Drugs A-Z

Legal Highs (or New Psychoactive Substances)

History

A vast range of drugs are available to buy in 'head shops' (shops selling legal drugs or drug using paraphernalia) and over the internet. However, the intense media interest & the misinformation produced in the press has led to an upsurge in both the use of substances themselves and moral panics around the dangers inherent in such drug use.

The speed of development, production and marketing of these substances is very fast and many countries are toiling to identify and ban them before widespread use amongst their populations. In the UK the government has introduced a ‘Temporary Class Drug Order' where the Home Secretary can effectively ban a substance which the government believes may cause harm. This makes it an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for most aspects of importing and selling such substances but not for simple possession.

Confusion reigns supreme

To add to the confusion is that, to get around the Misuse of Drugs Act these substances are branded as ‘Plant Food' or ‘Pot Pouri' and labelled ‘not for human consumption' although they are sold in multiples of grams or sold with pipettes which would be useless for the stated purposes. Further adding to the confusion is the branded products such as Ivory Wave and NRG1 which are stated to have one substance in them and after analysis are found to contain completely different chemicals.

This is a fast moving area of research and development and Crew are part of national and international efforts to get reliable and credible harm reduction information out to both the consumers and the health professionals who often have to deal with the more negative aspects of peoples use, such as when people overdose or experience other adverse health effects.

There are far too many Legal Highs to detail individually, but like their illegal counterparts they can fit into three main categories: stimulants, psychedelics and depressants. Additionally there are two forms:

Herbal preparations: plants and plant preparations which have been used for centuries in different cultures around the world and increasingly plant materials being sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids such as Spice (now illegal)

Laboratory produced substances: which have largely grown out of the rave and stimulant using cultures. Increasingly these are being produced in the Far-East and are available through ‘Head Shops' or the internet and come under the names of Research Chemicals.

Legal Stimulants (uppers):

Aka

Doves, Part-e-Pills, Ephedrine, Sidi Cordifolia and many, many more. Some are already banned and now there is the growing list of those that are going into the temporary class orders.

Description

Most often small white pills that intentionally look like illegal ecstasy tablets or powders that are similar to cocaine. Herbal preparations are also available. These are by far the most popular legal highs available.

Effects

These drugs are usually designed to mimic the effects of ecstasy - the success of this however is questionable, especially the creation of a 'loved up' effect.

Effects usually begin 20-30 minutes after ingestion. Energy is produced in users by stimulating the central nervous system. Heart rate, body temperature and breathing all increase and pupils become dilated. Sought after effects include euphoria, increased energy, talkativeness. Hunger will also be suppressed and users may be unable to get to sleep.

Heavy or long term use may result in anxiety, nervousness, paranoia and insomnia. It is often reported that many stimulant legal highs produce long, harsh comedowns.

Harm Reduction

• Find out what you are taking. Although ingredients are rarely given with legal highs - check out www.erowid.org which may have some info to help you identify your legal highs. Log on and give it a try!
• If dancing keep hydrated with water and take time to cool off.
• Easy does it! Effects may take up to one hour, don't top up before then.
• Dangers increase greatly if mixing with other drugs, legal or illegal.
• You may not feel the effects of alcohol, but could be really drunk when the effects of stimulants wear off.
  
• Always buy from a reputable vendor who is happy to give information and advice.

Psychedelics (hallucinogens):

Aka

Salvia divinorum, flyagaric mushrooms, datura, morning glory, ayahuasca, soma spliffs and many others. Yohimbe is a stimulant/psychedelic.

Description

May be mushrooms, herbal preparations to smoke or eat, tablets or capsules.

Effects

Much is still unknown about exactly how psychedelics work but in general they confuse messages to the brain. If smoked these drugs take effect almost instantly, if eaten effects will begin 20-30 mins later.

Psychedelics cause perceptual changes of sights, sounds, colours, time, taste and thinking. Some varieties try to mimic the effects of cannabis and may also relax users. High doses will often cause hallucinations and may lead to anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia.

It is possible that these drugs will lead to psychological disturbances or may trigger latent mental health problems.

Harm reduction:

• Use www.erowid.com to find out what you are taking.
• Check the strength - some products are sold in different strengths and some (especially salvia divinorum) can be very strong
• Easy does it! If swallowing, eating or drinking products wait one hour for full effects. Don't top up before then
• Make sure you are feeling well before taking psychedelics. Be in a safe place where surprises are unlikely and around friends you know well and trust. This will greatly reduce the chances of having a bad trip
  
• Do not take any of these drugs if you suffer from mental health problems or have a family history of depression
• The dangers are increased and effects are more unpredictable if you mix drugs, legal or illegal
• Always buy from a reputable shop which are happy to give information and advice.

Depressants (downers):

Ak: a Kratom, GBL* (*Now banned but still contained in some commercially available preparations)

Description

Depressants are very limited in their availability. Often only kratom is sold (although there may be others), we will concentrate on this here. Kratom is sold in different strengths and forms. Spliffs for smoking, leaves for eating and making into a tea and powder for eating or mixing into food and drink. All foms are green to dark green.

Effects

Kratom acts much like a mild opiate (morphine type drug) and has all the attendant effects and dangers. It is often marketed as a stimulant however this is a paradoxical effect and a dangerously wrong classification.

If smoked effects appear very quickly though this form is very mild. If eaten/ drunk effects begin after 20-30 minutes. Heart rate, breathing and reaction times decrease. Pupils become constricted and physical and emotional pain reduces. Users may feel drowsy, sleepy or drift in and out of consciousness (gouching).

High doses may lead to vomiting and sickness. At very high doses respiratory depression and death may occur although as yet no deaths have been recorded. Long term daily use will lead to tolerance, dependence and withdrawal effects, although this is less likely than with the illegal opiates.

Harm reduction:

• Wait one hour for the full effects before topping up
• Mixing with other drugs, especially depressants, greatly increases the dangers
• Limit use - everyday long term use will lead to dependence, physical and psychological
• Products are sold in different strengths - make sure to check the strength
• Always buy from a reputable shop which are happy to give information and advice

The Law

Legal highs are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but age limits 18 plus apply. Most products however are controlled under the MHRA (Medicines and Health Regulation Act) if sold for human consumption.

These products are legal to own and consume, but are legally classified as medicines therefore their sale and supply should be regulated. This is the reason that most products are described as air freshener, plant feeder and the like or specifically state not for human consumption - it is an attempt to avoid regulation under the MHRA.

Many legal highs will eventually become illegal. Ketamine and GHB have recently been reclassified. The real irony is that the manufacturers, importers and salesmen calling these drugs 'legal' are all in danger of prosecution and two years in prison for supplying medicines without the correct licences!!