From Monday 29^th April 2013 visit our Facebook page or scan the QR code to download our game for a chance to win an iPhone 5 (T&C apply).

This time even faster and harder! Avoid legal highs and alcohol and try to click when icons for dance moves and water appear. Make it past room 4 to VIP room where you will add your name to the leader-board with your point score.

Keep hydrated, sober up! This would give you 20 points! Keep dancing, that would give you 10 points! But avoid alcohol and legal highs. Each time you take them the screen will blur and shake and you will need water to make it through to the next room. Take too much and it’s GAME OVER!

Remember: stay safe, don’t take the risk.

From Monday 29th April 2013 to Friday 10th May 2013 use the hash tag #legalhighslethallows for a chance to win a £50 Nandos voucher.

Follow us on Twitter @SMST_Leics

Monday 29th April 2013 sees the launch of Phase 2 of the “Legal Highs Lethal Lows” harm minimisation campaign by Leicestershire Substance Misuse Strategic Team.  The campaign aims to highlight the risks of legal highs (also known as Novel Psychoactive Substances) and recreational substance misuse.  During phase 2 of the campaign we will be introducing initiatives aimed at those enjoying festivals over the summer months and university fresher weeks during September.  

Legal Highs are substances which produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy but are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.  Legal Highs refers to a broad category of unregulated compounds or products that are marketed as legal alternatives to well-known controlled drugs.

Various initiatives will be running over a five month period across Leicestershire & Rutland to raise awareness of the effects of legal highs and offering help and support, these include: a targeted poster campaign and attendance at Glaston Budget, Download and Strawberry Fields festivals.  Free giveaways and the re-launch of our downloadable phone application game “life is a dance floor” with a competition to win the new iPhone 5.  Our Twitter campaign will continue with daily news and tweets and partners are encouraged to use our hash tag #legalhighslethallows.  Once again we will be working closely with our partners at Leicestershire Police, district and borough community safety partnerships, Swanswell and public health to ensure our communities across Leicestershire and Rutland are aware of the harms of legal highs. 

Phase 2 of the “Legal Highs Lethal Lows” campaign will run from 29th April 2013 until 30th September.  For more information on the campaign please visit www.legalhighslethallows.co.uk or contact Debbie Langham on 0116 3052680 / debbie.langham@lecis.gov.uk

Three teenagers were rushed to hospital last weekend vomiting blood after taking a legal high known as Clockwork Orange Herbal Incense in Northumberland.

Superintendent Alan Veitch said: “We want people to be aware of the dangers of taking drugs, including so called legal highs” “I would like to stress that the use of legal high drugs is not safe and can kill or have a devastating impact on people’s health”

New Zealand’s doctors are being told to consider testing patients who use legal highs for kidney and cardiac problems, after three young people suffered kidney damage from smoking synthetic cannabis this month.

“There is a potential for severe and permanent toxic injury with smoked or ingested synthetic cannabinoid drugs”, Dr Humphrey says in a press release.

Synthetic cannabinoids are known to cause anxiety, vomiting, chest pain, headaches and, more in severe cases, seizures, psychosis, heart attacks and kidney failure.

“Ingredients are not disclosed by manufacturers and as far as we are aware these drugs have not had proper safety testing” he says.

Read more about it here

Benzo Fury could be as dangerous as illegal drugs such as ecstasy, a new study has revealed. The pills, which can be bought over the Internet for £10 each or £25 for three, are addictive and could cause high blood pressure.

Benzo Fury is currently one of the most popular legal highs in the UK. Experts say its side effects include loss of appetite, hallucinations and paranoia.

The researchers said the findings, due to be presented at the British Neuroscience Association Festival of Neuroscience today, should act as a warning to potential users.

Dr Opacka-Juffry said: “They are attractive to many people who enjoy the “mind altering” properties of hallucinogens. But Benzo Fury with its mixed properties is a trap as its repetitive use for the hallucinogenic effects could lead to dependence, which the user may not expect”

More info: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2306124/Legal-high-Benzo-Fury-dangerous-illegal-drugs-ecstasy-study-claims.html

It appears to be a synthetic cannabinoid similar to the drug “Spice”. Such substances imitate the effects of marijuana, relaxing users and giving them a “trippy” sensation, although they do not contain any of the same ingredients as the natural drug.

