BLACKBURN youngsters are being warned to avoid a new craze of getting 'high' by injecting alcohol into their bloodstream. According to a new report from the Home Office, an increasing number of teenagers are injecting vodka straight into their bloodstream, seeing the practice as cheaper than taking drugs, but with similar effects. However, it is claimed the vodka shots could be potentially more dangerous than normal drinking - and some drugs - because of the rapid effect it has on the body. Instead of taking a time to enter the bloodstream, the blood is immediately diluted by the alcohol.

A spokesman for the Darwen Alcohol Support Group condemned the alcohol abuse. He said: "My immediate reaction is one of absolute horror.

Medically, injecting anything into you is dangerous, especially if users are sharing needles or don't know where the needles have come from.

"The alcohol will immediately rush into the bloodstream at dangerous levels of concentration. It is a very dangerous and foolhardy thing to do."

An Alcohol Concern spokesman said: "Because you become drunk more or less immediately this way you don't know how much alcohol you have in your bloodstream. Normally, people drink in moderation but the effects of this method are so much quicker it could be lethal."

Julia McClements, Assistant Co-ordinator of the Lancashire Drug Action Team, expressed concern at the new practise. She said: "It is certainly a worrying new trend and something we will be looking into and will definitely warn against.

"The use of needles in this way can be very dangerous because of the risk of passing on diseases and other bodies into the bloodstream. Recently, alcohol abuse among youngsters came under our directive and we will be working to try and stamp out the problem."

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