Warning to Barrow youngsters about legal highs

Police in Barrow have teamed up with the NHS to issue a warning to local youngsters about the side effects of legal highs.

The warning comes after a group of 7 teenagers attended A&E in Furness General Hospital yesterday, Wednesday 19th October, after smoking an unknown substance which is believed to be known locally as ‘Black Mamba’. The substance is believed to be a new form of a ‘legal high’ although the contents of the substance and its exact effects are unknown.

The teenagers called an ambulance and attended hospital after some of them experienced effects such as nausea and racing hearts. All were released and were not detained.

Sgt Mark Rawlinson said: “We believe that the substance in question in this case is known as ‘Black Mamba’ and that it was purchased in Barrow.

“The use of legal highs is worrying - people should not assume that a substance is safe because it is currently regarded legal. People using substances like Black Mamba are taking serious risks - no-one knows what the drug is mixed with or the long-term effects that it can have and this instance highlights that the risk just isn’t worth it. The sensible and safe option is to avoid drugs and legal highs altogether.”

Dr Nigel Calvert is an Associate Director of Public Health. He said: “So-called ’legal highs’ such as Black Mamba are constantly in the news and new ones are being developed all the time. Just because they are not yet illegal does not mean that they are safe. On the contrary it just means that the substances mixed within the drug are not illegal, but they can still have a drastic effect on someone’s health and the effects are totally unknown.

“Although we’d advise people not to take drugs or ‘legal highs’ it is important that if anyone does decide to, that they are sensible and take precautions. People should always let someone trusted who isn’t under the influence of drink or drugs know what they are doing, so help can be sought if needed, and most importantly don’t mix the substance with any other, including alcohol, as this could have serious consequences.

“Both legal highs and illegal drugs are totally unregulated and this means that they can have untold affects on people’s health which might be instant or develop later in life. There are also no standards or regulations which oversee these substances, so there is no telling from one batch to another how strong it will be. This means if someone has taken a drug once and not had a bad experience does not mean that they will not have a strong reaction another time, as there is no telling how strong the drug will be.”