A NEW legal high – similar to one that has hospitalised young people in North East Lincolnshire – is available over the counter of local shops for just £10.
The North East Lincolnshire Substance Team (Nest) is warning that "legal highs" such as Mexxy and Annihilation have caused unconsciousness, fitting and problems with pulse rate and blood pressure.
They can also make users feel angry or violent, interfere with concentration, and cause unhappiness.
Some have even been referred to mental health services for problems associated with legal highs, which are easy to get hold of online, and in a Telegraph investigation, one of our reporters found substances such as Clockwork Orange and Eclipse in an independent Grimsby shop. Annihilation was banned last month because one of the chemicals in it was made illegal in March.
Clockwork Orange, a replacement without the banned substance, was on sale within a few days.
A gram of the green, herb-like Eclipse costs just £10 and is marketed as "herbal incense" but is usually smoked – despite warnings on the back of the packet to call a doctor or poison centre if swallowed or inhaled.
However, Nest, along with Humberside Police and North East Lincolnshire Council have put out a warning to young people considering using any legal highs: just because it is legal, it doesn't mean it is safe.
Warren Hughes, of Nest, said: "There have been reports locally about a number of young people being hospitalised, sometimes with medical emergencies such as fitting or unconsciousness.
"Legal does not mean safe and the name on the packet tells you nothing about the chemicals you are taking or what effects they will have on your body."
The warning follows our campaign on the dangers of Mcat, which has torn the lives of local young people apart and fuelled crime and disorder on our streets – yet until recently, few parents had heard of it.
Mcat – or mephedrone – was also a legal high until it was named as a contributory factor in a number of high-profile deaths of young people and was made a class B drug in April 2010.
After the Grimsby Telegraph's successful campaign highlighting the dangers and its endemic use amongst youngsters – which you can read about at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk – Nest has reported that use has fallen dramatically – although there are still issues in the area.
However, new legal highs are constantly emerging and there is little the police and local authorities can do except try to educate young people about the dangers.
A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "We do work closely with our local authority partners in youth services, health and drug intervention in order to stay up to speed on the latest trends.
"We need to know what is currently being supplied in order to look at highlighting the dangers of such drugs even if they are classed as legal.
"However, should information come our way relating to those selling legal highs and also selling illegal drugs, we would look to take positive action."
Mr Hughes added: "The only way to stay safe is not to use recreational drugs of any kind.
"If you choose to, using less is safer than using more, but you are still risking your health and wellbeing – please don't."
He offered the following advice to those who disregard expert advice and choose to use recreational drugs.
Do not mix different substances of any kind whether they are legal or not, including alcohol.
Do not use in a public place.
Everybody is different, just because a friend was OK after using something, it doesn't mean you will be. Make sure you are not allergic to anything being used.
Make sure at least one of the people you are with has not used anything so that if things go wrong they can get help.
Call an ambulance quickly if things go wrong and you or somebody your are with becomes ill after using a substance. Do not be afraid and don't waste time hoping things will get better on their own, they might not.
Know how to put people in the recovery position.
Remember, following this advice will help, but the only way to stay safe is not to use.
If you are a young person under the age of 18, parent of or know someone struggling with substance misuse issues including legal highs, alcohol or illegal drugs, you can get help and advice from NEST on 01472 326693 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4:30pm on Fridays.
ON THE WEB: Read about our M-Cat campaign at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
