Sheffield Council welcomes new laws on legal highs

New laws around legal highs have been introduced

The Psychoactive Substances Act makes it an offence to produce, supply or offer to supply psychoactive substances, previously known as legal highs, if the substance is likely to be used by people wanting to get high.

Offenders face jail.

Locally, there has been an increase in the number of hospitalisations due to the misuse of psychoactive substances and the number of police incidents recorded as involving them went up from six in 2011 to 465 in 2014, according to Sheffield City Council.

Councillor Brian Lodge, Sheffield Council's cabinet member for the environment, said: “New psychoactive substances are labelled as ‘not for human consumption’ but they are designed to mimic the effects of controlled drugs.

“We welcome this new legislation and believe it will help to halt the worrying increase in cases involving NSPs.

“Legal highs are a growing problem, both in South Yorkshire and nationally, and I am glad to see the council working with police and partners to crack down on retailers - and help people to tackle addictive and risky behaviour.

“There has also been large numbers of people becoming ill after using NPS, with an increasing number of people having to go to hospital, while evidence suggests these drugs are having detrimental and unpredictable effects on people’s actions, sometimes causing violent and erratic behaviour. We welcome this new legislation wholeheartedly.”

Call South Yorkshire Police on 101.