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Development of legal highs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2015

Brenda Wasunna ,
Emily Thomas  and
Sally Morgan
Brenda Wasunna*
Affiliation:
gether Foundation Trust, Gloucester, UK
Emily Thomas
Affiliation:
gether Foundation Trust, Gloucester, UK
Sally Morgan
Affiliation:
gether Foundation Trust, Gloucester, UK
*
Correspondence to: Dr Brenda Wasunna, c/o Dr Sally Morgan, Park House, Park Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2JG. E-mail: bwasunna@gmail.com
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Abstract

New psychoactive substances (NPS) or ‘legal highs’ are defined as unregulated psychoactive substances including synthetic and/or plant derived substances (marketed as research chemicals, party pills and herbal highs) that are intended to mimic the effects of controlled drugs. Psychiatric services around the country are seeing a rise in the use of NPS complicating mental health presentations. The challenge surrounding these substances is the fact that they are not under the international drug control system and are proving to have a detrimental health effect on users. This article reviews the current literature on this subject and discusses some of the most common examples of NPS and their potential effects on mental health.

Keywords

New psychoactive substanceslegal highsschizophreniaNPS
Type
Review Articles
Information
Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , August 2015 , pp. 128 - 137
Copyright
© NAPICU 2015 

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