The campaign aims to raise young people’s awareness of the dangers associated with taking drugs and new drugs, known as legal highs, including the health, legal and social consequences of addiction. One important element of the initiative is the film spot presented below, whose content refers to the campaign title and its slogan.

The essence of these activities is to disseminate knowledge among children and young people about the dangers associated with addiction to psychoactive substances.

Komenda Główna Policji:

We appeal to people who may come into contact with drugs or legal highs to remember that these substances are poison, and 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 respond and firmly refuse when someone encourages us to take 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 drugs or new drugs, known as legal highs, they should immediately call for medical assistance and notify the police about the situation.

Police officers emphasise:

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—so-called tattoos.

They are sold in shops or online under the name of collector’s items, often with the statement “Not for human 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 concern a parent or guardian?

  • appearance of the eyes (reddened conjunctiva or eyelid edges, watery eyes, drooping eyelid, excessive dilation or constriction of the pupils, slow pupil reaction to light, nystagmus when staring at a fixed point)
  • feeling unwell, loss of will to live, depression
  • euphoric states, talkativeness, followed by stupor and apathy
  • changes in eating habits—loss of appetite or overeating
  • problems at school, truancy, declining grades
  • attempts to extort or take money for unspecified expenses
  • unjustified outbursts of anger and aggression
  • leaving home briefly after the intercom rings or an unknown person calls
  • the introduction of 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 odour.

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, diarrhoea
  • fatigue, weakness, inability to concentrate
  • allergic reactions
  • suicidal thoughts, delusions
  • panic attacks, hallucinations
  • increased sensitivity to sounds and light.

Where can help be found?

  • 800 060 800 – Infoline of the Chief Sanitary Inspector
  • 116 111 – Child and Youth Helpline
  • 800 100 100 – helpline for parents and teachers concerning children’s safety
  • 800 12 12 12 – Children’s Helpline of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights.