Unit 3.2: Secondary Research

In this assessment, I will discuss the different forms of research, for my documentary; including Primary, Secondary, Audience, Market, Production research and a interpretation of my results.

Documentary Synopsis:
My documentary is about legal highs, legal highs are substances to create similar effects to illegal drugs, but are not yet controlled under the misuse of drugs act 1971.  My documentary will be ‘a day in the life documentary’ that will follow a friend who buys and talks about these new drugs, and learn his reason for taking them, where he gets them, and what are the positive and negative effects of taking them. This documentary will question if the drugs are safe, for instance legal highs are advertised ‘not for human consumption’, they are often sold as incense, salts or plant food to get round the law.

Secondary Research:
My secondary research has been taken from internet searchers and online newspapers.

This is a news article from 'The Telegraph'. The article gives their audience information about legal highs such as, their legal status, the dangers and a first hand reflective viewpoint of a previous user. The ex users states that legal highs are "more addictive than herion". 

This is a webpage from www.talktofrank.co.uk which gives information about recreational drugs, the page in particular informs and explains the risks and effects of legal highs, and also gives us the background of the drugs, what they are, and where they came from. From this article I have learned that some legal highs contain  illegal substances and that the side effects may include, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headaches and tiredness. This webpage can also be used as qualitative research because it is text based.

The Drug

• Has at least one Legal substance.
• Produces similar effects (highs) to illegal drugs.
• Advised 'Not For Human Consumption'.
• Sold under brand names such as 'Clockwork Orange'

The Effects

• 'Downers
• Psychedelic and/or hallucinations

The Risks

• Vomiting, Headaches, Flu and Sore throats.
• Anxiety, Paranoia and confusion.
• Illegal to drive under the influence of legal highs.



This is an article from the UK Berliner newspaper 'The Guardian' and has been posted onto their webpage http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/05/legal-highs-criminology-drugs-clubbing
The article is an interview by Kit Buchan which questions professor of criminology Fiona Measham about the latest drug trends; including Legal Highs. She recalls how she would encounter drugs while she was at bars, clubs and festivals across the country, she shares her experiences, about some of her friends taking them and the effects it had on their behaviour. She has also stated that she runs a charity called the loop that helps people with drug issues and self harm.


This article is from the tabloid newspaper 'The Mirror' which informs the reader of the problems the UK faces with legal highs. The photograph shows a man under a bridge injecting legal highs into his arm, during the same time a young family walks past, in the image we appear to see a young boy staring at the male under the bridge. This is shown to get an emotive response from the reader, and shows the possible fears an perceptions that the general public has about legal highs.

The article further goes on to explain that when interviewing the drug user he could not speak properly, his speech was incoherent. His friend told the newspaper that he was high on a drug called 'Blue Cheese'. This shows that the tabloid used qualitative research to receive information about the drug and used primary research to learn the effects of taking legal highs.

Blue Cheese (Pictured left) is a legal high which contains synthetic cannabis mixed with an energy drink. 'The Mirror' claims that Blue Cheese is on sale in shops'. While it is true that Blue Cheese is sold in shops, the newspaper fails to mention that only stores with licencing can sell these types of drugs legally, which has been documented in my production research.

On this webpage http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/shocking-extent-britains-problem-legal-4462286'The Mirror' has interviewed ex users and people who have been effected by legal highs.
The friend of the pictured user told the newspaper: "I was a heroin addict for seven years, injecting it everyday. It ruined my life but these legal ones are so much worse."
This interview is a form of primary research that the newspaper has done, because I'm researching their work my research becomes secondary.

The newspaper further addresses the dangers of using legal highs. 'The Mirror' interviews Graham and Angie Evill parents of a legal high drug user. Angie Evill states "I have lost my son. My grandkids have lost their dad. He's more addicted to legal highs than he was to heroin. Whenever the phone rings I think that's it, he's dead." This interview is effective because it's a observational account of an addiction to legal highs.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKqgoBEW1cg&feature=player_embedded

This YouTube video shows protesters targeting a legal high store in New Zealand. The are protesting because they feel that it is unsafe for legal highs to be around their children. This video gives us an example of how people are divided about the legalisation of drugs. Because this is a clip from a news report, it because secondary research because I haven't found this information by myself.