FRANK advice on legal highs

There's been quite a bit of media coverage lately about so called 'legal highs' so we’ve teamed up with FRANK to bring you the facts.

What are 'legal highs'?

'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. They are however, considered illegal under current medicines legislation to sell, supply or advertise for "human consumption". To get round this sellers refer to them as research chemicals, plant food, bath crystals or pond cleaner.

In many cases, 'legal highs' have been designed to mimic class A drugs, but are structurally different enough to avoid being classified as illegal substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

An example of this is mephedrone. The substance was created in a lab to mimic the effects of cocaine or ecstasy, but it had a slightly different chemical structure to both of these drugs so that it would not fall under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Subsequently the government passed legislation so that mephedrone became a controlled substance meaning it’s now illegal to possess, give away or sell.

Why is there concern about 'legal highs'?

• Just because a drug is legal to possess, it doesn’t mean it’s safe.

• There has been very little research into the short, medium and long term risks of the various ‘legal highs’. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that they are far from harmless and can have similar health risks to drugs like cocaine, ecstasy and speed.

• Risks of ‘legal highs’ can include reduced inhibitions, drowsiness, excited or paranoid states, coma, seizures, and death.

• These risks are increased if used with alcohol or other drugs.

• It is likely that drugs sold as a ‘legal high’ may actually contain one or more substances that are actually illegal to posses. What you may think is a legal high that you can’t get in trouble for having, could be something completely different, and in fact a class B drug.

'Legal Highs' and the law

As many legal highs' can look very similar to illegal drugs, such as cocaine and speed, if the police find a ‘legal high’ in your possession they are entitled to confiscate it for testing and to detain you for questioning, or even arrest you.