The Angelus Foundation Warn Against the use of 'Legal Highs' After a 19-Year-old man who Died at the RockNess Festival is Suspected of Taking Legal High 'Benzo Fury'

Description

The Angelus Foundation Warn Against the use of 'Legal Highs' After a 19-Year-old man who Died at the RockNess Festival is Suspected of Taking Legal High 'Benzo Fury' PR Newswire LONDON, June 11, 2012 LONDON, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- thAlex Herriot, 19, collapsed in the main area at the festival on Saturday

Informations

• Publié par: angelus-foundation
• Nombre de lectures: 22
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Angelus Foundation Warn Against the use

of 'Legal Highs' After a 19-Year-old man who

Died at the RockNess Festival is Suspected of

Taking Legal High 'Benzo Fury'

PR Newswire

LONDON, June 11, 2012

LONDON

,

June 11, 2012

/PRNewswire/ --

Alex Herriot, 19, collapsed in the main area at the festival on Saturday 9

th

June.

The teenager was stabilised in the hospital tent before being transferred to

Raigmore Hospital in

Inverness

. Two members of his party were also

hospitalised after consuming the drug and police are currently investigating

whether Benzo Fury was the cause of his death. Sadly, Alex failed to respond to

treatment and died in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Maryon Stewart lost her 21-year-old daughter Hester to the 'legal high' GBL,

which is paint stripper, and went on to set up the Angelus Foundation to raise

awareness about the dangers of 'legal highs' and party drugs. "Yet another

family receives a life sentence as a result of the death of a family member

from a legal high," says Maryon. "It's deeply disappointing that the Government

isn't taking emergency steps to raise awareness."

"The first thing to know about Benzo Fury is that it's not a benzo (diazepine)

drug like Valium," says Maryon. "Benzo Fury is a branded name for a research

chemical and legal high. It is a synthetic powder which gives an incredible rush,

bringing increased energy and heart rate, giving a combination of

amphetamine and ecstasy type high. Very little is known about it yet so people

who take it are guessing the correct amounts so overdose is always a risk."

There were 49 new substances identified in 2011. 'Legal highs' are often a

combination of Class B drugs and chemicals never intended for human

consumption. They can cause serious harm including severe psychosis, suicidal

thoughts, anxiety, heavy nose bleeds, difficulty breathing and, in the case of

ketamine, loss of the use of organs like the bladder. Due to lack of awareness,

huge numbers of young people play Russian Roulette with their lives,

unknowingly taking party drugs on a regular basis believing they are safe

because they are legal.

The Angelus Foundation is the only charity in the world taking responsibility for

this area: raising awareness, reducing harm and saving young lives. They work

alongside Government, health bodies, schools and other charities in identifying,

investigating and publicising these risks. The Angelus Foundation also funds

research and creates and publicises educational films and campaigns.

"The sad death of Alex Herriot reminds us that just because a drug is legal, it

does not mean it is safe," says Maryon. "The case for a huge education

campaign is amplified by the ever escalating number of substances being

detected and deaths reported. The Angelus Foundation strives to highlight

these risks and encourages young people to make informed, responsible

choices and lead safer lives."

For further information please contact:

Ally Gill at the Angelus Foundation on [phone]

Maryon Stewart at the Angelus Foundation on [phone]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]