The legal high capital
Saturday 19th September 2009, 2:30PM BST.
GUERNSEY is the legal drug capital of Britain, according to a top women’s magazine.
Company Magazine, which sells more than 240,000 each month, publishes a story in its October edition saying that use of substances in the island was ‘rife’.
The article highlighted steps taken by the UK Government to tackle the problem with so-called legal highs such as Spice, club drug BZP and stimulant GBL will be banned there from the end of the year.
It also mentions Guernsey’s tough stance on illegal drugs, and recent changes in the law that have banned the importing and exporting of legal highs for commercial use.
Despite this, the journalist described the ease with which she bought them in the island.
‘Just an hour after landing in Guernsey, I had £29-worth of legal pills delivered to my hotel room,’ she said.
However, Customs chief officer Rob Prow said these types of drugs were just as easy to get hold of in the UK.
‘Any attempt to draw assumptions mixed with anecdotal media stories may simply sensationalise the impact in Guernsey which amongst other things may be deemed as is very unfair to the health professionals and the authorities who were at the vanguard of identifying that these commercially available substances were causing harm and presenting problems, particularly to young people,’ he said.
‘The UK is experiencing substantial problems up and down the country and like Guernsey is looking to legislate to minimise the risks to society.’
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Its going to be very hard for Guernsey to ban all of the legal highs around. More and more different types get made all the time.
If Guernsey had a more forgiving stance on soft drugs like marijuana, I personally think that the situation with drugs on guernsey would much better than it is currently.
Proper marijuana is no where near as bad for your health as these “legal substitutes” which, it seems, many of the young people in Guernsey are trying out. In fact, marijuana has actually been proven to be beneficial in some cases for people with certain medical conditions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis
I find it hard to believe why this drug has been classed so high.
The legal alternatives contain so many chemicals which I can only imagine would cause great damage to the user. Also, people don’t know the ingredients in these legal highs because they don’t tend to list the active ingredients on their packaging. Experimenting with these legal drugs is so dangerous – I think it would be much better if Guernsey was more like Holland and relaxed their attitude on soft drugs like marijuana. It could only be better than the current situation.
Report abuse
hahahahahaa we are never gonna let the stigma down of DRUG HAVEN ISLAND are we, when stupid sad ppl write articles like that
Report abuse
Something does not ring true about this story…I have searched the yellow pages high and low (excuse the pun) and nowhere can I find a “Drug Delivery” firm on Guernsey’s hallowed shorelines.
But delivery in one hour after stepping off the plane is impressive…I doubt if the pizza man could beat that one!
Report abuse
Legal Highz puttin’ us on the map yo!
Report abuse
Dean, your idiotic comment above only leads me to assume that you have used many of these substances which are detrimental to mental health. Perhaps you could shed some light o nhow this journalist obtained them so easily
Report abuse
I’ve found if you boil up some Spice then evaporate off the volatiles, add some bicarb and crystalise it, you get quite a good substitute for Tofu.
If you really need a substitute for Tofu.
How would I have found that out if it were illegal? It’s like smokers will never know the delights of stinking dark pubs full of drunk red faced bitter old men.
Report abuse
There is a delivery service. They deliver all kinds of legal highs from the more popular ‘Spice’ to coke like substances called ‘Toot’ and pills with the effects of ecstasy. They will deliver it to you within the hour, that’s no exaggeration there.
I completely agree with Get Red, Fred. Is it any wonder so many of us young and old are testing these legal highs when marijuana laws here are so extreme and unjustified?
I don’t want to get into the debate of alcohol and tobacco Vs marijuana but the facts are there people. Unless something is done i think the intake of legal highs in Guernsey will continue to grow.
There has already been two documentaries since May not to mention the newspaper and magaizine articles showing how bad a reputation Guernsey is getting for drugs now do we really want it to get worse?
Report abuse
Blimey, I had no idea about any drug delivery service. I must be getting old. But how did this woman find out about it? I am local and I wouldn’t have a clue where to start. She must have had inside information.
Anyway, I am proud I knew nothing of this. Shows I must be managing to keep well away from all the sad and very boring druggie losers in my old age.
Report abuse
I should quickly point out however that I do agree with all those who say alcohol is just as bad. It is, and our rampant alcohol problem should be stamped on even harder. At least all the pot-heads seem to mind their own business and don’t go around kicking people’s heads in and stabbing folk all over the place (like a lot of drunks do). So there. That’s my liberal view.
Report abuse
People are going to do drugs whether they are illegal or not. People need to stop worrying about it and wind their necks in.
Report abuse
Ok, so ban this lot of legal highs, and then wait for the chemists to manufactire the next generation which will probably be a damn site more dangerous.
I agree with GRF’s Marijuana stance, its the safest high of the lot, yet getting caught on Guernsey is a massive offence which triggers draconian measures.
Until that is sorted guernsey will always have a problem with Legal highs
Report abuse
Stupid Comment!! Care to substantiate your claim that legal highs are detrimental to mental health? Whilst you’ve got your vitriol out, how do you feel about smoking, passive smoking and alcohol??
Report abuse
@Stupid Comment
Stop talkin’ shizzle bruv!
I can shed some light though. This Journalist obviously saw the George Lamb documentary and thought ‘hey I’m going to write a story by basically doing the same thing’. Although I haven’t read the article, I would assume it is merely opportunistic second rate journalism.
