THE use of ‘legal highs’ is on the up among street drinkers and substance abusers in the town.

That’s according to Wiltshire Police who said they have received numerous reports from drug treatment agenciesand other groups. The effect of the substances is causing concern among health professionals.

Sergeant Paul Saunders, of the town centre policing team, said little reliable information was available about legal highs.

“The taking of any illicit substances, as well as being illegal, is fraught with danger, but the use of substances which purport to be legal can be just as risky,” he said.

“People selling such drugs usually provide little information about what they’re made of, their side effects or how safe they are to take. In many cases, the seller will not actually know the answer to these questions.

“As it is not known for certain what’s in any particular ‘legal high’. There is no way of knowing whether it is legal. ”

He said the drugs were often deliberately made to look similar to illegal drugs, which meant that if officers found someone in possession of them, and suspected they were illegal, they could be confiscated for testing, and the individual arrested.

If tests reveal the substance is illegal to possess or supply, the person would be at risk of a criminal conviction.

Bram Tout, service manager for Inclusion drug service, said: “The term legal high is bad, because people make the connection between legal and safe.

“These substances are often anything but. They have not been registered, not undergone clinical trials and can have similar effects to mainstream illegal substances. In fact, in many cases they are manufactured specifically to replicate the effects of illegal substances.

“There have been some near misses, where people using these drugs have experienced life threatening effects.”

The substances generally act like stimulants and are usually taken to induce euphoria and empathy, but can result in anxiety, paranoia, and over- stimulation of the heart and circulatory system.

Other symptoms include over-heating, severe sickness and vomiting.

Sgt Saunders said: “These substances can be dangerous, the tag ‘legal’ does not necessarily mean that it is, and can be no guarantee that it means it is safe.

“If you smoke, ingest or inject a substance like this, you are taking a risk with your life, which will have a profound effect on those around you.”

If you or anyone that you know is experiencing problems with drugs, contact DHI on 0845 970 4830 or visit www.dhi-online.org.uk. If you are experiencing issues with alcohol misuse, call SWADS on 01793 695405.

If you have information relating to drug, call Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.