PARENTS and teenagers are being warned of the dangers of drugs and ‘legal highs’ after youths were reportedly seen using them at a popular beauty spot.

In the wake of problems of anti-social behaviour at Richmond Falls last month, Richmondshire District Council’s community safety team are urging parents not to ignore the risks associated with drugs – or excuse it as their children ‘having fun’ or ‘experimenting’.

Social media messages are being issued and posters will be displayed at beauty spots blighted by gatherings of young people, such as The Falls.

Over the sunny weekends last month, crowds of people descended on the area and empty nitrous oxide - or laughing gas - canisters were left in their wake.

The gas, also referred to as 'hippy crack'', slows down the brain and causes a sense of euphoria and, in some cases, hallucinations.

However it can also lead to brain damage and other serious injuries if it renders the user unconscious.

The Northern Echo:

The small silver canisters contained nitrous oxide which has been inhaled

Richmondshire District Council deputy leader and spokesperson on community safety, Councillor Helen Grant, said the authority wants to raise more awareness about these dangers.

She said: “Young people try or use drugs for various reasons - fun, curiosity, peer pressure or to cope with difficult situations, worry or low mood - and the likelihood of this is increased if their friends also use them.

“There is no one sign that says your child is taking drugs so we ask parents to be vigilant and know what their children are doing.

"We are taking steps to educate them – and to stop incidents like we experienced at the Falls occurring again.”

The authority also wants parents to be vigilant about psychoactive substances, commonly termed ‘legal highs’.

These are synthetic forms of illegal drugs, manufactured to make the user feel the effects of the real drug and which are highly dangerous.

Changes to the law in 2016 made it illegal to supply any ‘legal high’ for human consumption.