Report abuse
Dean – I don’t agree with your views on drugs but you’re spot on with your “opportunistic second rate journalism” comment. Why on earth people waste their hard earned on these trashy mags is quite beyond me.
Report abuse
Paul
People who like to read about “I lost 25 stone in a week” presumably and watch Jeremy Kyle.
Report abuse
Student Bob writes “Stupid Comment!! Care to substantiate your claim that legal highs are detrimental to mental health? Whilst you’ve got your vitriol out, how do you feel about smoking, passive smoking and alcohol??”
I would care to substantiate it. I can assure you, working where I do, that we are seeing people who have used large amounts of ‘legal highs’ which have contributed to psychotic episodes, paranoia, low mood, social avoidance, school/work dropout, and stealing to pay for the habit.
And we are not just seeing this occasionally. It’s every week. It has increased our workload markedly, and it worries us that unlike illegal drugs (canabis, heroin, amphetamines and the like) we can’t find out what is in these products. That leaves us in the dark as to what the psychoactive components are or the biochemical processes involved.
Legal highs are bad for you. Smoking is bad for you. Alcohol in excess is bad for you.
Report abuse
James writes “I can assure you, working where I do, that we are seeing people who have used large amounts of ‘legal highs’ which have contributed to psychotic episodes, paranoia, low mood, social avoidance, school/work dropout, and stealing to pay for the habit.”
I appeared in the george lamb documentary and are point was totally changed!!
we are smokers and we go to work everyday!! meaning we fund our own habit!!
Report abuse
James, it’s difficult to see what point you are trying to make? Ban smoking as well as legal highs? And ban getting really drunk?
Report abuse
I do not beleive that legal highs have any detrimental effect on mental health and nor does Brian, the orange aardvark that follows me everywhere these days.
Report abuse
I think she should have written the article before getting off her face with currently legal alternatives to XTC.
Some of my views, of many… If all natural, organic drugs (non GM head twisting gear), were legalised and the proceeds from the tax levied on a floating tax system, (the more problems inflicted on society, the higher the taxes, to pay for the solution) then everyone would be happy. The problem for the government is that it really needs taxes at the moment and it’s more fruitful geting money from the population by criminalising people and then fining them (also legitimising the current need for police ~ [lets hope we don't need them for ever] in a time that crime is down due to drugs currently being legal), than simply taxing a few people and creating a mental health system which supports people in making the change in lifestyle, enabling them out of the situation that is encouraging their unwanted drug habits.
Depression, psychosis, and other mental health problems have been given a bad name over the last few years, and there is an infinately interesting journey to be had internally if anyone fancies peeling apart their inner layers to find what makes themselves tick, and that is what depression is, a process of self analysis resulting in a better understanding of self and psychosis is experiencing of genuine alternatives to the mind set given us by our culture, fascinating stuff indeed and totally worth the social stigma… it’s just a ride.
Escapism exists for a lot of people, whether it’s computer games, smoking, drink, television, sport, work or any other pass time made to make our lives in times of peace interesting, fruitful and at times, challenging. It’s times like these that I reflect on hunter gatherers to gauge where we are at in relation to the potential antipodal extremes of existence. In doing so, I find that it’s impossible in our current climate to make decisions on what are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ passtimes. If our very survival was at stake, then, ofcourse ban things which take our minds off of working together as a human unit to come up with a solution to whatever problem may be around the corner, as we do during times of hunting, or war as we now call it. but at the moment? Why not ban TV for filling peoples heads with rubbish? Cricket is a bore too… computers perhaps… we’re being controlled by the freaks…
Report abuse
Nice post Stuart Ogier.
The problem is the standardisation of toxicity and the level of basic knowledge.
The natural herbs of this world have not harmed anyone. It is the business drivers behind it that make for the problems. Where else do we see that, I wonder?
The idea that unlimited beer is somehow more morally upright than a regulated marijuana market makes no sense. Or indeed £5 night hotel ‘room service 2′ TV packages.
Although I think it would be wise if Arnald laid off those shrooms for a bit. Soon he’ll be saying how life is just a big tree and the finance industry is a big COCKCHAFER.
Report abuse
Wow, Stuart Ogier – that’s a heck of a post mate – can’t say I agree with you but you must be a pretty interesting guy to know! :-)
I can see your reasoning about depression but I can’t agree with it. I don’t know many people who are, or have suffered from mental illness and/or depression that would just wave their hands and say “it’s just a ride.” I also doubt those who have seen loved ones suffer or even commit suicide out of despair would be so flippant about it either.
Report abuse
People are saying that friends are pressuring their friends to do highs, being 17 and know people of all different ages, many that do legal highs, I feel no pressure at all to do any type of drugs other then tbas from my DR and coffee. People really need to see that not all teenages “love and need” drugs, i’m not saying i don’t like partying don’t get me wrong, but to put something in your body that is not meant for human intake and that changes you without any chance of your having control then i don’t want to be a part of that. My boyfriend uses them and I tend to walk into another room or not speak, I don’t like them and thats my view.
Report abuse
I didn’t see the programme in question but I have to agree that people are going to take drugs no matter what. Its the same in every country. As for Guernsey being a drug haven – In the Uk legal highs are actually sold in vending machines outside certain nightclubs. I could easily buy 2 legal pills for £6 if I wanted!
Report abuse