A new 'legal high' with the brand name Ivory Wave is implicated in the death of 24 year old man from the Isle of Wight (guardian.co.uk). We shall have to wait for the results of the toxicology tests before it can be confirmed that the drug was found in his system and if it played any part in his death. But, as many times before, lurid newspaper headlines about new 'killer drugs' will create a level of hysteria which makes it difficult for health professional to provide balanced and credible health information around the use of new and emerging highs.In March 2010, Mephedrone was blamed for the death of Louis Wainwright, 18, and Nicholas Smith, 19. The result of the media frenzy was Mephedrone and all cathinone derivates becoming a class B drug in March this year. Toxicology tests later found that they had not taken the drug.

As a result of the recent legislation, manufacturers of previously legal highs are passing off their stockpiles as completely new legal highs. Tests carried out at St Georges Hospital University, London, in 2009 found Ivory Wave is MDPV, a drug made illegal in the UK in April 2010, but which is still being sold on various websites (see image above) as a new legal high.

The best health advice we can give for anyone using any of the new highs, legal or illegal, is to assume that it isn't what it says on the tin. Even if you have bought it from a normally reliable source it could be something completely different, or a mixture of substances. Don't dive straight into using your normal amount. Start with small amounts and give it time before you decide to use more.

You can download our FREE factsheets on new and emerging drugs here.

We have updated both our MDPV and NRG1 leaflet to reflect the recent law change.

Cocaine and alcohol when used in the same session produce a third substance called cocaethylene. This is a toxic substance and can cause strokes and heart attacks, as well as damaging the liver, in even supposedly healthy people. A&E staff use a term called 'coke stroke'.

We have just published our new cocaethylene awareness and harm reduction leaflet which outlines the risks and offers advice on how to get your alcohol and cocaine use under control. Please feel free to submit a product review, we would appreciate the feedback.

There is very useful report, in PDF format, which you can download, titled 'Responding to combined alcohol and cocaine use' you may find this useful if you need more detailed information.

ACMD has recommended a ban on NRG1. They say the drug could "cause real harm due to its potency and associated health effects". A source at JMU in Liverpool stated "About 70% contained mephedrone or mephedrone-related products. When we analysed these white powders we found cathinones, related products or a mixture." According to our research, admittedly anecdotal, is that MDPV is the next 'new and emerging high' being used.

Read the full story here

Just finished writing and designing our new Skunk leaflet. Should be published on 9th June.

Went to the IHRA (International Harm Reduction Conference) film festival last night at Fact in Liverpool.
Watched a documentary Called 'Ben: Diary of a heroin addict. A very moving story of addiction, Ben died before the film was released. The evening was  made all the more poignant by Ben's mum, who appears in the film, doing a Q&A at the end.

You can see clips form the docmentary on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ac80htxPoo

Mephedrone and and all associated Cathinones will be illegal from this Friday. What drugs next?

Seen an article on the BBC website, called 'Mephedrone: In search of a legal high. It has all of the usual Mephedrone information, but then goes onto to mention a new drug called Stardust. Anybody have any information on this?

You can read the article here

Anybody have any experience of "napthyl analogue of pyrovalerone"  otherwise known as NRG-1.  The ACMD look set to re-classify it soon.

How widely used is it in Britain?

Check out the list of drugs laws in the Islamic Republic of Iran as published on the UNODC website.
Makes the Mephedrone ban seem like a walk in the park!

Just got back from a very interesting seminar on the 'Recovery Agends', organised by HIT, with Speakers, Mark Gilman, North West Regional Manager, National Treatment Agency, Peter McDermott, Press and Policy Officer, The Alliance, Gary Rickwood, Strategy Manager, Wirral Drug and Alcohol Action Team.

Seems that the recovery agenda is picking up momentum and a lot of harm reduction practitoners are wondering how they will fit into the new approach.

An interesting blog by 'Wired In' titled 'The Real Recovery Agenda' here