Colchester teenagers overdose on "legal highs"

8:41am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News

A MOTHER is pleading with teenagers to stop taking legal highs after her daughter’s overdose.


Police and paramedics were called to Lewis Gardens, next to Firstsite, at 4pm on Sunday, after the 14-year-old Stanway School pupil took the “herbal mixture” bought at Sheppards in Eld Lane, Colchester.
 

The product she took is legal to sell to those aged 18 or over but is considered dangerous by medical experts and police officers.
 

Insp Jim White, from Colchester police station, said: “I have got grave concerns about legal highs.


“I have been in contact with the council and there has been a lot of activity with trading standards also.”
 

Just one accident and emergency shift at Colchester General Hospital reported treating four teenagers in the last fortnight alone.

And the real number across all shifts is feared to be much higher.

The latest girl to be hospitalised is recovering.
 

See the full story in a special report in today's Gazette.

 

Comments(10)

SOMETHING2SAY says...
9:34am Tue 5 Mar 13

So Sheppards didnt ask for proof of age....so prosecute.!! What upbringing / class of pals does this girl have ??

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DelA says...
11:29am Tue 5 Mar 13

Even rich people take drugs!!

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Justice79 says...
1:31pm Tue 5 Mar 13

In the meantime how many people have been hospitalised after smoking a bit of pot? absolutely none. The drug laws in the country are a joke I'd rather buy a bit of illegal weed from a friend than trust the chemical laced 'legal highs' that have started popping up more and more

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wellnow says...
3:30pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Rather than looking into the wherefores of selling legal highs and giving the oh so righteous another soap box.the real culprit hear is the shop.the procedure for sale should always be no proof of age no sale

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romantic says...
3:47pm Tue 5 Mar 13

SOMETHING2SAY wrote:
So Sheppards didnt ask for proof of age....so prosecute.!! What upbringing / class of pals does this girl have ??
Kids of all social groups are prone to experiment with drugs. Unless you are literally with them 24 hours a day, it is very difficult to stop them joining in if friends are trying stuff out. Most people my age tried a bit of weed, and so maybe have a somewhat relaxed attitude to their kids trying things.

The problem is that these chemical highs, although technically legal, can be far stronger than the weed my generation puffed on. It can overwhelm the system.

It is better to accept that your kids may try things out, and make sure they are aware of the risks, rather than just saying "Don´t do it". That means if you have teenage kids, it´s up to you also to find out a bit more about what is out there now, rather than what was around when you were a teenager.

Most kids dabble in drugs, most are OK and move on. A few don´t. 40+ years of a "War on Drugs" has had little effect, so perhaps we should be looking at legalisation, so that quality can be monitored, and you don´t have to deal with dodgy people to buy.

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co2 says...
6:57pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Sheperds know what they are selling,the ba$tards avoid prosecution because it carrys a sign on the pack stating not for human consumption,they know full well youngsters are taking it,how long before one dies?Woe betide the shops owners if one of my kids ends up damaged by the products they sell,
I think a protest outside the shop is called for,i suggest 12.00 noon this saturday concerned parents picket the shop.15 Eld Lane, Colchester
CO1 Colchester

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Bones81 says...
12:47am Wed 6 Mar 13

I have to agree with Romantic. Unfortunately these substances are readily available, shutting down a local store will just mean that young people buy it elsewhere- for example it is easy to get online. The fact that these substances have not yet been classified under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 means that they are sort of in limbo. Although they aren't illegal, they have not been approved for human consumption so fall into a loophole. They are sold as "natural highs", nothing could be further from the truth as these chemicals are synthetic; unfortunately their legal status coupled with their reputation as being natural or herbal often means that users are completely unaware of the possible consequences. As the chemicals involved are new, the short and long term effects are a complete mystery.
Whilst the legal status of these drugs is not defined, they will remain easy to obtain. Therefore, young people need to know as much as possible so that they can make an informed decision.

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Bones81 says...
12:55am Wed 6 Mar 13

It is difficult for the government to keep up with this new, ever changing market. If a substance is banned, it's chemical structure is tweaked slightly and sold under another name. Although the chemical structure is similar, it is no longer identical so again falls into the loophole. I cannot help but wonder what would happen if the expertise and energy that is put into synthesising these drugs were applied elsewhere; would we perhaps be closer to finding a new treatment for disease or a new renewable energy source? I guess that's a different argument though.

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ALIUK1 says...
1:30am Sun 10 Mar 13

Why be annoyed at the shop owner who could lose his license if he was to sell the 'drugs' to a minor. Why not look to those who buy these dangerous things for these youngsters.

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Bones81 says...
2:30am Sun 10 Mar 13

ALIUK1 wrote:
Why be annoyed at the shop owner who could lose his license if he was to sell the 'drugs' to a minor. Why not look to those who buy these dangerous things for these youngsters.
The substances are not controlled in any way therefore the shop owner does not require a licence to sell them. Another implication of this is that there is age restriction set in law. The packaging may state that it cannot be sold to a minor but this is not statutory law therefore there would be no repercussions to the seller if they sold to someone underage.
This all basically means that an unscrupulous person can choose to sell to young people so that they can make more profit.

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