Strathclyde Police have issued a new warning over so-called legal highs after 13 people, including two teenage girls, were taken to hospital after taking ‘annihilation’.
Strathclyde Police said annihilation is marketed as a herbal incense, which is being used predominantly by young people in and around the Glasgow area.
It is one of many legal highs - which despite their name often contain illegal substances - which police have been made aware of in recent months.
Officers are stressing the substances do pose a health risk.
Superintendent Grahame Clarke, of Strathclyde Police’s Safer Communities, said: “We are warning the public about the risks around the use of new psycho-active substances, otherwise known as ‘legal highs’.
“The recent recovery of the tablets within the Force area, if it is 5 – I.T. 5 – (2-Aminopropyl) or ‘Indole’, is particularly concerning as it has been linked to several deaths in Europe.
“I would like to warn the public about the dangers they pose if taken. They are known to be available in both powder form and tablet form, and may be sold as ‘Ecstasy’ tablets.
“In addition to these specific substances mentioned, we are also becoming very concerned around the number of incidents recorded over the Force area in the last few months where people have become ill when they have taken psycho-active substances or so-called ‘legal highs’. Thirteen people that we know of so far have been treated in hospital suffering from symptoms such as shortness of breath, paranoia, collapse, aggression and self harming.
“The dangers of these so called legal highs are unknown and mixing any legal high with another drug or alcohol, can result in even more severe consequences. Don’t think that just because you can buy these items over the counter from a shop that they are safe.
“Whether purchased online or from a shop, either in tablet or powder form, there is no guarantee that the user will be safe. These substances can be professionally packaged and branded, but this doesn’t make them safe or without risk.
“Strathclyde Police would strongly advise anyone against consuming any psycho-active substances and would urge anyone suffering from adverse effects to seek immediate medical attention.”