"Legal highs gave me two heart attacks"
A new ban on legal highs comes into force in the UK today and we've been speaking to a man who suffered two heart attacks after taking Spice.
As a new blanket ban on legal highs comes into force today - Viking's been speaking to a man who had two heart attacks after taking the drug Spice.
Tom, as he wants to be known as, took the drug thinking it was a safe option to help overcome his depression.
But he's now been left with serious side effects and has up to a hundred headaches a day.
You can listen to Tom's story below:
Until today you could buy legal highs in head shops or online and you wouldn't be breaking the law.
But now anyone caught producing or selling them face up to seven years in prison.
It's to bring to an end the sale of psychoactive substances on the high street and also give police new powers to tackle the problem.
The Act covers any substance used for its psychoactive effects (getting high). This excludes nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and medicinal products.
The new legislation has been welcomed by the Humberside Strategic Drugs Group which has serious concerns about the impact of psychoactive substances on users and the community.
Superintendent Dave Houchin, Chair of the Humberside Strategic Drugs Group said:
“The term ‘legal highs’ is interpreted by some as meaning safe. Nothing could be further from the truth and by making substances illegal that were previously sold legitimately reflects widely held concerns about long term health effects of these products.”
Latest figures revealed deaths linked to legal highs have more than tripled in two years. The number increased over a 10-year period from 2004, with a total of 76 recorded during that time frame in England and Wales.
There was a "marked" rise between 2011 and 2013 when cases jumped from 7 to 23.
Men in their 20s were found to be most at risk, while the average age for deaths involving the drugs is 28 - 10 years younger than the average for illegal drugs.