It is sold in a clear tube labelled “Sky High”, with no indication of what the product actually contains.

17-year-old Nicole had been behaving increasingly erratically for months, she has kicked in walls and ripped panels off doors at her family home in Blackburn and her panic attacks mean she can no longer sleep on her own.

Nicole’s family had no idea what was triggering her mood swings until she admitted she had been regularly smoking the synthetic cannabis drug over the past year.

Her dad attempted to persuade staff to stop selling the legal high to the underage girl, but when he raised his voice at workers in the shop in Aberdeen he was arrested and handed an on-the=spot fine of £40 for shouting at staff.

Read more about it here

5-IAI is a drug which appears to have effects similar to ecstasy, including sociability, increased energy, enhanced sensory appreciation e.g. to music

Some limited reports of increased heart rate and sweating as well as agitation and anxiety. Other negative effects may include fatigue, insomnia and nausea.

Data source: RedNet Research Group

Salvia divinorum is a psychoactive plant sold as live plants, dried leaves, powder or extract in liquid form; its active constituent is called Salvinorin A which is considered the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen.

Salvia divinorum causes brief vivid hallucinations rapidly after administration, whilst other effects are synaesthesia, increased insight, improved mood, calmness, weird thoughts, bizarre non-Euclidian dimensions hallucinations, and a physical sensation of pressure on the body.

Some users report a “reverse-tolerance” or sensitization, where less of the chemical is subsequently required to produce the same subjective effects.

The physical effects may include: hypertension, tachycardia, visual alterations and unpleasant hallucinations, anxiety, uncontrollable laughter, sensation of motion respiratory difficulties, panic attack, paranoid feeling, “bad trips”.

Data source: RedNet Research Group

A “legal high” drug was blamed for pupils falling ill at the National Church of England Academy in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, last week.

Police were called to the school at 2.10pm on Friday 8th March 2013 following reports of a number of pupils feeling sick and dizzy.

Test revealed the youngsters, aged between 11 and 15, had smoked salvia. Dr John Edwards said two pupils were taken to hospital as a precaution and sent home the same evening.

Sgt Simon Scales said: “Users cannot be clear what ingredients are in them and they can cause unpredictable reactions, as seen at the National Academy”

A 15-year-old schoolgirl suffers panic attacks and anxiety from a drug known as “Blue Cheese”.

Paige Smith, of Colchester, Essex, said she bought the drug –which is legally available to over-18s- without ID from a shop in the town after friends introduced her to legal highs five months ago.

She became addicted and spent more than £200 buying the brightly-packaged recreational drugs over the counter before she was taken to hospital after feeling “instantly weird and shaky”.

An A&E consultant at Colchester General Hospital in Essex this week said he had treated four teenagers who had collapsed in recent weeks. All had taken legal highs.

Read more in this link

MPA is chemically related to amphetamine with effects very similar to those experienced with amphetamine/methamphetamine including increased energy and alertness.
Although reports are scarce, the link with powerful stimulants like methamphetamine puts the regular user at risk from a range of physical and psychological impacts including heart and circulatory problems, anxiety, paranoid ideation and dependence.

Data source: RedNet Research Group

MDAI also known as “Sparky” or “Minday” is a drug with similar effects to ecstasy which came online around 2009 and was widely marketed after the UK ban on mephedrone in 2010.

The effects appear to be similar to ecstasy (MDMA), most likely inducing synaptic boost of serotonin. The desired effects include increased levels of empathy and sociability, intensification of sensory experience stimulation, mild psychedelic experiences, alleged libido enhancement and a brief antidepressant effect.

The side effects reported are insomnia, nausea/vomiting and confusion; probably, MDAI shares the same cardiovascular and psychiatric disturbances risks of ecstasy.

Recently a police inquest reported that MDAI contributed to a death of 17-year-old girl in the Isle of Man.

Data source: RedNet Research Group

This legal high first appeared on retail sites in January 2011.  It appears to be legal in most countries, but may be covered by federal generic legislation in the USA.

