LEGAL HIGH OR HIGH RISK?

October 24, 2013 by Sharon Njenga

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”Legal high or high risk?

Does deeming a concoction of chemicals legal mean that they are okay for human consumption? Well it seems that even the producers of these legal highs do not have faith in their own product as they have labeled them as bath salts, pond cleaner, research chemicals and plant food to hide the dangers if consumed. This then places the responsibility of how it should be used on the consumer. This tactical way has taken many lives with fatality rates relating to these legal highs rising from 29 deaths in 2011 to 52 in 2012. The purpose of these drugs were to serve the same effect of class A drugs, and have been created through synthesizing different chemicals to fit the same high as street drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy - but on a more intensive buzz.

The reasons why people take illegal highs still baffle me, although I have never experienced the effect, I have heard of other peoples experiences and have researched the statistics of fatality and have seen the devastating results. Users can not always be certain of the contents of these drugs as a variety of chemicals are added to get its effect- some of which react differently with different individuals.

The legal 'drug lords' who disperse these legal highs have devised a plan to fit their products  around the justice system and to most would appear to comply with the drugs act. However, although it is not unlawful their actions are immoral and inhumane as they pose as a threat which has, and will, take many lives.

Due to the new found use of these drugs they often find there way into jails as the system has not yet devised a plan to eradicate the use of them in jail. Could this mean that the government will crack down harder on the dispersing of legal highs and deem the whole category illegal? I hope so. Recent studies show that legal highs have been known to cause long term depression and anxiety- both of which have the possibility to be contributing factors for criminals to commit crimes again.

Early in 2012 I experienced a very close family friend of mine have a very bad trip on a type of legal high called Salvia. Initially he dismissed his friends after they were pressuring him to try it however he had given in as he was reassured by his group that he would be okay. After taking a few puffs on Salvia he had taken a walk on his own to clear his head, upon doing this he had engaged in unusual behaviour- although the case was not very clear as he had no recollection, it was clear that he had made some very forward advances on a random women which lead to him trying to rip of her clothes. He is now serving a two year sentence and has been put on the sex offenders list for 10 years. Initially I cut him out of my life as I was very disgusted by his behaviour, however after to a lot of research and understanding of other peoples experience- I was able to gain an insight as to how these “legal highs” could relate to the alternation of behaviour. Salvia is a Mexican plant that contains psychoactive chemicals that causes hallucinations if chewed or dried and smoked. Some individuals have exceeded the dosage and have experienced time distortion and distressing hallucinations which often led to weird behaviours throughout the trip.

Deeming anything that will have a drug like effect on the body legal gives impressionable children and young teens the idea that it is okay and completely safe to take as a result of the legal status. Herein lies the danger.

Comments;

Joe Mwai: This is such an eye opener. The article is very well put and the writer appears to have done a lot of research to come out with findings that are so convincing. Also the real life examples on the effects of those who are known to have used the drugs brings the reader to touch with the reality of the threats posed by this "legal highs." It is my hope that the government, "...will act quickly and crack down harder on the dispersing of legal highs and deem the whole category illegal." Thank you Sharon for taking the bold move to highlight on the dangers posed by this drugs. Well done!