Incidents Relating To Legal Highs On Rise In North Lincolnshire
A worrying number of people are being hospitalised after taking the drugs and it's also behind a rise in anti-social behaviour incidents.
An increasing number of people in our region are taking legal highs and it's putting more and more pressure on local A & E services and is also behind a rise in anti-social behaviour incidents.
That's according to the North Lincolnshire Substance Misuse Team.
They've been working with police and Trading Standards to clamp down on the problem in the region.
Recently, more than 4,000 doses of New Psychotropic Substances (NPS) were seized from a store in Scunthorpe.
With the party season now underway, Stewart Atkinson who's from the North Lincolnshire Substance Misuse Team, is warning people about the dangers of taking such drugs. He told us:
"We've been alerted to legal highs being a problem in the region due to incidencies of people turning up at hospital to be treated in A & E with respiratory problems and seizures. Also expressing anti-social behaviour in the High Street area of Scunthorpe and elsewhere in the town which have been linked to psychoactive substances.
"In August this year, approximately 14 people went through A & E who had reported issues with legal highs. Then in the highs street we have had seven different commercial premises that have reported problems regarding anti-social behaviour around their properties through people taking legal highs.
"These substances actually say on their packets that they are not fit for human consumption so we urge people to listen to that message, it is there for a reason. We also strongly urge people not to mix these drugs.
“They are dangerous and can lead to serious health harms and in some cases death. We welcome plans under the new legislation banning the sale of synthetic drugs (NPS). This will assist us enormously in the work we do in trying to engage with people taking these substances and a lot of support available to people.
“If anyone is worried about someone they know who may be taking legal highs and would like some advice on what to do. Training is also available to groups and organisations around the effects of NPS. If you want to access this support call the North Lincolnshire Substance Misuse Team on 08081430640.”
Sergeant Howard Garlick said:
“Police have had numerous reports of anti-social behaviour linked to Marley's Head Shop in Scunthorpe and the potential use of drugs commonly known as legal highs. By seizing a large quantity of NPS under the Temporary Drugs Control Order we want to establish what substances people have been consuming and whether they are illegal under new legislation.”