The effects are similar to that experienced with ecstasy, but a stronger sense of wellbeing and energy; euphoria and empathy. The psychedelic experiences for 6-APB may be more intense than MDA and MDMA. The euphoria could be followed by a wave of sadness.
This drug appears to be very potent with significant physical and psychological side effects. All the following have been reported across several cases:

- Prolonged rapid heart beat
- High blood pressure
- Liver damage
- Excessive jaw clenching/head shaking
- High temperature
- Severe nausea and sickness
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Severe paranoid symptoms

For more info about legal highs visit our website www.legalhighslethallows.co.uk

Following advice from the government’s independent drug experts, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), new synthetic cannabinoids (such as those contained in Black Mamba and Annihilation), O-desmethyltramadol, methoxetamine (sold as Mexxy) and similar compounds have been classified as Class B under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Since March 2012, methoxetamine was subject to the UK’s first temporary class drug order following advice from the ACMD.

In its advice on methoxetamine the ACMD indicated that the temporary ban may have had “real and immediate impact on tackling internet sales of methoxetamine with a significant proportion of UK websites ceasing to advertise its sale”.

Read more: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/news/legal-highs-class-b-drugs

The Psychoactive Substances Bill introduced to Parliament today will mean legal highs have to be proved safe before they can be sold, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has announced.

“Producers of products such as synthetic cannabis and party pills will no longer be able to play with the health of young New Zealanders”, he said.

The law is expected to be in place by August to replace the current temporary class drug notices regime, which has taken more than 30 substances and 50 products off the market.

The Bill will include provisions for:
- A regulatory authority within the Health Ministry to:
o Consider and approve or decline psychoactive substances
o Issue a manufacturing code of practice
o Issue importation, manufacturing and sale licences
o Conduct post-marketing monitoring, audit and recall functions
- Establish an expert advisory committee to provide the authority with technical advice
- Set offences and penalties under the Bill, including up to two years imprisonment for some offences, and fines of up to $500,000
- Restrict sale of products to those under 18, and place restrictions and prohibitions on places of sale
- Establish an appeals committee.

Questions and Answers on the Psychoactive Substances Bill at: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1302/S00401/dunne-psychoactive-substances-bill-a-game-changer.htm

1. Know the law: you may still be arrested if you are found with a legal high
2. Don’t trust suppliers: what you buy is not always what they say it is
3. Understand the risks: legal highs are just as dangerous as illegal drugs
4. Do your research: find out all you can before you use a legal high
5. Avoid heat-stroke: stay cool when using stimulants- know what to do in an emergency
6. Don’t use alone: it is safer to have someone with you
7. Look after your mates: in the same way you would want them to look after you
8. Ask for help: There are always people who can help you

Read more about: http://www.exchangesupplies.org/shopdisp_LH2.php

Investigators from the National Institute of Health Sciences in Tokyo have conducted a research of drug buying on the Internet, also netting and identifying 12 more synthetic cannabinoids, heretofore unseen in the market for non-THC marijuana substitutes. Japan, like the U.S. and Europe, has been attempting to outlaw these problem compounds.

A “completely new type of designer drug, URB-754,” was identified. It is a new synthetic cannabis compound, and the researchers found it packaged together with a cathinone derivative called 4-Me-MABP. The authors of the paper express concern about the “reactive nature of both compounds” that comprise the new hybrid, but refrain from making any predictions about its effects. “There is little information about most of the newly detected compounds,” the authors write. “Furthermore, the recent trend seems to be to mix different types of designer drugs such as cathinones (stimulants) or tryptamines (hallucinogens) with synthetic cannabinoids in illegal products. Therefore, there is the potential for serious health risks associated with their use.”

Read more: http://addiction-dirkh.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/bath-salts-mixed-with-spice-two-drugs.html

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (USA), 16 cases of acute kidney injury were reported in 2012 in six American states after people smoked synthetic marijuana. The patients became sick within days and sometimes even hours after smoking. Their symptoms included nausea and vomiting as well as abdominal and flank pain. They were found to be in various stages of kidney failure.

These drugs have been linked to health problems such as agitation, hallucinations and rapid heart rates, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (USA).

For more information: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/14/synthetic-marijuana-kidney-damage/1919319/

23-year-old laboratory assistant, Richard, was found dead in January 2012 after police had to break into his flat at Beamsley House in Shipley (West Yorkshire).

