Lisburn gripped by legal highs

Lisburn has seen a recent increase in the abuse of ‘Legal Highs’. These are substances that mimic the effect of illicit drugs but are legal to possess. There is growing concern that these substances, which are widely available over the internet and in ‘headshops’, are being marketed as safer alternatives to illicit drugs and may become attractive to people who would not normally take drugs.

Gary McMichael is the Director of ASCERT, a charity based in Lisburn that provides services for people affected by substance misuse. He says, “Some people may see these so-called legal highs as a safer option than illicit drugs or they may think that because they are legal, it’s ok to use them, but the fact is there is no such thing as a safe drug and many of these substances can be addictive and harmful.”

“The term ‘legal high’ is misleading, as many of these substances are regulated by the medicines act and it is illegal for them to be sold for human consumption. The internet and so-called ‘head shops’ supply products that are promoted as plant supplements, room odourisers and other such things so that they can be sold legally, but they know they are intended to be misused.”

Street name Magic

One of the most widely available of these drugs is Mephedrone, which has a local streetname of ‘Magic’. It is also known as ‘M-CAT’ and ‘Meow’. This is a white powder which is sold as a ‘plant supplement’. It is a very strong stimulant which has effects similar to ecstasy and amphetamines. There are reports that it can be compulsive to use and causes a strong psychological dependence. Among the risks from its use are anxiety, paranoid episodes and a risk of overstimulating the heart, causing possible heart failure. Snorting it can cause severe nosebleeds.

Gary McMichael says, “We have a lot of anecdotal information coming in about Mephedrone. It has become quite widely available in the past six months or so. What we are hearing is that some people using are finding that they cant stop or use it in moderation. They will buy some to last a weekend, but use it all in one night. That would concern me about the potential addictive qualities of this substance. Also there are reports of it making some people aggressive, which of course poses risk of safety to themselves and others and the risk to the users mental health.”

Linked to deaths

Mephedrone has been linked to some deaths in other countries. While it is still a legal substance in the UK, Mephedrone has been banned in other countries, such as Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Isreal.

In December the government banned a number of other ‘Legal highs’. Ministers moved to classify a number of these them after a recommendation from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and fears about their risk to health.

Benzylpiperazine (BZP) which mimics the effects of ecstasy and Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), which has been cited as having been used in date rape cases and which has been linked to a number of deaths are now class C drugs, carrying a maximum two year prison sentence for possession. SPICE, a synthetic alternative to cannabis which has been classified as Class B. The PSNI seized more than 750 000 BZP in 2009.

If you suspect you child, family memember or friends is using this so called legal drug Mephedrone please feel free to call Ascert the Local charity that provides services for people affected by substance misuse.

The Public Health Agency has released a factsheet on legal highs, which you can download at www.publichealth.hscni.net  in their publication section or you can contact ASCERT on 028 9260 4422

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