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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.