Legal high ban comes into force

A blanket ban on legal highs has come into force in the UK on the 26th of May 2016.

Laws that criminalise the sale, supply, production, and distribution of new psychoactive substances (NPS) began at midnight.

The demand for cheaper drugs that are quick to produce and readily available has led back room chemists and designer drug makers to synthesize substances that mimic the effects of naturally occurring drugs, cashing in on the emerging trend.

Sold under names such as spice and black mamba, legal highs were linked to more than 100 deaths in the UK and a rise in violent assaults in prison.

People caught breaking the new law can face up to seven years in prison under the Psychoactive Substances Act.

Police will now have new powers to be able to shut down “headshops” – stores which sells drug paraphernalia – and online dealers in the UK.

At SureScreen Diagnostics we have been working hard to help combat the rise in drug abuse. Using our K2 Spice Test (see below) you will be able to test for 19 common metabolite types associated with Synthetic Cannabinoids.

Please call us on +44 (0) 1332 365318 if you would like more information about our Drug Testing.