Top Narcotics Banned In UK, Known As 'Legal Highs'

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Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals
Article Date: 21 Aug 2010 - 1:00 PDT

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James Brokenshire, UK minister for crime prevention is giving law enforcement authorities additional powers to combat a worryingly growing wave of legal highs, types of new narcotics which are usually legal when they arrive in the market because regulatory authorities have not yet had time to either approve or ban them.

Sometimes, several months may have passed before authorities detect a new substance and consequently ban it. The UK government says it aims to reduce that interval by allowing the police and other enforcement agencies to issue immediate 12-month bans on new substances, or at least until those substance can be reviewed by regulatory agencies.

The UK Home Office said that for the first time the government will be able to react swiftly with temporary 12-month bans as new substances emerge. A Home Office press release stated that "..the bans will send a clear message to users that these substances carry a risk and will prevent new chemicals becoming widely available.".

The new legislation will give the police the authority to confiscate suspected substances and chemicals, the UK Border Agency will also be able to seize shipments entering the country.

Individuals convicted of supplying will have a maximum 14-year prison sentence and an unlimited fine, the Home Office informs.

People caught possessing but not distributing/supplying temporarily banned substances (for personal use) will not be committing a criminal offence.

Minister for crime prevention James Brokenshire said:

The drugs market is changing and we need to adapt current laws to allow us to act more quickly.

The temporary ban allows us to act straight away to stop new substances gaining a foothold in the market and help us tackle unscrupulous drug dealers trying to get round the law by peddling dangerous chemicals to young people.

However, anyone tempted to try a legal high must understand it is not safe or sensible to take a substance when you do not know what it is or what is in it - especially when some are claimed to be pond cleaner or bath salts.

The deaths of two young people in the UK and Sweden have been linked to legal highs, and most probably they have contributed to up to 30 UK deaths, authorities say.

This week, Michael Bishton, 24, a chef, died after taking Ivory Wave, a legal high substance. His body was found in Whitecliff Bay, near Bembridge, Isle of Wight, on Saturday.

Tim Hollis, of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said his association welcomed plans to introduce temporary bans on legal highs.

The Home Office says legal highs are "the next battle against drugs".

Source: Home Office (UK)

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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