Young people and parents in the Gwent area are being warned about the dangers of taking “legal highs” after a 13-year-old boy was taken ill.
Aneurin Bevan Health Board and Gwent Police issued the warning after the teen was taken ill this week after taking a substance.
“Legal Highs”, which are sold over the counter and online, include a powder sold as an incense named “Clockwork Orange”.
Authorities in Gwent are seeing an increase in the number of people attending addiction services in all age groups for people using what the they term as “new and emerging drugs.
In a statement, a spokesman for Aneurin Bevan Health Board said: “Although the acute presentations can be quite dramatic (cardiac effects, acute psychosis) what is unknown are the long term effects as these are fairly new substances.
“Another worrying feature is that users report sometimes being unaware of exactly what they are using – calling substances by the generic name ‘white powder’.
“It needs to be stressed that the substances sold in so-called ‘head shops’ have not been subjected to medicines testing because they are labelled “not for human consumption”. You cannot therefore assume that because they are on sale in a legitimate shop that they are safe.
“Anyone in Wales wanting further information or help relating to drugs and or alcohol can contact DAN 24/7. You can visit dan247.org.uk, call the freephone helpline on 0808 808 2234, or send a text to 81066.”