DAN 24/7, the Wales Drug and Alcohol helpline provide a single point of contact to aid individuals, their families, carers, and help workers within the drug and alcohol field to access appropriate local and regional support services.
The Misuse of Drugs Act is the main legislation which covers the illegal possession and misuse of drugs.
Under this Act, it is an offence to:
- Unlawfully possess a controlled substance
- Possess a controlled substance with the intent to supply it
- Supply or offer to supply a controlled drug
- Allow a property (such as a house, flat or office) to be used by people taking drugs
Illegal drugs fall into three classifications: A, B, or C, with each carrying a penalty for possession and dealing:
|
Class
|
Illegal Substance
|
Penalty for Possession
|
Penalty for Dealing
|
|
A
|
Heroin, cocaine, crack, ecstasy, LSD, magic mushrooms, amphetamines (if prepared for injection).
|
A maximum of seven years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
|
A maximum penalty of a life sentence in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
|
|
B
|
Cannabis, Amphetamines, Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Pholcodine.
|
A maximum of five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
|
A maximum of 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
|
|
C
|
Ketamine, tranquilisers, some painkillers, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).
|
A maximum of two years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
|
A maximum of 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
|
Help in Your Area
If you or someone you know is dependant on drugs, help and support is available throughout South Wales for people of all ages.
Dedicated drug support teams within our local authorities operate drop-in centres where you can access a host of support services, and your local GP will also be able to refer you.
Help is available in your area via the South Wales Drug Support Agencies.
Help Us to Help our Communities
Drug dealing blights our communities and affects us all. It causes misery and desperation, and creates a vicious criminal cycle that drives up burglary, auto-crime, and more.
South Wales Police have dedicated drug squads who work to target offenders and bring them to justice, but the help of our communities to achieve this is invaluable.
Don’t let the drug dealers trade at our expense. If you or someone you know has information, you can report it confidentially by dialling 101 or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
In an emergency, always dial 999