A MAN who injected himself with legal highs died shortly afterwards, prompting police to warn about the dangers of unknown substances.

Simon Morse, of Marney Road, had been known to police in the area for some time and was a habitual drug user, but passed away after acquiring what is believed to be a legal high.

42-year-old Mr Morse was pronounced dead on August 18 at GWH.

A warning has been issued to members of the public reminding them of the dangers of so-called legal highs, which will often contain hazardous substances.

PC Steven Yeates, beat manager for West Swindon, said that drugs are often reclassified quickly and users may not be aware what is currently illegal.

“It is a sorry case and it goes to show that you never know what is in these things,” he said. “Some people think they have got legal drugs.

“There are substances such as ketamine and mkat which used to be legal highs but are now very much illegal.

“As these things are coming on to the market the law is being changed to catch up with them and will very quickly criminalise them.

“He had been known to police and he was known to be a Class A drug user. If he got his hands on legal highs he has tried to do the same thing with them and inject them.

“The real danger with legal highs, as with any other drug, is that nobody knows what they are buying and putting into their body. It simply isn’t worth the risk.”

Inspector Paul Saunders said: “Even though these drugs might not be illegal, it is difficult to know what is in them and the affect they might have on an individual.

“I would urge everyone to steer clear of illegal drugs and legal highs as the risks simply are not fully known.

“If people are intent on taking legal highs we urge them to not use them alone, not to mix with alcohol and seek medical attention if you begin to feel unwell.

“ I would also ask that anyone with information as to where these substances are being sold to contact us.”

Family lead campaign for tighter laws

MOVES have been made to get to grips with the legal highs industry, in particular after the death of 23-year-old Chris Scott in July last year.

Chris died last summer after taking alpha-methyltriptamine, commonly known as AMT.

His family have been campaigning for more rigourous criminalisation ever since, and welcomed a full-scale Government review last December into how the industry should be regulated.

His father Mike 49, said: “Legal highs go straight on to the market and worry about the consequences afterwards.

“It seems the UK is one of the biggest importers.” 

In June, Government drug advisors called for a full ban on AMT and sister drugs, known as tryptamines, and classifying them as Class A drugs.

A new legal high, likened to crystal meth, flooded Swindon earlier this year, when two people were hospitalised with psychotic episodes after taking it.

The cathinone-compound drug, nicknamed ‘Crystal’, is now believed to be largely absent from the town after drugs squads seized three kilograms  in May.