austin smith policy & practice officer

Austin SmithPolicy & Practice Officer

Greater Glasgow & Clyde Legal Highs Monitoring Group

Representatives from –

Police

Health

Addiction Services

Scottish Drugs Forum…

GGCLHMG Survey

June 2010 Link to web-based survey tool Surveymonkey sent to identified stakeholders across Health Board area

Responses

• 124 responses

• %ge return ?

Types of service …• Community-based / Addiction services / community addiction team x 35• Acute services / Accident and Emergency x 15• Police x 10• Housing and homelessness services x 11• Education & awareness service x 5• community rehabilitation x 5• Service users group x 3• Befriending Service alcohol • Residential drug / alcohol service x 2• out of hours service x 2• Criminal Justice Social Work• Employment / Employability service • Health Improvement• Local Councillor• Criminal Justice Social Work• Young People Services x 3• Children and Families Social Work Service x 2• Needle Exchange

Are you aware of the use of current or former legal highs within your

geographical area?

Age range of people using these substances

Also using illegal substances?

Which substances being used?

Other substances?

NRG1 x 5meow meow x 2magic mushroomsBK - MBDB ButyloneGHB

Sources of legal highs

Is use problematic?

Problems resulting from use…

• hospitalisation / attendance at A&E x 12• polydrug use (including legal and illegal

substances) x 7 • violence and injury (including self harm) x 5• hallucination x 3• mental health issues x 3• developing a craving for MCAT• use leads to risky behaviour

Use with alcohol

Use with other drugs

Substances legal highs used with…

Cannabis x 7Cocaine x 6Heroin x 4Ecstasy x 4

Diazepam x 3Alcohol x 3

Amphetamine x 2Stimulants x 2Depressants

Hallucinogens

other questions…

• Postcode• Contact legal highs service users for focus

group• Interested in keeping in touch on this issue• Like to know more• Contact details

Issues in establishing a monitoring group

• Motivations & aims

• Identifying stakeholders

• Resources

• Co-ordination