Warning not to mix alcohol and ‘legal highs’

lethal cocktail: New psychoactive substances could be fatal if combined with festive season drinking

A leading drugs charity in Dundee has warned a cocktail of so-called legal highs and alcohol could prove fatal this New Year.

Addaction service manager Dave Barrie was speaking after figures released by NHS Tayside in response to a Freedom of Information inquiry revealed 1,628 people have been treated for the effects of taking new psychoactive substances since 2012.

New psychoactive substances are synthetic drugs created to mimic the effect of narcotics such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy as well as prescription drugs such as Valium.

Legislation was introduced in 2016 to ban the sale of legal highs in shops but the drugs are readily available online.

Mr Barrie said people could be risking their lives by taking the drugs and drinking alcohol over the New Year period.

It comes after a 14-year-old boy was admitted to Ninewells Hospital in a critical condition after taking a red and white capsule before Christmas.

A 13-year-old also required medical treatment from his GP after taking a similar pill.

Mr Barrie said: “It is a big group of drugs – new psychoactive substances covers a lot of different substances.

“We reckon there are about 500 new psychoactive substances and the number of people being treated is obviously disturbing.

“The amount of people being admitted for that group of drugs is certainly alarming.

“People are admitted because they are seriously unwell.

“These drugs are potent and extremely dangerous.”

Mr Barrie said many people still wrongly believed new psychoactive substances were not as dangerous as other drugs.

He said: “There is a lot of misinformation and a lot of myths around this group of drugs.

“They are quite widely available through the internet and through street sellers but there is probably a sense that this group is less dangerous.

“The NPS group is a bit easier to buy in bulk. People start taking these drugs but they don’t know the strength and the purity can change from day to day.

“People are putting themselves at more risk of overdose or serious physical or psychological harm.”

And he warned people that the drugs could be deadly if combined with drink.

Anyone who has concerns about drug use should contact Addaction on Dundee 202888.

Picture: Kim Cessford. Addaction service manager Dave Barrie says people can become seriously unwell after taking NPS.