A new series of the hard-hitting OU/BBC co-production Drugs Map of Britain delves into the world of drug users and dealers, laying bare the evolving makeup of Britain’s youth drug culture.
Airing on the 8th of November at 10.30pm on BBC Three, the documentary series focuses on how certain drugs are widespread in cities across Britain. It examines the reasons behind why people start to use and the impact their addiction has on their lives and the communities they live in.
The first episode is based in Birmingham and explores the use of Nitrous Oxide, or ‘laughing gas’ which from the 8th of November will be classified as a class C drug, meaning possession could result in a prison sentence of up to two years.
We discover the impact of the drug on the local community told through the users like ‘Halima’ who is so addicted she inhales the drug between mouthfuls of food. We also meet Ali, an addict in recovery who is suffering neurological damage due from his Nitrous Oxide use.
In subsequent episodes we are introduced to ‘Cam’ a 16-year-old drug dealer from Fife in Scotland, who smoked his first joint with his mum and now sells weed to his school friends who buy it using their lunch money.
In London the series follows a Tik Tok influencer called Francesca Sniffs who rates the toilets of pubs and clubs for their cocaine ‘sniffability’ and user Craig, whose excessive cocaine consumption has caused a two-inch hole in his nose.
The series was commissioned by OU Broadcast and Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, with relevance to BA (Hons) Criminology, BA (Hons) Criminology and Law and BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies.
Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast and Partnerships
Academic Consultants Dr Antony Gunter and Dr Stuart Taylor
Media Fellows Professor Zoe Walkington and Simon Rea
Broadcast Project Manager Laura Connor
All episodes will be available to watch on iPlayer from 6.00am on 8th November.
Visit OU connect discover more about illegal drug use, how we manage it and what impact it is having on society.
