TABLETS ON SALE IN CITY'S SHOPS

Drugs workers have warned about the dangers of so-called “legal highs”
openly on sale in Bradford.

They fear the herbal pills – which are not banned – could lead to
young people trying stronger, illegal drugs. They are also worried
that the substances could interfere with medication, including the
contraceptive pill.

The pills are on sale in newsagents and other shops in Bradford city
centre.

Debbie Fielding, an adult service drug worker at Bradford’s Bridge
Project, said: “I have had a mum on the phone saying her son is using
cannabis and anything else he can get his hands on and she said she
knew he bought tablets over the counter.

“I was going to ring the police but someone said it’s not
illegal.”

She said of the pills: “They can interfere with other medication and
people are supposed to consult their GP before taking them.

“They should not be sold over the counter because it’s a legal version
of a drug that is mind-altering and would make you feel euphoric.

“The effects become worse when they are mixed with alcohol or any
other drugs.

“What’s more, it’s enticing children to take drugs and it would be
natural for them to move from one to the other. It’s not acceptable.

“Although they are not drugs they could stimulate the idea of taking
drugs and lead on to other things.”

A number of websites describe the herbal highs in question as “a legal
party pill that will uplift people’s mood and energise them to the
extreme”. They are considered to be a legal alternative to ecstasy.

Each capsule contains extracts of mucuna pruriens (velvet bean),
citrus aurantium (bitter orange), green tea, St John’s wort,
passionflower, and black pepper. The active drugs in each capsule are
oxedrine and caffeine.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “Unfortunately, it’s not
classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act as an illegal substance.

“But it is illegal for them to be marketed as ecstasy or to make any
reference to ecstasy while marketing them.

“Clearly we would not recommend people taking it and there are
obviously health risks attached to using it, including seizures.”