The market in “legal highs” has grown over the
last three years – despite the 2007 UK ban on popular ingredient
benzylpiperazine.
Websites selling “legal highs” appear less
likely to carry safety warnings than they did three years ago, and
appear more likely to sell products without listing all the
ingredients.
Psychiatrists Dr Martin Schmidt and Dr Ken
Checinski, from St George’s University of London, examined whether
the BZP ban has had any effects on the marketing and availability
of “legal highs” in the UK. They present their findings today at
the Annual Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in
Liverpool.
“Legal highs” are legal psychoactive
substances which are packaged and sold for recreational use. They
are widely available on the internet and on the high street.
The two researchers extracted information from
the “legal highs” section of one well-known internet retailer over
several time points between 2006 and 2009. Over the three year
period, the total number of products on sale increased from 43 to
78.
During the same period, products containing
piperazines (including BZP) decreased from 17 (almost 40% of the
total) to 0. However, the number of products on sale with
undisclosed ingredients rose from 0 to 6 (almost 8%).
More brands of products appeared over the
three-year period, as did new routes of administration. For
example, in 2006 products were designed to be swallowed or smoked.
However, by 2009 additional products appeared which were designed
to be snorted or taken sublingually (under the tongue).
Worryingly, the amount of safety information
provided on the website decreased markedly between 2006 and 2009.
In 2006, over half of products carried warnings about possible side
effects and interactions with other drugs. However, in 2009 only
14% had warnings about side effects and 29% about possible
interactions.
Dr Schmidt and Dr Checinski said: “Despite the
UK ban on BZP, the market in “legal highs” has continued to grow,
with more products on sale now than before the ban. Of particular
concern is the reduction in the provision of safety information and
the rise in products with undisclosed ingredients. Our study
suggests while the BZP ban has led to a drop in the availability of
piperazines, it appears to have had several unintended
consequences”
Dr Schmidt is leading a follow up study
involving a larger number of UK websites. In addition a survey is
currently under way which examines the attitudes and experiences of
individuals who use “legal highs”. The survey is available at:
www.legalhighsurvey.co.uk
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
Annual Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, BT Convention Centre, Liverpool, 2 -5 June 2009