26 May 2016, the Psychoactive Substance Act came into force as part of a harm-prevention strategy to protect communities and keep people safe from thinking ‘legal means safe!’ The legislation prohibits the sale, supply and distribution of so-called legal highs to cut availability and reduce drug-taking.

After the death of Hester Stewart, a 21 year old medical student at Sussex University, from the then legal high ‘GBL’, our founder Maryon Stewart lobbied Parliament on the Psychoactive Substance Act to protect young people from further harm. Over six years of campaigning Angelus witnessed an increase in drug-related deaths, overdose and people suffering psychotic episodes. The Act is a major milestone in the history of Angelus as we believe it will reduce accessibility and prevent vulnerable people from accessing as many harmful substances.

Yet, not all are in favour of legislative change. Drugs policy is a highly polarised, controversial area that has many critics. Some people are in favour of the Psychoactive Substance Act while others sit in opposition. Supporters see the new law as an improvement and that it is not realistic to expect an immediate solution across the board. Many of the critical remarks assume young people chose to take a drug regardless of its particular risk and the level of pleasure anticipated.

Professor David Nutt former Government Chief Scientific Adviser expressed that this piece of legislation has been enforced to support the police and Trading Standards with the closure of head shops and would not be a deterrent to stop drug-Instead he predicts “more use from the black market and internet supplies, and more drug-related deaths.”

Richard Smith, founder of Sevenco, a charity educating schoolchildren on the dangers of substance misuse wrote in the Telegraph: “True, it does mean closure of ‘head shops’ and the curtailing of access to these substances on the highs street.” As a parent his main concern is with ‘addiction’with the ban not deterring substance abuse, this opinion he says is shaped by his son’s 17 year battle with addiction.

Stephen Wooton an ex-user who is offering support to friends addicted to ‘legal highs’, told the Victoria Derbyshire show: “I don’t think the fact that it’s banned will change their opinion I just think it’s just going to make people want it more.”

Community groups have got behind the blanket ban to keep their streets safe. Parents against Legal Highs in Scarborough is a group founded by Alexa Neal and has over 1,000 members, they worked in partnership with the police to promote the campaign ‘Legal Highs – Lethal Lows.’

On the group Facebook page Alexa said on the ban: “Legal highs are now illegal drugs! We won the fight! This has taught me that if you have a voice, opinion or passion then stand on the rooftops and fight!”

In a recent media appearance on ITV News the image of Ben Dobson, on a life support machine was presented to the public after he was spiked with the then ‘legal high,’ ‘Candy Cotton Carnage’.

Ben’s father Mark Dobson who witnessed this traumatic event spoke to the media in support of the ban, he told ITV News: "It left us with sleepless nights. I wouldn't want any parent to go through what we did. They just don't know what they are taking.”

Most devastating is the impact on the prison community with former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Nick Hardwick backing the Act as a pre-emptive measure for staff to regain control and enforce stability. Psychoactive Substances are on the increase in prisons having caused violence,victimisation, bullying and even murder. The Act is seen as an improvement that will reduce the use of synthetic cannabinoids. New Zealand imposed a similar ban in 2013 and use of NPS in previous 12 months has fallen from 8.7% to 2%.

How effective the Act will be is unknown. The Act’s success will be measured in 30 months by the Government who will determine to what extent legislation has reduced demand and improved public health. The immediate effects include the demise of the high street trade and disruption to online supplies.

Angelus hopes that it will have a positive impact on communities and young people. We believe the Government should recognise the importance of compulsory drugs education on the PHSE syllabus; this measure would complement the Act when informing young people on the harms of unknown psychoactive substances.

Mentor UK analysis showed 60% of schools teach drug education for one hour or less per year, and 59% of pupils say that they cannot remember having been taught this subject within the last year. Together people, charities and agencies should devote more energy and resources to promote a known and most effective solution– drugs education, in support of the Psychoactive Substance Act.