Laws clamping down on so-called legal highs will help save lives in Cumbria.

That’s the view of enforcers and support workers as new legislation banning the production, distribution, sale and supply of the substances comes into force today.

The Psychoactive Substances Act means that criminals now face sentences of up to seven years while police will also be given new powers, including the ability to shut down shops selling drug paraphernalia as well as online dealers in the UK.

Officers will also have powers to seize and destroy psychoactive substances, which are defined in the act as “capable of producing a psychoactive effect” and can carry out searches of people, premises and vehicles.


Helen Davies Helen Davies, north services manager of Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service said that although staff have had limited contact with users of legal highs, the ban is a step in the right direction.

She said: “From what we’ve seen, they tend to be taken by younger people. We welcome the introduction of the new legislation as it’s raising awareness about the dangers that these sort of substances can cause to people that decide to use them.

“It shows that they are not necessarily safe to use and that there is a real risk to people that take them.

“However one thing I would say is that the new law could see young people criminalised for taking them when in actual fact what they need is support and education about the dangers instead.”

Warnings about the effects of taking legal highs were issued by Cumbria police last summer following the death of 18-year-old Christian Pay at the Kendal Calling music festival.

Superintendent Rob O’Connor has also welcomed the introduction of the new law.


Superintendent Rob O’Connor He said: “We have seen deaths right across the UK as a result of people taking these drugs, and even one death is one too many.

“Sadly people are gambling with their lives when they take these substances – they do not know what is in them and they do not realise the consequences and health implications involved.

“When they have been classed as legal, I think that has made people think they are safe to use, but that is far from the truth.

“This new legislation will make a massive difference to how we police the issue. We are aware of shops across the county who are openly trading in these new psychoactive substances and this means that we have the powers to enter the premises, arrest, and put them before the courts.”

Home Office minister Karen Bradley added: “Allowing these substances to remain legal would not prevent the crimes committed by those involved in this illicit trade, nor would it address the harms associated with drug dependence and the miseries this can cause to families and communities.”