FONDO DE LIQUIDEZ

This section explores availability as an attractive feature of SC and participants discussed the many options for buying them, thus explaining why they perceived people use them. Specifically, this section focusses on the impact accessibility and legal status have on availability, and the impact availability has on the perceived safety of spice.

At the time the data was collected, SC could be purchased in ‘head’ shops, special high street shops and in a range of online shops (discussed in chapter 1). However, most of the young people, with varying levels of experience, discussed how easily available SC were from ‘head shops` and special shops. These shops usually sell a range of tobacco related products such as: ashtrays, lighters, cigarette papers and a range of illegal drug paraphernalia: bongs, long rolling papers and grinders. Before the Psychoactive Substance Ban 2016 these shops also sold a range of NPS, specifically different blends of SC.

you can get them in special shops in town (G1SLAaM2)

they can be bought over a shop counter not like in a regular shop (G1SLAaM1)

shops in town, I know at least about two shops in town that sell them (G1SLAaM3)

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Many young people stated they knew where these substances could be obtained, seeing this as a factor in their increased popularity.

head shops in town you can just walk into the shops in town (G2SLAbM1) they should be stopped because people can go to the shop in town and buy it from the shop (G1SLAaM1)

it’s given out so easy (G1SLAaM2)

NPS are also available from websites on the internet. At the time of data collection, these substances were ‘legally’ available from both UK and international websites. Despite the ban, SC are still available to buy online from a range of websites. Only one participant discussed buying SC from an internet website although all discussed its availability from the internet.

you can even buy it off the internet, now can’t you? (G6SLCdF2) people can just go online and order it (G5SLCcM2)

comes right to your door and you don’t even know what you’re getting like (G6SLCdF2)

In contrast to the literature, the majority of young people in this study identified the availability of SC mainly from head shops or peer groups. This may be related to the age of the participants, as their mean age was 17 years. The literature looking at NPS reported participant groups at university age level. This may link to not having an open, active bank account, or this may be monitored by care givers. It may also be explained by the locations these young people were recruited from. Most of the young people within the present study who reported first-hand experience of SC and/or illegal cannabis, were recruited from youth clubs, hostels and drug and alcohol centres. With consideration to age, it might be that these young people do not commonly use the internet to purchase many items as a bank debit or credit card is required and they might have to share access to computers and internet space.

In relation to the places SC can be purchased or obtained, the young people discussed such widespread availability as one of the factors that makes these substances so attractive. For example, some young people reported that in some

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cases it was not possible to obtain cannabis or other affordable illegal substances and therefore SC were an alternative. In this example, having SC as an available alternative is an attractive feature.

you can go to the shop if you can’t get hold of your dealer or you can’t get anything on tic (G5SLCcM4)

you can get them from shops and not from a dealer(G5SLCcM3)

it’s not an acceptable substitute for it but it, it’s a substitute (G5SLCcM1)

In this context, it is the ease of availability of these substances in comparison to illegal substances that makes them seem more attractive.

Young people who reported little or no personal experience of illegal drugs or NPS but did have knowledge of ‘legal’ substances through peer groups, discussed these substances as safer to obtain than illegal substances. In this context, purchasing SC is more attractive because the purchasing process carries less perceived risk.

you can get them from like, certain shops can’t you so it’s like they are not like on the streets so you’re not doing under a take or on street corners there’s like an actual shop that you can buy them from” (G4EdaM2)

In this example, the young person presents how purchasing SC is considered safer as these substances are bought in a shop and not on a street corner. The use of the term ‘actual shop’ suggests that the building itself influences how these substances are perceived. It might be that buying from a shop, like other products, gives the impression that they are just another available product. Another participant stated:

cos they are legal, and you can get away with buying them in the shops legally (G5SLAdM4)

Therefore, the place these substances could be purchased influenced the perception of legal status. In both examples, obtaining SC was considered safer than illegal substances in the context of the law.

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