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Legal Highs

Legal highs are a big trade in the alternative lifestyle retail market. So called "headshops" have been selling them for years along with all sorts of drug paraphernalia. Originally they were herbal substitutes for illegal substances like ecstasy or amphetamines. They were reputed to be effective, but had nowhere near the full-on impact of illegal chemicals. Recently, with the introduction of BZP (benzylpiperazine), legal highs have made a much bigger impression upon people.

In early 2006, companies in New Zealand began to manufacture party pills containing BZP â€" a strong stimulant that also induces euphoria. When mixed with other chemicals such as TFMPP, the effects share traits of MDMA. These were available to buy in many high street shops, not just headshops. They spread quickly to the UK and other countries where thousands of clubbers began to indulge with these instead of their usual backstreet deals. The main brands of these pills were London Underground, Funk Pills, PEP Pills and Wicked Highs. Some products were manufactured in the UK.

The legal highs business was booming. Headshops and customers alike were in high spirits with this new trade. Headshops could sell these products safe in the knowledge that they were supremely effective and customers were able to buy their goods over the counter with ingredients and dosage clearly marked on the packaging. The only people who may have been losing out were the illegal drug dealers.

Unfortunately, the MHRA cottoned on to all the fun being had and ruled that BZP could not be used in manufacturing without a license. So all UK production stopped. BZP production in New Zealand also seems likely to stop eventually. No BZP products can be bought in the UK any more. However, similar products have followed and customers report that they are just as effective. London Underground have brought out a new "BZP Free" range and users say they don't notice the lack of BZP.

I guess we just have to wait and see how long these products can last. At the end of the day, people will continue to experiment and take stimulants. Surely it's better that they can see exactly what's in the product and follow instructions than to be involved in a world of crime and take unnecessary risks with ingredients.

About the Author
Richard Young writes for Shiva Head Shop and has in interest in Legal Highs