FOLLOWING our page one report yesterday it is now clear that the harm being caused to local youngsters by so-called legal highs is considerably worse than first thought. In fact, the statistics – 75 people needing hospital treatment and 10 staying in care for more than 30 days – are shocking in the true sense of the word.

Also of concern is the cost, which is on course to hit more than £1m., again far worse than the figures initially given to States members last week.

So, by any definition, the island has a problem with these substances and clearly needs to tackle it.

Home can be applauded for moving swiftly to restrict their availability and islanders will be pleased that they have, not least in an attempt to prevent more harm coming to misguided users.

Nevertheless, there are two wider issues here that have not driven the debate.

The first is why people, predominantly young adults, take such damaging stuff in the first place. The second is the adequacy of the care available here to deal with the consequences, given the after-effects chiefly damage mental health.

Humans, or large numbers of them, appear hard-wired for using mood altering drugs and governments cheerfully tax substances that, as a leading, now sacked, scientist pointed out, are far more harmful than Ecstasy or horse riding.

While most islanders agree with the anti-drug stand here, the punitive regime has driven up prices of all illegal drugs, making it more attractive to bring them in, and has also encouraged large numbers of users to migrate to ‘legal’ alternatives – often with disastrous consequences.

If experience to date is anything to go by, what other filthy substitutes will be tried to overcome the ban on legals?

Caring adequately for people with mental problems is already difficult given that the service here, as the HSSD’s own development strategies indicate, is nowhere near good enough.

And that is not just the case for ‘legal’ abusers but for many others who need help with behavioural and emotional conditions.

In short, this is far more involved than some shock statistics – and won’t be cured by a simple ban.