THE huge rise in the popularity of legal highs in the Isle of Man is featured in the Chief Minister's drug and alcohol strategy report 2009-2010.
It reveals that within a matter of months in 2009 legal highs became a 'significant threat' and in one case someone nearly died as a result of mixing alcohol with a legal high.
The report, released this morning, states: "Up to January 2009 the Island's treatment and support agencies had reported negligible numbers reporting alleged use of these substances (pills which appeared to be mostly comprised of the drug BZP (1-benzylpiperazine).
"Anecdotal evidence reported the sale of legal highs from an outlet in Douglas and, to curtail availability, the police liaised with the owners for cooperation given that they were not involved in any illegal activity.
"In May 2009, following the reported incidents of four young people being admitted to A and E at Noble's Hospital with reported ill effects following the use of legal highs, the director of public health liaised with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Education and issued a press release outlining risks and effects of using unknown substances.
"In early November 2009 the Isle of Man Constabularly reported the use of legal highs had emerged as a significant threat Island wide and they were experiencing problems associated with these substances on a weekly basis.
"The problem was vividly highlighted when a young person mixed alcohol with what is believed to have been Mephedrone and according to police they came very close to dealing with a fatality.
"This was of serious concern with youngsters mixing substances, particularly alcohol and other drugs."
A toxicological report from Noble's Hospital confirmed 107 "synthetic cathinone" results from November 2009 to April 2010.
A total of 102 of these were Mephedrone (synthetic cathinone) and five MDPV (also a synthetic cathinone), both of which were banned in April 2010 under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1976.
Almost all were reported by police and included samples of either recovered white powder or biological samples of those attending hospital.
During the same period a total of 335 cases were reported by a group of agencies but the report urges caution as this could include either double counting or under estimation of the numbers.
Strategy co-ordinator and the Department of Home Affairs director of drug and alcohol policy Margaret O'Reilly said: "This threat of new unregulated synthetic compounds poses huge concerns not just for us but across Europe too.
"We need to identify the health and social risks of such substances and assess their potential harms.
"The Isle of Man has acted swiftly with education, communication and legislation but we must not overlook the importance of having the available scientific evidence as we face the challenges ahead in this area."
However the authorities face an extra challenge with legal highs as they are being bought on the internet.
There were numerous measures introduced to show the dangers of these drugs. These included a seminar, posters and leaflets being issued and information about legal highs being included in drug awareness sessions in schools and in all secondary school assemblies.
Also see: Report reveals "significant" changes in the Island's illicit drugs scene
Drug and alcohol strategy report released
Drug and alcohol strategy criticised ahead of annual report
