Now then, hopefully you’ve decided that you don’t want to endanger your health, your career or end up in prison!

A last couple of tips;

• Make sure any prescription drugs (the ones the doctor tells you to take) are clearly labelled and taking a note from you doctor too wouldn’t hurt.
• Keep an eye on your stuff. There are people out there who may try to use you as a means of smuggling drugs from country to country without your knowledge so make sure you check your bags and are careful about who you let near your things.

Here are a few more resources to get you clued up about drugs in general and safety abroad;

http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/mediaguide/drugdangers.htm

http://www.talktofrank.com/home_html.aspx

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/TravellingAbroad/IfThingsGoWrong/DG_4016877

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