The use of ‘legal highs’, cheaper and more available than illegal drugs, is on the increase in the North-East. Health and Education Editor Barry Nelson looks at the implications

‘Legal highs’ are unregulated substances marked as not for human consumption but sold by vendors in the full knowledge that they will be swallowed or smoked by users.

Known as Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) , legal highs are cheaper than the illegal drugs whose effects they seek to replicate, buying and using them does not constitute a criminal offence, and they are easily available over shop counters – even, anecdotally in Newcastle, as a pizza topping.

Their use is increasing among people with existing addictions and perhaps even more worrying, some of those trying to recover from addiction – longer term users of drugs or alcohol who have committed to change their behaviour with appropriate support

Ollie Batchelor, executive director of client services at Changing Lives, which is based in Gateshead, said: “We commissioned this research because over the last six to twelve months we have been concerned by an increasing number of incidents involving NPS in our accommodation projects.

“These included one death, several non-fatal overdoses and many instances of violence and episodes of antisocial and unpredictable behaviour. Worryingly, this research demonstrates that ‘legal high’ use is embedded within the fabric of the lives of a number of vulnerable service users, presenting a real danger to their health and limiting their potential for re-engagement within their family and community.”

He urged the Government to take measures to curb the availability of legal highs.

One of Changing Lives clients, Ellie, now 29, was born in Gateshead.

Her father was an alcoholic and she experienced both mental and physical abuse by him at her home. Ellie began drinking alcohol and smoking dope aged 11 and by the time she was 13 years old, she was put in to a children’s care home as a result of her challenging behaviour.

Ellie says: “When I went in to care it got worse. I was drinking and smoking everyday and was starting to commit crime to buy drugs and drink; things like assaults, shop lifting and drunk and disorderly. When I was 16, I got kicked out for my bad behaviour again and I ended up living in a private bed and breakfast.

“When I was 17, I met my boyfriend who I was with for years and he introduced me to heroin. We lived at his mam’s house for a little while but when she kicked us out, we ended up living on the streets.”

For the next ten years, Ellie spent her time in and out of hostels, periods of living on the streets and in prison for the offences she committed to pay for her alcohol and drug addiction.

Ellie said: “It was horrible. Living on the streets drives you mentally ill. I had nowhere to go and I would just walk around all day. The amount of times I’ve stood on the bridge and wanted to jump off, to top myself. I kept thinking how could this get any worse?”

In 2012, Ellie moved in to one of Changing Lives’ accommodation services on Tyneside.

“Moving in here has saved my life. I feel secure and safe. I love it and feel comfortable. I know I can’t be here forever but it’s definitely saved my life for now.”

Over the last two and a half years, with the support from various services including drugs and alcohol services and a community psychiatry nurse, Ellie was able to stop taking heroin and is now on a methadone script as well as prescription drugs for anxiety and depression.

At the beginning of 2014 however, a friend asked if she wanted to try a ‘legal high’, which she did.

“I’ve been taking them for about nine months now and they’ve very addictive. Each packet can be different even though it says it’s the same thing. I know I don’t know what’s in them, its cheap shit and I think ‘what’s this doing to me?’ but even the packet looks pretty with the images and the names, that all adds to it too -

“I know I’m addicted to the feeling as well as physically. It’s not like smoking dope and the rattle (withdrawal) is worse than with heroin!

“I would tell anyone thinking of taking a legal high not to go on it. Don’t think it’s like illegal drugs like dope ‘cause it isn’t. It’s really strong and physically and psychologically addictive.”