Legal highs blanket ban: advice from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing

UCL Student Support and Wellbeing is advising students that on 26 May 2016, a blanket ban on legal highs, or new psychoactive substances, came into force across the UK.

The new Psychoactive Substances Act applies to "any substance intended for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect".

What are legal highs?

Legal highs are psychoactive drugs that contain various chemical substances and produce similar effects to illegal drugs like cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.

They are sold in different forms such as powders, pills, smoking mixtures, liquids, capsules, or on perforated tabs.

What does the law say?

Under the Psychoactive Substances Act, the production, distribution, sale and supply of legal highs is now an offence that is punishable by up to seven years in prison. This includes giving them away for free, and possession with intent to supply.

Under the new legislation, authorities will have powers to carry out searches of people, premises and vehicles. They also have powers to seize and destroy psychoactive substances.

Police will also be able to shut down online dealers and stores that sell drug paraphernalia, sometimes known as 'head shops'.

Links

• Psychoactive Substances Act
• Talk to Frank
• NHS

UCL Student Support and Wellbeing