The recent inquest in Bradford heard although Richard had died from poisoning caused by mercury he had taken from his workplace, he also had levels of a drug called Phenazepam in his system, which he had had been legally obtaining from a company in Hong Kong. Phenazepam was made a Class C drug on 13th June 2012, unfortunately Richard died in January 2013 when Richard purchased online.

His parents believe the substance –supposed to relieve anxiety- made him paranoid and his problems worse. Now the couple are urging anyone tempted to self-medicate via the internet, or who are suffering from depression or low self-esteem, to talk about it to friends or family and to ask for help.

Read more: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.keighleynews.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fnews_keighley%2F10213580.Warning_over_legal_highs_after_Harden_man_s_death%2F&h=OAQFg-q_zAQGsoSwNklfPCoE-uwvf0RVpStvUckbqOCwIlQ&enc=AZOHIEzkCz8fLK8dMg1pmzusNFSryMAF3Nd3vtDlMb8-dWnNdFVLGlRdhDLUsxuDK1MNUt76-xYdLGBs84VB7c0G&s=1

For more information about legal highs, please visit www.legalhighslethallows.co.uk

5-(2-aminopropyl)indole belongs to the tryptamine family, many of which are hallucinogenic.

The EMCDDA-Europol Joint Report on this new psychoactive substance states:

• Reports from seizures and collected samples have noted the presence of 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole in: brown, pale/light brown or beige powders; beige tablets bearing markings resembling the Lexus logo; brown glittery tablets; blue/green unmarked tablets; blue unmarked tablets commercially packaged as “Benzo Fury”; capsules; and, in residues on a spoon and in the liquid recovered from a syringe.
 

• Two Member States (Sweden and the United Kingdom) reported a total of 15 non-fatal intoxications associated with 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole :

• Sweden reported 13 cases from the Swedish Poisons Information Centre between January and September 2012 where 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole was detected.
• The United Kingdom reported that there were two non-fatal intoxications associated with the second death detailed below. The two individuals had also reportedly ingested some ‘Benzo Fury’ from the same source as the deceased. They were also seen at the hospital but neither appeared to have suffered any significant toxic effects. No further information on drug history or the amounts of ‘Benzo Fury’ taken was available.

• Three Member States (Sweden, the United Kingdom and Hungary) reported a total of 21 deaths associated with 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole:

• Sweden reported that the National Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology (RMV) have observed 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole in 15 post-mortem examinations.
• The United Kingdom reported four deaths. Details are only provided for two of these cases, both of which occurred in June 2012.
• The two deaths reported by Hungary were originally thought to be related to AMT which was detected in post-mortem biological samples

• Some Internet retailers offer 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole as a drug in its own right. This has been confirmed by collected samples and is supported by discussions on Internet drug user forums. Additionally, the United Kingdom reported that seized samples of branded products labelled as ‘BENZO FURY’ from a bricks and mortar head shop contained 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole. Information from non-fatal intoxications and deaths reported by Sweden and the United Kingdom suggests that some individuals may have been exposed to 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole as a result of using products labelled as ‘Benzo Fury’ or ‘6-APB’. However, the prevalence of 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole in such products relative to other substances is not known.

• Data from the 2011 Mixmag survey (a non-probabilistic convenience sample Internet survey commissioned by the UK dance music magazine Mixmag, n=2560) found that self-reported lifetime and last year prevalence of use of ‘Benzofury’ in this group was 2.7 % and 2.3 % respectively. 

• Several countries have noted that 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole is offered for retail sale as a ‘research chemical’ on the Internet. Germany reported that 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole is offered for sale alongside other new psychoactive substances (www.benzo-fury.me.uk, www.highstore.net and www.buckledbonzi.co.uk). Italy also reported a similar observation and noted that 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole could be bought for GBP22.50 for 500 milligrams (http://www. officialbenzofury.com/products /5%252dIT.html) and GBP9.50 for 100 milligrams (http:// vip-legals.com/buy-5it-powder; http://www.lookchem.com/5-2-Aminopropyl-indole/). The United Kingdom noted that 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole was sold as a ‘unique product’, structurally ‘similar to AMT’ with ‘euphoric effects similar to 5-APB’. They reported that 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole could be purchased in the form of capsules containing 100 milligrams (e.g. http://www.wide-mouth-frogs. com/5-it-caps.html) GBP26.00 for 10 capsules or GBP100.00 for 50 capsules. Powders also appeared to be offered for sale at GBP10.20 for 250 milligrams (discounted from GBP12.00; http://www.benzofury.me.uk/index/155) or in bulk powder GBP6000.00 for 1 kilogram (e.g. http://www.plantfoodpalace.com/5-it/page/2/). It was offered for sale in combination with AMT by one retailer at a cost of GBP38.00 for 500 milligrams.

