legally high?

www.crew2000.org.uk

Legally High?

WithScott Jardine D and G Police

Katy MacLeod- Training and Outreach Coordinator- Crew

What are legal highs?Legal Highs are substances made from assorted herbs, herbal extracts and ‘research chemicals’, which emulate the effects of some illegal drugs such as Cannabis, LSD, Cocaine, or others.

These substances are not currently controlled by the Misuse of Drugs or Medicine Acts.”

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Arthur & Grunert (2005)

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Terminology

Legal highs

New Psychoactive substances

Novel Psychoactive Substances

Research chemicals

Designer drugs

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Head shops

47 known head shops in Scotland

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ONLINE SALES OF NPS (Legal Highs)

Jan 2010 : 170 Online Shops

Jan 2011: 314 Online Shops

Jan 2012: 639 Online Shops

March 2013 : ???

www.crew2000.org.uk

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Source: EMCDDA, 2013

“Eric” the chemistPage 7

www.crew2000.org.uk

Current legislationUKMisuse of drugsMedicines actTemporary class drug ordersConsumer protection legislation

Ireland- New Psychoactive substances billNZ-Psychoactive Substances bill

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www.crew2000.org.uk

EnforcementNo Change to Police action

1/5 contain control drugs*

Purity

Adulterants

Festivals

Hospital admissions

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* Home Office, 2012

Novel Psychoactive substancesPage 10

www.crew2000.org.uk

NPS- how much a problem in Scotland?

We don’t know!!What we do know..

•Crime survey•Salsus•Global Drug Survey

People often don’t present at drug servicesPeople don’t report/aren’t asked

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Drugs Crew’s clients present withShop(harm reduction advice sessions)

Counselling Festival Crisis Intervention

Outreach survey(drug used most often)

Cannabis 34% Cannabis 57% Alcohol 75% Cannabis 42%

General NPS 23% Cocaine 31% Ecstasy/MDMA 33%

Alcohol 24%

Alcohol 15% Alcohol 13% Unknown 10% MDMA/Ecstasy 14%

MDMA 8% GHB/GBL 11% Cannabis 8% Cocaine 9%

Cocaine 6% General NPS 10% Cocaine 6% Mephedrone 4%

Steroids 3% Mephedrone 10% LSD/Mushrooms 6%

Ketamine 2%

Ketamine 2% Speed 10% Legal Highs 5% Valium 1%

Mephedrone 2% MDMA 6% Benzos 3% Speed 1%

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Club Drug ClinicPage 13

Amphetamine and cocaine replacements

Opiate and benzo replacements

Cannabis replacements

Ecstasy replacements

LSD and psychedelic

replacements

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04/21/23 17

The return of MDMA!

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Source: Images courtesy of SCDEA

Ecstasy

Still can find piperazines in Ecstasy tablets-include BZP, mcPP, TMFPP

PMA and PMMA has been found in some ecstasy tablets

More recently AMT/5-IT in tablets

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www.crew2000.org.uk

Source: Images courtesy of SCDEA

Why NPS?Able to buy onlineOther drugs unavailableValue for moneyQuality of other drugs poorBetter quality then illegal drugsLegal statusPrefer effectThink they are saferNo access to illegal drugsDog detection lessUrine screen detection less

www.crew2000.org.uk

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GDS, 2012

Synthetic versions often not preferred by users

Other drivers for use:LegalityDrug testsEase of purchase

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Intended effectsPage 22

www.crew2000.org.uk

Dissocociation/altered

perceptions

Euphoria

Relaxation

Elevated mood

Empathy/connection with others

Connection with music

Feelings of stimulation and

energy

Escapism

Side effects

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PalpitationsChest painBreathing

problemsHeadachesNauseaRenal issuesTachycardiaPeripheral

Vasoconstriction

CravingsAgitationIrritabilityRestlessnessInsomniaHallucinationsDepressionAnxietyParanoiaCrisis mental state

Ivory Wave poisoned patients

NPIS 2012

Presentation of toxicity - symptoms

NPIS 2012

The drug is only one part…

Effects on the user

(experiences & long term)

Set

DrugSetting

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www.crew2000.org.uk

Adapted from Norman Zinberg

OMG THAT TREE IS EATING THE SKY!!

Yeah, me neither. Where’d you get this

stuff Steve?

I’m not feeling anything…

A friend of a friend sold it to me, but it hasn’t hit me yet,

How ‘bout you Mike?

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High risk groups?

Users using to excessive levels

Naive users (young/new to NPS)

Users with underlying health issues

Poly drug usersInjectors

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Freestock image: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1334532

Other key issues

Active ingredients unknown

Dose

Duration of using episode

Plain stupidity!

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Some user perspectives..

www.crew2000.org.uk

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“It was like being inside a purple washing machine for 10 hours on high spin” unknown legal high user

“Synthetic varieties are surprisingly potent… it’s quite a chemical stone. I much prefer cannabis but I like the fact it doesn’t stink the place out like good grass does.” synthetic cannabinoid user

“I thought it was going to be like coke, I didn’t realise it was going to be trippy. I was looking for a high and I got a bloody high all right..” AMT user

Internet user forumsErowid

Bluelight

Pill reports

Drugs Forum

Partyvibes

Hundreds More…

www.crew2000.org.uk

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Harm reductionAdvice around administration routeTest dosing and dosage informationAvoid poly drug use including alcoholConsidering set and settingHaving a “sitter”Thinking about safe sex Getting home safelyGoing to sleep on their side

www.crew2000.org.uk

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TreatmentDrug counselling

Residential treatment

Fellowships and self help

Alternative therapies

Sleep management

Tapering strategies

Prescribing?

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www.crew2000.org.uk

Dumfries and Galloway

NPS Working Group set up in May 2012

Partnership Working

Briefing DocumentsEducation InputsSurvey MonkeyBasic Awareness for professionalsApp developmentConferenceED / Mental HealthCaffeine Based Drinks

Crew

Training packagesInformation and advice to professionals and staffDrug monitoring groupsCrew online “My Crew”Drugs database/Phone AppOngoing research in trends

www.crew2000.org.uk

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What can workers do?

Ask about new psychoactive substances

Its ok not to know therefore gain knowledge from service users

Appropriate signposting

Share local trends with DMG groups , Crew, Police and others

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www.crew2000.org.uk

What does the future hold ?Page 37

Potential dilemma:Less users and more problems

Or

More users and less problems(Moro, 2012)

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Questions?

www.crew2000.org.uk

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Contact details

www.crew2000.org.uk

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Scott Jardine 0845 600 5701scott.jardine@dg.pnn.police.uk

Katy MacLeod 0131 220 3404KatyM@crew2000.org.uk

AcknowledgementsThanks to:

The club drug clinic (London)Dr Adam Winstock The Global Drugs SurveyDr. John Ramsay TicTacMark Adley (The Drugs Wheel)SCDEAJames Dear-National Poisons information Service

References:EMCDDAEU DRUG MARKETS REPORT | A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS ANNUAL REPORT ON THE HOME OFFICE FORENSIC EARLY WARNING SYSTEM (FEWS)A SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCESI N THE UK

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