The recent deaths of two people on Shetland are being linked to a lethal mixture of drink, drugs and legal highs, police said yesterday.
Police declined to give more details about the deaths as there are next of kin to be informed.
The tragic incidents led local area commander for Shetland, Chief Inspector Eddie Graham, to issue a public warning about the dangers of novel pyschoactive substances, also known as legal highs.
He said: “Basically users don’t know what they are consuming with some horrific side effects which can include acute psychosis, heart attacks and strokes.
“There are also significant risks when users are consuming substances in combination with alcohol and other drugs and we are linking this type of use to two recent deaths in Shetland.
He added: “Novel psychoactive substances can contain a range of ingredients some of which have been shown to be illegal drugs or other dangerous substances.
“The term ‘legal high’ has been adopted by users, however, packages are clearly marked as ‘not for human consumption’.
“Anyone with any information relating to the supply or consumption of novel psychoactive substances or any illegal drugs is encouraged to contact the Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Shetland North councillor Alastair Cooper, chairman of the community safety and resilience board, said: “We’re very worried about legal highs, no question. The young people need to be educated about the risks of playing around with these substances.
“Chief Inspector Eddie Graham is very concerned about legal highs in Shetland. You take out one substance and they find something else.”
He said the issue had been discussed at the board several times during the past six months and the community had to be made more aware of the risks of legal highs.