MPs speak out over availability of legal highs in York

The shop sells research chemicals in the form of incense and powder to anyone over the age of 18 despite warning buyers the drugs are "not for human consumption".

York's MPs have spoken out against the sale of the controversial substances, which are packaged in eye-catching designs with appealing names like Train Wreck, Pink Panthers and Gogaine and displayed inside a glass counter.

A manager at the shop's head office told The Press they sell them because they are profitable but do not hand them over if they believe someone intends to consume the drugs.

When the manager was asked why people would buy research chemicals for any other purpose but to take them, he declined to comment.

He said: "We sell them because of their high profit margin.

"I'm not aware of anyone taking them and if we think they are going to take them we don't sell them.

"We trust that people are responsible."

The Press is not naming the shop concerned in York, to prevent generating further publicity. Its owners are complying with legislation and are allowed to sell the synthetic drugs for as little as £7.99.

The Press found the same chemicals on a website which heavily associated them with being consumed at raves.

The increasing use of research chemicals in recent years has come to light following the deaths of students and teenagers taking the drugs at parties across the country.

As recently as last month four teenagers from Doncaster were taken ill after taking unknown substances.

James Hall set up the York Against Legal Highs Facebook page in response to what he believes is a growing problem in York.

He said: "Legal highs are not safe, the death toll from them is rising rapidly and hospital admissions are on the increase.

"There needs to be some action now to prevent the situation escalating out of control in York, if nothing is done then it is only going to get worse with more people ending up in hospital.

"Shops say they are novelty items and 'not for human consumption' as a legal loophole, however, this defence will not stand up in court, as shown by a recent test case brought by Kent Council where a legal high shop was prosecuted under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 which makes it an offence to sell an unsafe product.

"The court ruled the legal highs are unsafe and the shop knew full well they were being used for human consumption."

Dr Andrew Field, a GP at York Medical Group, believes people could die if they take the chemicals.

He said: “There’s hundreds of new molecules being marketed as legal highs, most of which are produced in laboratories in Eastern Europe in unmanaged conditions.

“Therefore, you are dealing with pharmaceuticals which are not proper and not safe and you are dealing with a mixed bag of chemicals which are not tried or tested on animals or humans, and the effect they have is unpredictable.

“Most people can take them and have effects which are desirable, but there’s always a risk that you will be the person that could have a fatal reaction.

“You are taking a chance and they could cause a heart attack or respiratory arrest.”

Dr Field is calling on the shop to stop selling the research chemicals.

“What this shop is doing is really irresponsible,” he added. “It’s mercenary and bang out of order.

“You can produce a batch of chemicals and there will always be some kind of impurity so you have to be really careful.”

Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, said the sale of the drugs must be tackled.

He said: "The risks posed by so-called ‘legal highs’ should not be understated.

"It is unacceptable that these drugs are still available over the counter in York, as they pose very serious dangers to the people taking them.

"We must fight the sale and use of these dangerous substances through legislation and education. I was pleased by the Home Office’s announcement in October that this Government will be developing proposals for a blanket ban on ‘legal highs’, similar to that introduced in Ireland in 2010."

Hugh Bayley, MP for York Central, added: "Taking non-medicinal drugs is dangerous and leads people to visit hospital or worse.

"This shop is treading a careful path around the clear intention of the law simply to make a profit out of what could turn to human misery.

"The law needs to be changed and retailers should act more responsibly."

Det Insp Jason Marchant, of North Yorkshire Police, added: "Some of these substances have already been banned but the ones that are in circulation are potentially dangerous as they haven’t been tested and nobody can be sure what is in them."

Matt Boxall, City of York Council's trading standards manager, said: "We urge people not to be fooled into thinking that these ‘legal highs’, as they are called, are safe to take.

"Testing has shown that there is very little quality control and their chemical make up can vary enormously."

What are your experiences of 'legal highs'? Email alexander.ross@thepress.co.uk

Police taking threat seriously

A CRACKDOWN on the sale of so-called legal highs is being carried out by police who say they are taking the issue “very seriously”.

The research chemicals have been found on sale in York but detectives say they cannot be sure if they are safe.

Det Insp Jason Marchant, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Legal highs are an emerging issue and one which we are taking very seriously.

“However the term ‘legal high’ is misleading as it suggests the substance is therefore safe to use.

“They are not and I prefer to use the formal description of ‘New Psychoactive Substances’ (NPS).

“One of the main areas we are clamping down on is the sale of these substances to young people.

“A number of shops in North Yorkshire have already been shut down for committing such an offence and we will continue to work with our partners at local councils and Trading Standards to take action against any other outlets found to be doing the same.

“We are also focusing our efforts on educating children in schools about the dangers of NPS and I urge parents to help us to reinforce that message at home.”

Matt Boxall, City of York Council’s trading standards manager, said: “We urge people not to be fooled into thinking that these ‘legal highs’, as they are called, are safe to take. Testing has shown there is very little quality control and their chemical make-up can vary enormously.

“There have been many tragedies associated with the use of these products and people must not consume them.

“Our officers are interested in speaking to anybody with complaints about a product they have purchased: we investigate the warnings and other circumstances surrounding the sale. Anyone wishing to report a product to Trading Standards can do so by calling the Citizens Advice helpline on 08454 040506.”