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'Legal high' warning after death | 'Legal high' warning after death |
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Police have issued a warning about the use of "legal highs" following the death of a woman in Dunfermline, Fife. | Police have issued a warning about the use of "legal highs" following the death of a woman in Dunfermline, Fife. |
The 49-year-old is thought to have died after taking mephedrone, also known as "bubbles" or "meow meow". The substance is largely used in plant food. | The 49-year-old is thought to have died after taking mephedrone, also known as "bubbles" or "meow meow". The substance is largely used in plant food. |
A number of people also became ill in Methil after taking the substance known locally as "white magic". | A number of people also became ill in Methil after taking the substance known locally as "white magic". |
Police said legal highs such as solvents and plant food were dangerous because their effects were unknown. | Police said legal highs such as solvents and plant food were dangerous because their effects were unknown. |
The ambulance service was called to a house in Dunfermline on Saturday where a woman had collapsed after ingesting mephedrone. | The ambulance service was called to a house in Dunfermline on Saturday where a woman had collapsed after ingesting mephedrone. |
She died a short time later in the town's Queen Margaret Hospital. | She died a short time later in the town's Queen Margaret Hospital. |
In the Methil incident, one woman was taken to hospital as a precaution. | In the Methil incident, one woman was taken to hospital as a precaution. |
Risk of death | Risk of death |
Ch Supt Alistair McKeen of Fife Police said: "Potential users of 'legal highs' need to be aware of the dangers associated with these substances, a number of which have industrial uses as solvents or even plant foods. | Ch Supt Alistair McKeen of Fife Police said: "Potential users of 'legal highs' need to be aware of the dangers associated with these substances, a number of which have industrial uses as solvents or even plant foods. |
"There is very little scientific evidence about these substances and the effects are often unpredictable. | "There is very little scientific evidence about these substances and the effects are often unpredictable. |
"Combining legal highs with other substances such as alcohol increases the risks and there is a very real risk of death." | "Combining legal highs with other substances such as alcohol increases the risks and there is a very real risk of death." |
He advised people not to rely on the experience of users or sellers, and said the only sure way of being safe was not to experiment with these chemicals. | He advised people not to rely on the experience of users or sellers, and said the only sure way of being safe was not to experiment with these chemicals. |
It is not illegal to buy mephedrone, although it is intended for use in plant food, not for human consumption. | |
But the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is reviewing mephedrone as a priority and is expected to decide later this year whether or not the law should be changed. | |
Mephedrone is already illegal in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Israel, and is a controlled drug in Germany. |