Intravenous and oral street use of barbiturates: the 'epidemic' of the 1970s and early 1980s

Introduction This chapter describes the history of the barbiturate misuse 'epidemic' that hit, in particular, London in the 1970s, and outlines its physical, social and symbolic dimensions. It examines the symbolic usage of barbiturates by Punks and Skinheads, the Piccadilly drug scene, the club-going scene and 'Barb Freaks'. It also describes the impact the epidemic had on service provision, including the opening of City Roads, the crisis intervention centre. It points as well to the policy lessons that need to be learnt from the epidemic.