This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/may/25/four-in-hospital-legal-highs-rochdale
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Four more men in hospital after taking legal highs in Rochdale | Four more men in hospital after taking legal highs in Rochdale |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Another four people have been taken to hospital after taking legal highs in Greater Manchester. | Another four people have been taken to hospital after taking legal highs in Greater Manchester. |
| The men, in their 30s and 40s, were found in various states of consciousness around Rochdale on Tuesday afternoon. | The men, in their 30s and 40s, were found in various states of consciousness around Rochdale on Tuesday afternoon. |
| It follows a series of incidents in the town on Friday and Saturday in which five men fell ill after taking legal highs known as Annihilation and Cherry Bombs. Police say the latest casualties had taken a variety of substances including Clockwork Orange, Pandora’s Box and Kronic. | |
| The most seriously ill man, discovered on Tuesday at an address on Milnrow Road, Rochdale, is in a life-threatening condition after taking Clockwork Orange, a synthetic cannabinoid containing chemicals that are made to act like the active part of cannabis. | |
| DI Lee Hopwood of Greater Manchester police said: “Despite issuing warnings about the dangers of these so-called ‘legal highs’, these are now the latest people to have been taken ill after taking them in the past few days. | DI Lee Hopwood of Greater Manchester police said: “Despite issuing warnings about the dangers of these so-called ‘legal highs’, these are now the latest people to have been taken ill after taking them in the past few days. |
| “I cannot stress enough how dangerous they are and even though they might not be illegal, please do not take the risk. They can seriously harm you and in the case of these men they are now in hospital because of it. | “I cannot stress enough how dangerous they are and even though they might not be illegal, please do not take the risk. They can seriously harm you and in the case of these men they are now in hospital because of it. |
| “Please think about the effects these substances and do not take them. If you think someone you know might have taken ‘legal highs’ then please get medical attention immediately.” | “Please think about the effects these substances and do not take them. If you think someone you know might have taken ‘legal highs’ then please get medical attention immediately.” |
| Symptoms include profuse sweating, racing heartbeat, extreme muscle tension, delirious ranting and very high body temperature. | Symptoms include profuse sweating, racing heartbeat, extreme muscle tension, delirious ranting and very high body temperature. |
| Anyone with information about where this drug may have come from is asked to contact police on 101 as soon as possible, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. | Anyone with information about where this drug may have come from is asked to contact police on 101 as soon as possible, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. |