A snapshot of novel psychoactive substances (legal highs) use in London

Over the past ten years, there has been an increase in a type of drug use known as ‘legal highs’. These substances include synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones as well as other amphetamine type stimulants. Legal highs were created as replacements for recreational drugs (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis and mimic ecstasy a nd cocaine. The manufacturers of these substances are unregulated and subsequently the potency, toxicity and effects vary greatly (Abdulrahim and Bowden-Jones 2015).
Source: International Emergency Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Source Type: research