Thursday, 15 Sep 2011
Ivory Wave looks similar to Mephedrone
New psychoactive substances found in 'legal high' dubbed 'Ivory Wave' are to become controlled Class B drugs, the government signalled today.
The psychoactive substance Desoxypipradrol (2-DPMP) and its related compounds are to be classified as Class B drugs. The move follows advice from the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) published this week and a ban on imports introduced in November 2010.
The ACMD advice found theses substances have the potential to cause harm.
'Young people in particular may often equate legal with 'safe' and are quite simply playing a high risk game of lottery by taking these substances', Baroness Browning, Minister for Crime Prevention and Antisocial Behaviour Reduction, said.
An order making the substance illegal will be put before Parliament this autumn.
Baroness Browning added:
'The ACMD's advice reinforces what we already know - substances touted as 'legal highs' contain dangerous substances.
'We are determined to tackle the harms posed by these drugs and prevent them gaining a foothold in the UK.
'Controlling these substances sends a clear message to users, including young people who may be considering using them, as well as to those producing and supplying them.'
The order will also seek to make phenazepam, also used as a 'legal high', a Class C drug along with other benzodiazepines.
The government is working closely with the ACMD to gain a fuller, independent picture on the harms of illegal drugs and new substances entering the UK.
More information about drugs and substances, can be found by visiting www.talktofrank.com
