Hi Brownstockers

There are lots of stories in the media about legal highs. A lot of people don’t know much about them and think they are just some kind of party novelty. At Brownstock we know that’s not true. Last year someone at the festival took a legal drug and died. Others were really sick in hospital. We are doing everything we can to keep everyone safe. We asked Jeremy Sare from our partner charity, The Angelus Foundation some questions about legal highs and the risks. Here are the answers.

Keep safe

The Brownstock Team
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1. What are legal highs?

These are legal drugs which copy the effects of illegal ones. Their effects can be uncertain and very powerful. Some are stimulants like E, some hallucinogens like LSD and others are synthetic cannabis.

2. Are legal highs as strong as other drugs?

Legal highs generally are much purer than the traditional drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine. But there is no connection between strength and their legal status. The assumption that a legal drug means it is safe is a wrong and dangerous one.

3. Are they are less risky?

Risk is based on how much is known about a substance.The problem with legal highs is that the dose is always a big gamble. Also you won’t know how long it takes to work, how long it lasts or all the side effects. Often packets contain a mixture of substances. In 2012 there were 99 deaths in Britain from legal highs. Last year there were 81 new ones identified across Europe.

4. How is it they are still legal?

There are simply too many of these new drugs for the Government to ban. They would if they could. These drugs have not been assessed for safety by anyone.

5. How are they harmful exactly?

Different types cause different harms. Stimulants as pills or powder can make body temperature rise dangerously. They can make you really depressed the next day. They can also causing racing and irregular heartbeats. So can synthetic cannabis which is usually extremely strong. It causes people to collapse and vomit after only a few tokes. The hallucinogenic ones may last 10 or more hours and can be a really horrible experience.

6. What’s the best way of staying safe?

Avoid legal highs. Never mix drugs and alcohol. Look after your mates. If things go wrong, get help straight away. Here is some information about how to get help while at Brownstock.

Brownstock’s drug policy

Brownstock Festival has a zero tolerance drugs policy. Any illegal drugs will be confiscated and the police may prosecute. “Legal highs” are also strictly prohibited, will be confiscated and may result in ejection from the event. Searches are a condition of entry to the festival. Amnesty bins will be provided.

Got more questions? You can find more info www.whynotfindout.org