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Group to examine sale and supply of new psychoactive substances

An expert group is to be established to review the powers which are currently available in Scotland to tackle the sale and supply of new psychoactive substances (NPS), commonly known as ‘legal highs’.

The announcement, which builds on the conclusions of the Scottish Government summit on new drugs in April, was made by the Minister for Community Safety Roseanna Cunningham prior to attending the British-Irish Council on the Misuse of Substances in Dublin today.

The working group will consider the devolved and reserved powers currently available to authorities such as Police Scotland, Trading Standards and the Scottish Government to tackle the issue of NPS. It will also contribute to the Scottish Government's response to the Home Office review of NPS legislation which is expected to be published later this year.

Between 2009- 2012, NPS was implicated in 73 deaths and in 14 of those deaths it was the only substance taken.

Ms Cunningham said: “Today’s meeting in Dublin underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to work with our partners in Scotland and across the UK to combat the supply and use of ‘new drugs’. I also had a very constructive discussion with Mr Baker, the Minister of State for Crime Prevention, this morning and I assured him of our continued commitment to working within the powers available to tackle this issue of common concern.

“Drugs legislation and the legality of new psychoactive substances, or ‘legal highs’ as they are known, are the responsibility of Westminster. We in Scotland do not have the power to ban them, but we are absolutely determined to do all that we can to restrict access to them, and educate people about the inherent dangers to minimise any further loss of life.

“As part of our ‘Road to Recovery’ strategy it’s important the we have a clear understanding of the powers which are currently available to us in relation to these substances, and that those powers are used to maximum effect - that’s why the establishment of this expert group is so important.

“Figures released just this week confirm that overall drugs use is down in Scotland. However, the availability of new substances, the lack of information about the ingredients used and the devastating effects that they can have , is a major concern, not only in Scotland but throughout the world.

“The move towards establishing the group – as we approach the festival season - is particularly timely. Too many Scots have already lost their lives after using these drugs and I want to send out a clear message that because they may be legal that does not mean they are safe or that they won’t have devastating or indeed fatal consequences.”

Representatives of organisations who have an interest in, and experience of, tackling the sale and supply of new psychotic substances from a legal, policy and practitioner’s perspective have been invited to sit on the group. The invitations have been distributed today and it is anticipated that the group will begin meeting in the next few weeks.

A further announcement will be made in due course in relation to the membership of the group.