Lancashire drug experts warn of after effects of ‘legal high’ (From Chorley Citizen)

Lancashire drug experts warn of after effects of ‘legal high’

9:47am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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LANCASHIRE drug support experts are set to warn youngsters about mephedrone in schools.

Chris Lee, from the Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), said his organisation had major worries over the ‘emerging prevalence’ of the so-called legal high, particularly among young people.

He said: “We fund educational posts across Lancashire and those people will ensure that children are given accurate information about mephedrone as part of the ongoing programme we operate.

“We know at the moment that the drug is linked to the dance and youth scene. But one of the main problems is that it is so easy to buy.

“It is a drug that we want to understand more because the trend for using this drug appears to be growing rapidly since it first emerged last summer.”

He outlined what they had learned about its effects so far: “We have built up a picture that the effects are similar to ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamine.

“After effects include insomnia and bad moods but with increased use we know that in some cases there have been hallucinations. When people buy this drug you don’t know what the level of purity is. There is no ingredient list and even if there was most people would have no idea what any of the items were.”

A search for mephedrone on the internet shows it can be bought legally for around £11 a gram.

Substances such as Spice, which uses a synthetic version of THC, a chemical in cannabis, and other substances such as BZP and GBL, are chemical variations of illegal drugs.

Mephedrone has emerged in the last year and experts believe its chemical formula is ‘two tweaks’ away from ecstasy.

Police Superintendent Terry Woods said they were a close eye on the government’s response. He said: “A lot of the time when the drug is seized we do not know what it is until it is analysed. Anyone who is caught in possession of a white powder substance is likely to be arrested on suspicion of having class A drugs.

“It is not designed for human consumption and there is not a lot known about the effects of the drug on humans.”