Transcript Legal Highs - Scottish Drugs Forum

Legal Highs
Dr. Paul Skett
Forensic Pharmacologist
Glasgow Expert Witness
Service
Outline
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Legal Highs – What are they?
Legal Highs – What do they do?
Legal Highs – toxicity?
What is the problem?
Legal Highs – What are
they?
• Legal Highs are substances that
mimic the effects of illegal drugs of
abuse but are not (at present)
covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act
1971.
• Substances that mimic heroin,
cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines,
ecstasy, benzodiazepines (e.g.
diazepam, temazepam), LSD.
Legal Highs – What are
they?
• Can range from herbal extracts
that contain caffeine e.g.
guarana, which are relatively
benign to highly toxic synthetic
chemicals.
Legal Highs – What are
they?
• Pharmaceutical companies
spend billions of pounds trying
to find and test new drugs – the
finding is easy – testing costs
the money!
• Just need to look for similar but
different structures
• Let’s look at an example
Mephedrone –vAmphetamine
Amphetamine
Mephedrone –vAmphetamine
Mephedrone
Amphetamine
Mephedrone – what does
it do?
• Designed to resemble
amphetamine but actually has a
mixture of properties similar to
ecstasy and cocaine
• Euphoria, heightened
awareness, alertness,
talkativeness, empathy
Mephedrone – what does
it do?
• Side effects – increased blood
pressure, anxiety, paranoia,
hallucinations, depression, fits,
memory deficits.
Mephedrone
• Added to Misuse of Drugs Act
1971 on 16th April 2010 as well
as other cathinones – i.e this
was a generic regulation.
• So what did the suppliers do?
Naphyrone
• Suppliers had
another
substance
waiting!
• Not in Misuse
of Drugs Act
1971
• Added in June
2010
Misuse of Drugs Act
1971
• Government now suggest
“temporary” ban on “legal
highs” – to allow “research” to
be done to ascertain dangers.
• Will this work?
Other “Legal Highs”
• Anandamide – “legal” derivative
of cannabis
• Fluorotropacocaine – “legal”
derivative of cocaine
• All covered by Medicines Act
1968 if to be ingested – but
often sold as “plant food”, “pond
cleaner”, “bath salts”
What’s the problem?
• The word “legal”
– legal suggests “safe”
- “legal” draws in wider user
base
- few, if any, actually tested for
toxicity
- many have serious adverse
effects
What’s the problem?
• Huge market – difficult to judge
accurately but in the £ billions
• Largely in hands of criminal
gangs – evidence at present is
main source is China
• Many new substances waiting
in the wings
What’s the problem?
• Not actually sure what you are
getting
• New one out “Ivory Wave” –
marketed as bath salts
- no analysis as yet but word on
the street is it is MPDV –
methylenedioxypyrovalerone
- actually a Class B drug
The Way Forward?
• Increasing pressure from many
sides to move towards
decriminalising drug abuse
- it is a MEDICAL problem
- supply pure, tested substances
e.g. heroin, cannabis, ecstasy,
cocaine
• Will society accept this?
My contact details
• Dr. Paul Skett
Forensic Pharmacologist
GEWS
46A, Carlton Place,
Glasgow G5 9TW.
• Tel: 0141-418 4325
Fax: 0141-418 0518
email: [email protected]