Legals highs are designed to mimic the effect of illegal drugs. Many people mistakenly believe that it is safer to use these than high street drugs as they are 'allowed' to be used. In fact, almost all labels on the products used for legals highs warn buyers not to consume the product in any way. These drugs can be bought by anyone of any age, which makes them incredibly dangerous. On average, only 3 out of 5 bags looked at by the police contained what they said on the label.
Many emergency calls are now being made about people on drugs, whether they be legal or illegal, and have been reported at all hours of the day (not just at night). Addressing the issues caused by legal highs are described by police as 'probably one of our greatest demands now'.
Horror Stories
- 'Spice' is a synthetic alternative to cannabis but it has more serious side effects. Hallucinations have been reported as well as paranoid thinking. One caller said someone who had smoked a legal high was found frothing at the mouth.
- One male with a legal-high drug addiction stated to medics"You don't understand. I'm like this cause I haven't had it. This is what happens when I've not had it for a couple of hours". The young man had been found vomiting blood, after missing a dose of legal highs. He had been addicted to 'pandora's box' , another alternative to cannabis for 14 months, smoking 4-5 bags a day. It claims the same mellow high as cannabis.
- Methoxphenedine was taken by a man who was unable to use hand eye co ordination to raise his hand to his mouth (for example to have a cigarette)
- A legal high addict admits that when she is not high she is unwell; "I'm normally sick I'm normally sweating, I'll panic". Woman bit another user in the heat of an argument because she "got in my face". She also pulled a chunk of hair out of the other woman's head. Patch 4 inches long on woman's scalp. The woman served a prison sentence.
A popular synthetic version of cannabis, but the strain may be much stronger than it's natural (and illegal) alternative. Using the drug may have few consequences legally (you may not go to prison for substance abuse) but physically and mentally there are clearly much bigger issues related to the drug than found in cannabis users.
2. PANDORA'S BOX
As this synthetic alternative is cheaper than cannabis it is more appealing to consumers, but is said to have terrible withdrawal symptoms, on par with crack and heroin. It is described as bieng "Up with class A drugs" by police, and heroin users say the legal stuff is worse than their habit.
3. METHOXPHENEDINE
Not yet researched enough to know the full risks posed by the drug.
4. SIDE EFFECTS
Highly addictive and bringing pain to users if they stop using,
legal highs are quickly becoming a growing issue in
Britain.
It's difficult to treat users when the chemical makeup has
been altered - this can be a slight change making substances that would
otherwise be illegal, legal. People using these substances are warned
that they are treating themselves "Like human guinea-pigs". People can
become quickly violent. Emergency services seeing a rise in victims
whose attackers were on legal highs. Users usually can't remember the
experience at all, being appalled at their own behaviour hours later.
On The Street...
Street drinkers are also moving onto legal highs as they are more affordable than alcohol and street drugs. Users would also be more likely to be arrested for taking illegal highs such as cocaine. Officers describe the habit as being like teasing law enforcement: 'look at me, I'm taking this right infront of you and there's nothing you can do about it!'
Emergency services say it is "Like something you'd see in a computer game. Like zombies walking down the street."
Online...
The Government can make the substances illegal and shut down the shops but the substances will still be available online. A friend of a user says that you can simply "Order what you want, what amount you want and get it delivered within 3 days."
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