A “Legal High” is a drug/chemical substance that is easily available to buy over the counter or online. Because these drugs contain the word “legal” people assume they are safe and have been tested, assuming there will be no consequences if taken. This is not the case.
The problem is that they can be very dangerous. The consequences can include addiction, hair loss, , heart problems, hospitalisation and even death. It’s really is frightening to know that they are out there and be taken regularly and they can be cheaper than your local illegal street drug, these drugs come direct to you through the post!
The crazy thing about legal highs is that as soon after people are reported to have died or suffered serious illness the particular legal high is made illegal but the sad thing is as soon as they are made illegal the companies producing them create a “newer legal high” which is of an ever so slightly different chemical composition. The main point I wish to make is simply DO NOT use “legal highs”, they are unsafe. It is not worth it they could ruin your life.
There are three broad families of "legal" highs or "new" drugs.
- Synthetic cannabinoids
- Speed or ecstasy-type substitutes
- Psychedelic or hallucinogenic legal highs
The government-funded drugs advice Frank website has more information on the many different legal and illegal drugs available. http://www.talktofrank.com/
Guardian report
A report in the Guardian newspaper revealed that the profusion of legal highs is bewildering. Often sold online as "bath salts" or "plant food" because they are not permitted to be marketed for human consumption, legal highs may be legal or, confusingly, illegal. The active ingredients in similarly named drugs are also often completely different.
"The legal highs market is flooded with scammers and people selling legal and illegal drugs," says Mike Power, author of a new book, Drugs 2.0: The Web Revolution that is changing the Way the World Gets High, which is published in 2012. "The innovation is constant and the chemistry is infinite. It's so beyond the knowledge of any normal police officer or politician, I pity them having to deal with it."
Harry Shapiro of the charity Drug Scope says consumers of legal highs should not assume they are legal – or any safer than illegal drugs. "Don't be taken in by the marketing," says Shapiro. "However these products are marketed – whether as legal or safe alternatives to cannabis and ecstasy – treat them with utmost caution…”
BBC Investigation
As part of a BBC investigation, BBC “Inside Out” legally ordered £640 of chemicals from China, packaged in a bag labelled: "Harmful if swallowed” “May damage an unborn child”. “Avoid breathing dust and fumes” and “If exposed, call a poison centre".
Experts told the programme these are the type of chemicals that are sold in 1g bags for £15 each in London - meaning the £640 of these chemicals from China could have a London street value of £15,000.
Dr Owen Bowden-Jones, founder of the Club Drug Clinic at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, said: "We may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg. The concern I have is that in two or three years, we'll begin to see the consequences of the harm that's going on now,"
Dr John Ramsey, a toxicologist at St George's Hospital, described how there are dozens of types of untested and sometimes deadly chemicals that are being sold legally in London.
"We put a urinal in Wardour Street in Soho and found 60 different drugs in there," he said. "They've never been evaluated as drugs anywhere in the world before," he added. "People can't possibly know the risks of the compounds they're taking."
Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) drugs spokesman Tim Hollis said: "Kids are sending around party invites with a link on where to buy your drugs.
Katie Wilson, 19, from east London, described her experience of taking the now banned drug Benzo Fury."I got a lot of euphoria, happiness, I presumed like ecstasy," she said. "After the Benzo had worn off, I swore I was going to die.”
“I went in to Tesco naked and assaulted a police officer. "They asked me what sort are you on? Heroin, Crack, Crystal meth?"
Legal Highs
By David Lancaster
The effects and consequences
The names of legal
highs to look out for:
EM2 (30 or 20 capacity)
Dimethocaine (Dnc)
Energy- 3 (NRG-3_
Energy-2 (NRG-2)
Benzo Fury 3
MDAI
RAZ