Scots shops stop sale of lethal ‘legal highs’
EVERY shop in Scotland known to have sold so-called ‘legal highs’ has stopped peddling the deadly drugs.
More than 90 retailers no longer sell them after a blanket ban came into force three months ago.
The change in legislation, which means anyone caught selling ‘legal highs’ – also known as new psychoactive substances (NPS) – faces up to seven years in prison, came after years of campaigning.
Official figures show that last year alone there were 74 deaths linked to the use of the drugs. Three were believed to have been the direct result of taking so-called legal highs.
Deputy Chief Constable Ruaraidh Nicolson said: ‘Police Scotland has been monitoring the sale and supply of new psychoactive substances since 2013 and identified over 90 retailers who were involved or suspected to be involved in the sale of NPS across Scotland.
‘All were visited a week prior to the legislation taking effect to serve an educational letter and five premises across Scotland were found to be openly selling NPS.
‘A week after the legislation was introduced, the same retailers were visited once again and none were found to be openly selling NPS.’
Newsagents and even furniture shops were among the premises which had previously been selling the substances, police said.
Across the UK overall, 308 shops are no longer selling the drugs, and 24 ‘headshops’ – premises selling the drugs as one of the mainstays of their business – have closed.
A blanket ban on legal highs came into force exactly three months ago, on May 26.
Offenders can face up to seven years in prison under the Psychoactive Substances Act, which criminalises the production, distribution, sale and supply of the drugs.
Westminster Safeguarding Minister Sarah Newton said: ‘These dangerous drugs have already cost far too many Scottish lives. I am delighted to see so many retailers denied the chance to profit from this reckless trade.
‘The Psychoactive Substances Act is sending out a clear message – this Government will take whatever action is necessary to keep our families and communities safe. These drugs are not legal, they are not safe and we will not allow them to be sold in this country.’
The National Crime Agency had taken action to shut down websites found to be in breach of the ban, and was working with international partners to address sites based overseas, the Home Office said.
Despite the ban, we revealed last month how hospitals in Scotland are still treating an average of two victims of legal highs a week, according to official figures. People have been taken to hospital suffering from psychotic episodes, liver disease, chest pains and deep skin infections, prompting fears there is a new black market selling the substances.
Health boards reported hospital admissions due to legal highs including ‘herbal ecstasy’ and ethylphenidate, or ‘legal crack’.
In the year before the law change, 94 people were taken to hospital in Greater Glasgow and Clyde having taken a legal high – an average of nearly two a week.