‘Legal highs’ deaths on the rise - report

DEATHS linked to so-called legal highs in the UK have surged, according to a troubling new report.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Feb 2014, 17:11 BST

The number of cases in which novel psychoactive substances - otherwise known as legal highs - were identified as the cause of death rose from 10 in 2009 to 68 in 2012, according to data published in the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (NPSAD) report, compiled by experts at St George’s, University of London.

The figures, which include Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as England and Wales, also show the prevalence of the drugs in the post-mortem toxicology tests has increased from 12 in 2009 to 97 in 2012.

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Professor Fabrizio Schifano, spokesman for the NPSAD, said: “We have observed an increase in the number and range of these drugs in the post mortem toxicology results and in the cause of death of cases notified to us.

“These include amphetamine-type substances, dietary supplements, ketamine derivatives, among a host of others.

“The worrying trend is that these type of drugs are showing up more than ever before. Clearly this is a major public health concern and we must continue to monitor this worrying development.

“Those experimenting with such substances are effectively dancing in a minefield.”

The report comes after crime prevention minister Norman Baker MP launched a review of legal highs, which will consider widening legislation to boost police and law enforcement agencies’ powers.