Download Popular “legal highs” made illegal from 2010 SPB/02/19

Suggested
distribution
19 February 2010
Welfare officers,
student advice
centre staff
Popular “legal highs” made illegal from 2010
- `
Action
For more info on
what you can do,
visit:
http://resource.n
usonline.co.uk/me
dia/resource/fran
kcrazychemist.pdf
SPB/02/19
Key Points
• ‘Legal highs’ are recreational drugs which, through legislation
loopholes or by using legal products, can offer users similar
heightened experiences as illegal household equivalents.
• Students’ health and studying experiences are at risk if they choose
to take these drugs.
• Previous “legal highs” became illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act
1971 on 23rd December 2009:
o Benzylpiperazine (BZP) is an illegal Class C drug under
possession and supply offences under the Act.
o Gamma-Butryolactone (GBL) is an illegal Class C drug under the
Act with possession and supply limited where they are intended
for human consumption.
o Synthetic cannabinoids are illegal Class B drugs with possession
and supply under the Act.
For more
information on
the drugs
mentioned in this
article go to:
http://stage.office
ronline.co.uk//wel
fare/articles/2771
95.aspx
• Other “legal highs” not covered in the Misuse of Drugs Act present a
number of risks to students wishing to take them.
NEC Contact
• Little is known about the effects of administering “legal highs”.
Ben Whittaker
Ben.Whittaker@n
us.org.uk
Staff Contact
Mark McCormack
Mark.McCormack
@nus.org.uk
NUS Crime Team
[email protected]
Introduction
The term “legal highs” has come-about to describe legal recreational
drugs which mimic the effects of illegal drugs. As such ‘legal highs’ have
become increasingly popular as a safer alternative to illegal methods of
getting “high”.
Legal highs have also, until recently, been easily obtainable in
“headshops” and on internet sites at cheap prices.
The rising popularity of legal highs will undoubtedly have made its way
into the lives of many students in the UK. It is reasonable to suggest
that a large number of students may lead hedonistic lifestyles where
experimenting with drugs is part of their university experience.
It’s important for all students to know the facts about drugs so they can
make their own decisions. If students choose to take any drugs they
should be aware of the legal status of substances and the implications of
using such substances: health risks, positive and negative effects, and
the impacts if they are caught breaking the law.
New laws: not-so-legal highs
‘Legal highs’ were thrown into the media limelight last year after a
University of Sussex student died after ingesting Gamma-Butryolactone
(GBL).
After months of media attention, the government has now prohibited the consumption,
possession and distribution of a number of so-called ‘legal highs’, namely GBL, Benzylpiperazine
(BZP) and synthetic cannabinoids under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. These drugs became
illegal on 23rd December 2009.
Other psychoactive substances (such as Mephedrone/MCAT and Salvia or herbal ecstasy) remain
legal to possess, but they are still illegal to sell for human consumption under medicines
legislation.
The term ‘designer drug’ is used for drugs which are marketed or designed in order to get around
existing drug laws. If ‘designed’, this may include modifying the molecular make-up of an
existing illegal substance (so that the law covering the original drug does not apply to the new
drug) or finding an alternative legal substance which has similar effects to a drug.
The legal loopholes and the risks of ‘legal highs’
Though some substances and designer drugs may not be controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act
1971 – for example, in the same way as cannabis and cocaine are - it can still be illegal to sell,
supply or advertise them under medicines legislation.
If a product is illegal for human consumption in medicines legislation, this also means it is illegal
to produce, advertise and sell for human consumption. That means if a drug states “not to be
ingested” and is sold as something else (eg. a souvenir) then selling the product is lawful. Many
suppliers use descriptions such as bath salts, plant food, research chemicals, fertiliser and
cleaning fluid, or statements such as ‘not for human consumption’ in order to try to get around
the law.
There has been increasing press coverage on the dangers of Mephedrone in particular and it is
expected that more drugs will have legislation placed upon them by the end of 2010 due to
health risks posed by the drugs. Top of the Government’s priorities will be ‘substituted cathinone’
compounds, which include mephedrone and extend to other amphetamine-related compounds.
By far the biggest concern with ‘legal highs’ and designed drugs is that little is known about
the effects of taking the drugs; students unaware of this may put their safety at risk. If someone
is admitted to hospital with complaints of drug-use, hospitals generally know how to deal with
regular drugs from experience and testing. However, this is not the case for many ‘legal highs’,
not least because it is unknown what chemicals and products make-up the drugs. Similarly, in
the long-term there is no research about what harm new variations of drugs can have on
individuals.
Talking to FRANK
Talk to FRANK has a very interactive website: www.talktofrank.com
Their phone and text service isn’t just for regular users, students can also text questions to
82111 or call 0800 77 66 00.
Further Information
More information about the drugs mentioned in this briefing:
http://stage.officeronline.co.uk//welfare/articles/277195.aspx
Access to the Home Office ‘Crazy Chemist Toolkit’ for Students’ Unions:
http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/media/resource/frankcrazychemist.pdf
Access to a Fact Card on the drugs included in the latest legislation:
http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/media/resource/homeofficefactcard.pdf
Links to drugs groups and on the Misuse of Drugs Act:
Mainliners www.mainliners.org.uk
DrugScope www.drugscope.org.uk
http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs-laws/misuse-of-drugs-act/
Social Policy Briefing is written to update officers and staff in students' unions on issues relating to
social policy, including student finance, welfare and liberation. Information is correct at time of
writing and offered in good faith.