Management Information Sheet
Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS - sometimes known as Legal Highs)
Information for Norfolk schools, Autumn 2015
Many people will be familiar with the term "Legal Highs", the correct current term for these substances now being, Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
Recent news stories have highlighted the dangers of these substances and their increasingly common usage - particularly by young people. We have little specific data about their use in Norfolk but intelligence form Norfolk Constabulary's Safer Schools Team and The Matthew Project indicates:
- There have been local incidents of children daring each other to take NPS
- There are anecdotal reports of high levels of experimentation in certain areas amongst older secondary pupils
- There is a high level of experimentation generally across Norfolk with NPS
Senior leaders in schools need to be aware of the growth in availability and use of NPS so that they can:
- Review and adjust their school drugs policies to take account of the growth in NPS use and availability
- Review PSHE programmes to incorporate age-appropriate content
- Facilitate opportunities for all school staff to be aware of this issue and to ensure that procedures are in place in school to support children and young people who may be at risk either from parental misuse or from their own experimentation and or use
- Engage in partnership working where appropriate with more specialist support such as Safer Schools teams and The Matthew Project
Availability
NPS are widely available and relatively inexpensive when compared to alcohol for example. Because the wide use of the term "Legal High" there is confusion about their use, their potency and the law. There are proposed changes to the law and in some areas their use is already banned in public places. They are widely available in Head Shops on high streets in towns in Norfolk and are readily accessible on the internet. (A quick Google search on "Legal Highs" returned several links: the first two items were the Government drugs education site "Frank" and NHS Choices; the third was a site where NPS could readily be purchased with the interesting caveat "Not for human consumption! Everything discreetly shipped in plain padded envelopes or mailing bags via Royal Mail.")
They are often packaged in colourful wrappers with names likely to resonate with children and young people thus increasing their potential appeal.
The risks
These are entirely unregulated substances - frequently containing chemicals and components unfit for human consumption. Because they are a relatively new phenomenon, intelligence about their dangers is constantly being updated - not least because the manufacturers constantly adjust their formulae in order to evade the current law. We do know that there have been a number of deaths attributed to NPS and this is likely to increase. In addition there have been recordings of significant and long term damage to health. Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Partnership is committed to raising awareness of the risks of NPS and how we can work together to protect children and young people.
Because some NPS are promoted as synthetic or substitutes they may be perceived to be a safer alternative to other illegal substances. This is not the case. They pose significant risk to health - both physical and mental and should never be seen as any kind of "safer" alternative.
What senior leaders should do:
- Familiarise yourself with the information in the briefing papers produced by Mentor Adepis - the government sponsored organisation for Drugs Education, Information and Prevention http://mentor-adepis.org/legal-highs-and-novel-psychoactive-substances-nps/
- Review your school drugs policy and ensure it is in line with the Norfolk Drugs Guidance and the information in this briefing
- Identify actions and training needs of staff that will enable the school to address this issue confidently and appropriately
- Identify opportunities to share appropriate information with parents
- Consider accessing the support of specialists such as the Matthew Project
For further support contact:
Matthew Project Unity
Gateway Unit 8, 83-87 Pottergate, Norwich, NR2 1DZ
Tel: 01603 216420
Email: unity@matthewproject.org
Web: www.matthewproject.org/unity/