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Transcript
LEGAL HIGHS THE LOW DOWN… LOW DOWN ON LEGAL’S drugs, which may not always be the case. These could be treated with dangerous chemicals and can have potentially serious or life threatening side effects. WHAT ARE THEY?? A legal high is a drug (a substance taken to produce an altered state of mind) that is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act and is therefore legal to possess. These substances can also be known as research chemicals or novel psychoactive substances. ‘MAN MADE’ SYNTHETIC DRUGS However, legal high is a misleading term because most of the substances are regulated by the Medicines Act, which makes it illegal to sell, supply or advertise them for human consumption. The substances are generally bought from head shops or from internet sites. Many suppliers use descriptions such as bath salts, incense or plant food. They claim these substances are ‘not intended for human consumption’ as a way of getting around the drug laws. Legal highs are sold under a variety of brand names, often with no ingredients listed on the packet, so it is very difficult to know what you are taking; some even contain dog worming tablets and pesticide. As more legal highs become controlled, the term is still used by the public to describe substances that were either recently made illegal or are legal. Research chemicals are essentially legal highs; they are chemicals that are used in laboratories for scientific research but have a sought-after effect. ‘NATURAL’ LEGAL HIGHS Some legal highs come from plants. They are cleverly marketed as being plant based natural highs – something more natural and therefore less harmful than other Other legal highs are known as designer or synthetic drugs. These are drugs created to get around the drug laws, usually by modifying the chemical structure of existing drugs or by creating a new drug that can produce effects similar to illicit drugs but which can be sold legally. For every illegal drug there is a legal chemical analogue available and more than 250 types of synthetic drugs available. WHERE DO LEGAL HIGHS COME FROM? Legal highs are made in labs across the world and can be purchased over the internet or from head shops on the high street. A head shop is a shop that sells drug paraphernalia, e.g. equipment (pipes and bongs) for smoking cannabis, as well as recreational drugs that are legal to sell (though not legal to sell for human consumption). These shops may also sell clothes and magazines designed to appeal to the intended target; young people. While head shops may claim they are not selling these drugs for human consumption, they sell them alongside drug-taking paraphernalia, which suggests otherwise. There has been an increase in the number of head shops opening and the internet remains a popular place to buy legal highs and is a place to learn about the effects of legal highs both good and bad. Even chip shops, garages and market stalls are now selling the substances. SAFETY FIRST? Legal highs are far from safe, just because a substance is legal it does not mean it is safe. Drugs intended for human consumption must be regulated under the Medicines Act, and therefore undergo rigorous testing to determine how they can be used safely. Most legal highs are illegal to sell, supply or advertise for human consumption because of their effects on the body. However, because producers of these drugs claim they are not intended for human consumption, therefore they can be sold unregulated. As a result when you put the drug into your body, you are taking a real risk with your health. The ‘guinea pigs’ for researching these drugs are the people using them! There have been a number of deaths linked into the use of legal highs and a marked increase in young people being admitted to hospitals due to consequences of taking these substances. BODY EFFECTS? As these drugs are new and so very limited information is known about them because little research, if any has been conducted on them. There is some information on the short term effects which users report on websites an in treatment services, the negative effects seem to be nose bleeds, heart palpitations, bladder problems, stomach cramps, circulation problems and changes in behaviour and personality. Some of these drugs have stimulant effects and therefore carry the same risks to those associated with cocaine and amphetamines, including heart problems, fits and seizures. The production of these drugs is not regulated, what is sold under any given name one week may turn out to have a different chemical makeup the next week, so it is very difficult to predict the effects on the body. Another major concern is that people who use legal highs are very likely to be mixing them with alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drugs, and we just don’t know the effects on the body of mixing these substances together will do. WHAT IS THE GOVERNME NT DOING ABOUT LEGAL HIGHS? The Government banned 3 substances used as legal highs – Spice, GBL and BZP – under the Misuse of Drugs Act on 23 December 2009, following advice form the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. As of 16th April 2010, mephedrone and its related compounds have been banned in the UK and classified as Class B under the Misuse of Drugs Act. A number of other substances have been placed on a temporary drug ban whilst they undergo further investigation; however, when one substance gets banned further similar substances are made. These substances continue to be available for sale in a variety of disguises on the internet. of admissions for legal highs require at least one night occupying a bed whilst effects subside therefore this would be a minimum cost. This does not include the costs if the individual requires treatment from substance misuse services, the cost to employment or criminal justice service involvement if criminal activity occurs. HOW MANY DEATHS ARE LINKED TO LEGAL HIGHS? A report for the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths revealed 68 people in the UK died taking legal highs in 2013, compared with 5 in 2009. This number continues to increase. WHAT ARE THE SOCIETAL COSTS OF LEGAL HIGH USE? WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF LEGAL HIGHS AND ALCOHOL? An analysis of the unit costs to services dealing with overdose has been undertaken (with a large proportion being linked to alcohol consumption alongside substance misuse). These costs include ambulance call outs, A&E admissions, hospital bed occupations and outpatient treatment and highlight the need for preventative campaigns around this growing issue. It is estimated a cost of approx. £1,025 per person if all of the above is required, for just one night. The majority Alcohol is a depressant. This means it slows down the nervous system which controls the heart and breathing rate. Mixing alcohol with any drug, including legal ones, can seriously upset your body. You increase the risk to yourself if you combine alcohol with any legal or illegal substance that causes a high, including the risk of death. HARM REDUCTION ADVIC E If you decide to take legal highs read this first! Top tips on staying safe…. Know the related drugs: Assume at the least that these compounds will have similar risks to related compounds in the same family Don’t supply compounds or bulk buy large amounts If you’re not sure: Then you are better off not doing it at all; the risks are unknown and despite the claims of sellers we know little about the purity, effects, short and long term risks. A small number of people got very rich while a lot of young people are playing their roles as human guinea pigs! Research: do research first. Read up online. Read a variety of user reports. Use the better websites which weed out shills and trolls and suppliers. Think: do you really want to be a guinea pig with an unknown substance? Start with a very small quantity. Don’t try and gauge quantities by eye, it’s too inaccurate. If you can’t access or afford highly sensitive, correctly calibrated scales, don’t play with unknown drugs. Where possible base initial dose at the low end of the active dose range, allowing for your body weight where possible. Don’t mix drugs: if you are trying an unknown compound, don’t mix it with other drugs (including alcohol) or medicine. Drink water to help reduce dehydration. Don’t do unknown chemicals unless you are in good physical and mental health. Have a friend with you who knows what you are taking, will not use anything themselves, and will call an ambulance without any hesitation. Don’t overdo it: Give yourself a good chance to recover before redosing. If you like the experiences only increase quantities very slowly and carefully. Seek medical advice: if you experience chest pains, prolonged numbness of extremities or discolouration of skin. Swallow, don't snort: If snorting, don't share snorting tubes; it could spread germs and Hepatitis. Be careful: be weary of retailers offering you the “new legal” alternative to MMCAT. There will be a lot of people trying to get ahead of the curve in selling the next big thing and the risks for the early adopters can be high. If in doubt don’t do it! WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE LOCALLY? You should talk to our local GP if you are experiencing health problems that you think are associated to your use of legal highs. More info on: www.talktofrank.com www.angelusfoundation.com http://knowthescore.info/drugs-az/legal-highs