Police:

We urge people who may come into contact with legal highs to remember that they are poison and that every use carries a serious risk to health and even life. For the safety of our loved ones and friends, let us not allow them to take substances whose origin and composition they do not know.

Let us react and firmly refuse when someone encourages us to use legal highs. We never know how the human body will react after taking even the smallest dose of such a chemical substance.

If anyone suspects that they are dealing with a person under the influence of legal highs, they should immediately call for medical assistance and notify the police about the situation.

How many legal-high poisonings?

According to data held by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, the number of poisoning cases in Poland caused by fatally dangerous synthetic opioids and other new-generation synthetic drugs is increasing.

Officers:

We urge people who encounter someone under the influence of a psychoactive substance to immediately inform medical services and the Police.

We also urge everyone to ensure that New Year's Eve celebrations and welcoming the New Year do not involve the risk of using such substances.

We remind you that legal highs pose a serious threat not only to health but also to life! These substances affect the central nervous system and negatively affect brain function. They come in the form of tablets, powders, herbal mixtures, dried plant material, incense sticks or stickers known as tattoos. They are sold in shops or online under the name of collectibles, often with the statement “Product not for consumption.” The danger of taking them results from the fact that their chemical composition is unknown and may vary or be modified. It is never known how a particular body will react after taking them.

What should a parent or guardian look out for?

  • appearance of the eyes (red conjunctiva or eyelid edges, tearing, drooping eyelid, excessively dilated or constricted pupils, slow pupil reaction to light, nystagmus when staring at a fixed point)
  • feeling unwell, lack of will to live, depression
  • euphoric states, talkativeness, followed by stupor and apathy
  • changes in eating habits – lack of appetite or overeating
  • problems at school, truancy, declining grades
  • attempts to extort or take money for unspecified expenses
  • unjustified outbursts of anger, aggression
  • leaving home for a short time after the intercom rings or receiving a call from an unknown person
  • introducing new expressions into their vocabulary, often incomprehensible to adults, known as drug slang
  • new accessories appearing at home, such as pipes, pieces of foil, small resealable bags, known as dealer bags, etc.
  • a change in body odor.

What are the most common effects of taking legal highs?

  • headaches, migraine
  • heart palpitations (an accelerated heart rate often reaching 200), shortness of breath, chest pain
  • aggression, impaired motor coordination, trembling hands
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • fatigue, weakness, inability to concentrate
  • allergic reactions
  • suicidal thoughts, hallucinations
  • anxiety attacks, hallucinations
  • increased sensitivity to sounds and light.

Where can you find help?

  • 800 060 800 – Chief Sanitary Inspector's helpline
  • 116 111 – Helpline for Children and Young People
  • 800 100 100 – Helpline for parents and teachers concerning children's safety
  • 800 12 12 12 – Children's Ombudsman Helpline.

Remember: It is not worth risking your health and life – even the smallest dose of a legal high can prove fatal!