• In addition to the information given above, the United Kingdom commented that at the time of reporting, 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole is ‘not included or has been removed from the stocklist of a number of the more well-known retailers’. They further comment that ‘it is unknown whether this is related to lack of availability from wholesalers or importers or due to adverse media attention concerning the drug.

More information at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/joint-reports/5-IT

Phase1 of the "Legal Highs, Lethal Lows" (December 2012 & January 2013) harm minimisation campaign has ended. The following presentation shows the summary of the statistics of the website campaign www.legalhighslethallows.co.uk and the social media (Twitter & Facebook).

SMST are already working on new initiatives for the Phase2 of the campaign throughout the spring/summer aimed at music festivals and student freshers weeks.

For more information on the campaign or to request resources within your area, please email us at info@drugs.org.uk

Only 2 weeks left to enter in our Life is a Dance Floor competition for a chance to win an iPad mini!

Visit our Facebook page or scan the QR code to download our game with your smart-phone now!

Who will get the top score??

If you need help, advice and support for legal highs or substance misuse over the Christmas period our local Leicestershire and Rutland commissioned service Swanswell have just released their Xmas bank holiday opening hours and available services;

25th December, 2012 - Phone service available at all offices 9:00am - 5:00pm - 0300 303 5000

26th December, 2012 - Phone service available at all offices plus drop in services at Coalville & Loughborough - 0300 303 5000

1st January, 2013 - Phone service available at all offices plus drop in services at Coalville & Loughborough - 0300 303 5000

The offices are open as normal on other dates over the festive period and you can visit www.drugs.org.uk or www.legalhighslethallows.co.uk. 

If you are not local to Leicestershire & Rutland please call 0800 77 66 00 to TALK TO FRANK or visit www.talktofrank.com   

Do you want to win the new iPad MINI? Scan the QR code and start playing our game “life is a dance floor” or visit our Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/LegalHighLethalLow (terms and conditions apply).

The app consists of a tap-screen game where timing is key. Avoid legal highs and alcohol and try to click when icons for dance moves and water appear. Make it past room 4 to the VIP room where you will add your name to the leader-board with your point score.

Keep hydrated, sober up! This would give you 20 points! Keep dancing, that would give you 10 points! But avoid Alcohol and Legal Highs. Each time you take them the screen will blur and shake and you’ll need water to make it through to the next room. Take too much and it’s GAME OVER!

Do you listen to Takeover Radio Leicester (103.2)??? Check out for the SMST “Legal Highs, Lethal Lows” harm minimisation campaign on the Breakfast Show (7am-10am) Monday to Friday, “The Edge” (7pm-10pm) and “Ferry Corsten” (7pm-10pm) on alternative Friday nights, and “Triple Dee” (7pm-10pm) on Saturday nights.
Keep listening to Takeover Radio and find out how to win the new Ipad MINI playing our game “Life is a Dance Floor” using your smart-phone or PC.

And remember: stay safe, don’t take the risk.

Paul Stratton, senior public health manager for NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, said: "Many young people think that because the substance is legal 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 synthetic drugs claim these products are not intended for human consumption, they can be sold unregulated.

"This means that when you put the drug into your body, you are taking a real risk with your health."

Read more about it: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Warnings-legal-highs/story-17532077-detail/story.html

Two substances which are said to give users dangerous "legal highs" are to be made illegal class B drugs - with users facing up to five years in jail.

Crime Prevention Minister Jeremy Browne says black mamba and methoxetamine, often known as mexxy, will be banned.

This comes after the government's drugs advisers found they posed dangerous risks to health.

