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In a world that seems to be constantly buzzing with new trends and fads, 'legal highs' also known as new psychoactive substances (NPS)have made their mark. But what exactly are these substances, and how do they affect your mental health? Let's dive in to understand more about these substances and the impact they can have on young individuals like yourself.
Understanding Legal Highs
First and foremost, what are legal highs? The term 'legal highs' is a bit misleading because these substances are not necessarily legal. They are chemicals designed to mimic the effects of illegal drugs like cocaine, cannabis, and ecstasy but are structurally different enough to avoid being classified under the same legal restrictions at least until the authorities catch up.
The legal status of these substances has been a complicated issue. In the UK, the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 was introduced to put a blanket ban on these substances, making it illegal to produce, supply, or import them for human consumption. However, before this law, manufacturers would often label them as 'not for human consumption' to circumvent drug laws.
These substances can be found in different forms, such as powders, pills, and liquids, and are often marketed under appealing names like 'Spice', 'Black Mamba', and 'Bath Salts'. Though they may sound harmless, the effects they can have on your mental and physical health are anything but.
The Impact on Mental Health
Legal highs can have unpredictable and severe effects on your mental health. Since they are synthesised chemicals, it's difficult to predict how they will affect each individual. Here are some of the most common mental health issues associated with these substances:
- Anxiety and Paranoia: Many users report feeling intense paranoia and anxiety after using NPS.
- Depression: Once the immediate effects wear off, users can feel deeply depressed and hopeless.
- Confusion and Hallucinations: Some stronger variants can cause hallucinations and severe confusion, which can be particularly distressing.
- Addiction: Like many illegal drugs, legal highs can be addictive, leading to a cycle of use that can be hard to break without help.
Often, the strain on mental health does not appear immediately and can develop subtly, worsening over time as usage continues.
Real-Life Impact: A Case Study
Let's look at a real-life example to better understand the impact of legal highs on a young person. Jamie, a 16-year-old from Manchester, was an enthusiastic and high-performing student until he started experimenting with some legal highs he bought online. At first, it seemed like harmless fun a way to fit in with certain social groups at school. But soon, Jamie began to show signs of severe anxiety and paranoia.
His schoolwork suffered, and his relationships with family and friends became strained. Jamie's mother noticed these changes and intervened, getting him the professional help he needed to overcome his use of legal highs. It was a challenging period for Jamie, involving counselling and support from addiction specialists, but his story highlights how crucial awareness and early intervention can be.
Strategies to Deal With Legal Highs
If you or someone you know is dabbling with or considering using legal highs, here are some practical strategies to deal with the situation:
- Educate Yourself and Others: Understanding the risks associated with these substances can deter usage.
- Support Systems: Having a strong network of friends and family to discuss these issues can provide alternate perspectives and dissuade someone from using these substances.
- Seek Professional Help: If usage has already begun, it's important to seek help from professionals who can provide the correct support and treatment.
- Engage in Healthy Activities: Participating in sports, hobbies, and other engaging activities can reduce the temptation to experiment with these substances.
It's essential to strive for a healthy lifestyle and make informed choices about the substances you introduce to your body. Remember, the effects of these so-called 'legal highs' can be anything but high, particularly when it comes to your mental health.
Conclusion
While the curiosity about psychoactive substances might not wane, understanding their profound impact can help mitigate their use. Misconceptions regarding their safety continue to circulate, especially among teenagers, mainly due to their previous 'legal' status. Awareness and education are keys in combating the rise of NPS use and safeguarding your mental health. Remember, it's okay to ask for help it's the first step towards recovery and taking back control of your wellbeing.
How are you feeling?
It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.
If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:
- Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
- NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
- The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
- SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
- Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)
*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.