Psychoactive Substances On The “Come Down” In South Wales

New legislation to help forces prevent harm caused by legal highs will be implemented on 26th May 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Psychoactive substances are any substances that intend or capable of producing a psychoactive effect on the consumer. This excludes legitimate substances, such as food, alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, caffeine, medical products and poppers. The psychoactive substances act will provide a blanket ban on the production, supply and importation of new psychoactive substances. This legislation will fundamentally change the way police forces tackle psychoactive substances. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Detective Chief Inspector for South Wales Police, Jason Redrup said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The new legislation will target those who presently sell these potentially lethal substances and provides the police with greater powers to take action against those who produce or supply them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In the build up to the change in law, we have been working with suppliers of Psychoactive Substances throughout South Wales, keeping them involved in the process and fully aware of the ramifications of the new act. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The change in legislation will go a long way to reduce the availability of often dangerous substances to users. Working with our partners we want to ensure that South Wales continues to be a safe place to live and work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Psychoactive substances mimic the effect of controlled drugs and are not safe to take. South Wales Police wants to remind people that after the change in legislation it will be illegal to sell psychoactive substances. If caught you could face up to seven years in prison. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for New Psychoactive Substances(NPS), Commander Simon Bray said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This new legislation is a very positive step forward. It highlights the government’s commitment to supporting law enforcement, including the police, in our efforts to combat dangerous drugs. A blanket ban on new psychoactive substances will make it simpler to deal with those drugs which are unsafe but may not yet be controlled. It will also make it easier to tackle so called ‘legal highs’ which may contain mixtures including already illegal drugs.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For those who want help or more information about the law change contact DAN24/7 on 0808 808 2234. This helpline is free and offers confidential advice on drugs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​