Mexxy was linked to two deaths and police have warned of the "life-threatening effects" of black mamba.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20163832

Do you listen to Takeover Radio Leicester  (103.2)??? Check out from today for the SMST “Legal Highs, Lethal Lows” harm minimisation campaign on the Breakfast Show (7am-10am) Monday to Friday, “The Edge” (7pm-10pm) and “Ferry Corsten” (7pm-10pm) on alternative Friday nights, and “Triple Dee” (7pm-10pm) on Saturday nights.

Keep listening to Takeover Radio to find out how to win the new Ipad MINI playing our game “Life is a Dance Floor” using your smart-phone or PC.

And remember: stay safe, don’t take the risk.

Today, Monday 3rd December 2012 sees the launch of the “Legal Highs Lethal Lows” harm minimisation campaign by Leicestershire & Rutland Substance Misuse Strategic Team (SMST).   The campaign aims to highlight the risks of legal highs (also known as Novel Psychoactive Substances) and recreational substance misuse, particularly to those enjoying the night time economy over the Christmas holidays when alcohol consumption also increases. 

Legal Highs are substances which produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy but are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.  Legal Highs refers to a broad category of unregulated compounds or products that are marketed as legal alternatives to well-known controlled drugs.

Paul Stratton, Senior Public Health Manager for NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland said “Many young people think that because the substance is legal 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 synthetic drugs claim these products are not intended for human consumption, they can be sold unregulated. This means that when you put the drug into your body, you are taking a real risk with your health. I welcome this campaign that will hopefully educate young people and others to make an informed choice before they risk their health”

Various initiatives will be running over an eight week period across Leicestershire & Rutland to raise awareness of the effects of legal highs and offering help and support, these include: a poster campaign within local bars, taxis, educational establishments and drug and alcohol treatment services across the County, launch of a free downloadable phone application game “life is a dance floor” with a competition to win the new Apple IPAD mini in partnership with Takeover Radio and local youth website The Jitty.  Daily news and tweets will also be posted via the SMST Facebook and Twitter pages and via the dedicated campaign website at www.legalhighslethallows.co.uk. 
       

Jo Woods, Regional Development Manager for Swanswell in Leicestershire and Rutland, said: “We’re pleased to be part of a campaign that raises awareness of the real dangers associated with taking legal highs. Legal highs are becoming increasingly popular and in many cases are the drug of choice on the club scene – yet many people take them without realising the harm they can cause, especially if mixed with other drugs or alcohol. If you want to know more about the risks of legal highs or are worried about someone else’s use, get in touch with Swanswell on 0300 303 5000”

Superintendent Andy Lee lead for Drugs and Alcohol Misuse at Leicestershire Police said: “When you go to a chemist to buy a pharmaceutical product, you can be assured that what you are about to take has been tested and is fit for human consumption. There are no such guarantees with legal highs. Legal highs discovered during police raids and crime scene investigations are often found to contain illegal substances. The true long-term harm caused by these substances will not be known for some time to come, they are best avoided.  Leicestershire Police support the SMST Legal Highs Lethal Lows campaign.”

The harms of legal highs are multi-faceted. Health services including commissioned drug and alcohol treatment services locally are starting to see health and other problems caused by regular use of these drugs and new substances are emerging each week.  Debra Cunningham, Strategic Manager for SMST said “Working with our colleagues from Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire & Rutland Primary Care Trust and our Borough/District councils, we continue to work to reduce the harms caused by substance misuse” 

The “Legal Highs Lethal Lows” campaign will run from 3rd December 2012, until the end of January, 2013 and then be followed by a number of initiatives throughout the spring/summer aimed at music festivals and student freshers weeks. 

For more information on the campaign or to request resources within your area, please contact Debbie Langham on 0116 3052680 or via info@drugs.org.uk.  

New psychoactive substances have a careful chemical composition that puts them on the right side of the law, often mixing legal and banned substances.

Others make it on to the market unchallenged due to the lack of testing capability.
They can be bought easily online or at clubs and festivals, an accessibility that makes them popular with many young people.

