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Transcript
Legal Highs Dr. Paul Skett Forensic Pharmacologist Glasgow Expert Witness Service Outline • • • • Legal Highs – What are they? Legal Highs – What do they do? Legal Highs – toxicity? What is the problem? Legal Highs – What are they? • Legal Highs are substances that mimic the effects of illegal drugs of abuse but are not (at present) covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. • Substances that mimic heroin, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam, temazepam), LSD. Legal Highs – What are they? • Can range from herbal extracts that contain caffeine e.g. guarana, which are relatively benign to highly toxic synthetic chemicals. Legal Highs – What are they? • Pharmaceutical companies spend billions of pounds trying to find and test new drugs – the finding is easy – testing costs the money! • Just need to look for similar but different structures • Let’s look at an example Mephedrone –vAmphetamine Amphetamine Mephedrone –vAmphetamine Mephedrone Amphetamine Mephedrone – what does it do? • Designed to resemble amphetamine but actually has a mixture of properties similar to ecstasy and cocaine • Euphoria, heightened awareness, alertness, talkativeness, empathy Mephedrone – what does it do? • Side effects – increased blood pressure, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, depression, fits, memory deficits. Mephedrone • Added to Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 on 16th April 2010 as well as other cathinones – i.e this was a generic regulation. • So what did the suppliers do? Naphyrone • Suppliers had another substance waiting! • Not in Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 • Added in June 2010 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 • Government now suggest “temporary” ban on “legal highs” – to allow “research” to be done to ascertain dangers. • Will this work? Other “Legal Highs” • Anandamide – “legal” derivative of cannabis • Fluorotropacocaine – “legal” derivative of cocaine • All covered by Medicines Act 1968 if to be ingested – but often sold as “plant food”, “pond cleaner”, “bath salts” What’s the problem? • The word “legal” – legal suggests “safe” - “legal” draws in wider user base - few, if any, actually tested for toxicity - many have serious adverse effects What’s the problem? • Huge market – difficult to judge accurately but in the £ billions • Largely in hands of criminal gangs – evidence at present is main source is China • Many new substances waiting in the wings What’s the problem? • Not actually sure what you are getting • New one out “Ivory Wave” – marketed as bath salts - no analysis as yet but word on the street is it is MPDV – methylenedioxypyrovalerone - actually a Class B drug The Way Forward? • Increasing pressure from many sides to move towards decriminalising drug abuse - it is a MEDICAL problem - supply pure, tested substances e.g. heroin, cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine • Will society accept this? My contact details • Dr. Paul Skett Forensic Pharmacologist GEWS 46A, Carlton Place, Glasgow G5 9TW. • Tel: 0141-418 4325 Fax: 0141-418 0518 email: [email protected]