Though legal, the harm, both physical and psychological, they can cause mirrors those substances banned by the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/newsfocus/918810-the-increase-in-legal-highs-what-is-the-best-way-to-deal-with-new-drugs#ixzz2DVgBNUl9

The scale of the problem that drugs such as ketamine, mephedrone and GHB or GBL are causing to people who take them is growing. However, there has only been a small increase in club drug presentations within treatment agencies from National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) data. Existing drug treatment centres were set up mainly to tackle more established drugs such as heroin and crack.

Dr Owen Bowden-Jones has set up the Club Drug Clinic in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (London). They receive referrals (including self-referrals) from all over the country, not just within London. They offer information and advice, assessment of substance use, physical and psychological problems, key-working, specific medical and psychological treatments and support for relatives.

Dr Bowden-Jones talks about “new” drugs such as mephedrone, ketamine and “legal highs” and increasing sales via the internet.

Have a look at his presentation at the City Health Conference 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4o4acqA5GM

Read more: http://www.drugs.org.uk/news/73-club-drugs

While overall drug use has declined in England, there has been an increase in those needing treatment for ‘club drugs’ such as ketamine and mephedrone in the last six years, the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) revealed today as it releases a report containing the first ever treatment data on club drugs. Club drug users make up just 2% of adults in treatment and 10% of young people in specialist services.

The NTA warned that whilst the numbers needing help remain small compared to heroin and crack, the data showed that it was clear that use of club drugs, which many start as a lifestyle choice, can lead to significant health problems or a dependency. Experts interviewed for the report described how heavy use of ketamine for example can turn into dependency with physical effects such as bladder pain and damage.
The report, Club drugs: emerging trends and risks, reveals the numbers of adults and under 18s who have sought help for problems with substances such as ecstasy, ketamine, methamphetamine, GHB/ GBL and mephedrone.

The NTA report ‘Club Drugs: Emerging Trends and Risks’ is available here or email miranda.askew@nta-nhs.org.uk The statistical release, tables and pre-release access list are available at (www.nta.nhs.uk/statistics.aspx)

Read more: http://www.nta.nhs.uk/Club%20drugs%20report%202012.aspx#.UKORGgxkwCg.twitter)

This briefing provides an overview of novel psychoactive compounds or “Research Chemicals” in the UK. It is not intended to provide detailed information on each compound or a list of all such compounds. Where substances have become sufficiently popular or enough is known about them separate briefings will be available on the KFx site and elsewhere. Look up charts of key drugs are also available on the KFx site.

This report and most drugs professionals eschew the term “Legal Highs.” Many of the compounds that are of interest are not legal. Some never were; others have been made illegal recently. As the remaining ones gain popularity and media attention they too are likely to be prohibited. Not all the compounds are euphoriants or stimulants; they may be depressant drugs or anaesthetics. As such the term “legal high” may be doubly erroneous.

Read more: http://www.kfx.org.uk/drug_facts/drug_facts_images_and_pdfs/researchchemicals2012.pdf

A report for the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths revealed 43 people in the UK died after taking now-outlawed methcathinones in 2010, compared with five in 2009.

The group includes mephedrone or "meow meow", which alone caused 29 deaths.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20217967

NIDA research published in today’s Neuropsychopharmacology shows that MDPV, a synthetic chemical commonly found in the drugs referred to as “bath salts,” is potentially more dangerous than cocaine when tested in rodents.

Read more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2012/10/new-research-stresses-potential-health-dangers-bath-salts#.UIpNfxN3dWQ.twitter

"Designer drugs", "legal highs" or "bath salts" -  whatever they are labelled as, psychoactive substances have become a major concern in all regions of the world, particularly given their considerable public health consequences and their potentially even fatal effects.

The term "new psychoactive substances" covers a wide range of substances that often have pharmacological properties and effects similar to those of internationally controlled drugs. This diverse group includes synthetic cathinones, which are similar in structure to amphetamines and synthetic cannabinoids in mimicking the effects of THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis. Piperazines, often sold as ecstasy, are another group of new psychoactive substances that were first encountered in established markets for amphetamine-type stimulants.

While new drugs have always appeared on illicit drug markets, the pace at which such substances have emerged in recent years has accelerated considerably. Last year in Europe alone, 49 new psychoactive substances were reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

Read more: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2012/November/tracking-designer-drugs-legal-highs-and-bath-salts.html