Health services brace for legal highs ban

Lakes District Health Board says it is hard to predict whether the banning of legal highs will see an increased number of people turning to its services for help as they struggle with withdrawal.

Spokeswoman Sue Wilkie said they currently saw one to two patients a week presenting at the emergency departments, but more were being dealt with by the mental health services.

The health board's infant, child and adolescent mental health services had found the use of synthetic highs had been creating more problems for young people.

Miss Wilkie said those problems included marked exacerbation of symptoms and across different diagnoses, from psychosis to anxiety.

"Anecdotal observations by the team would suggest that use of synthetic cannabis reduces the chances of recovery and can significantly increase the risk of serious relapse of mental illness or lack of recovery."

She said the psychiatric emergency team (PET) also reported seeing increasing numbers of people who were generally coming down off the illegal highs, through the emergency departments and police.

"While the DHB is concerned at the effects of synthetic cannabis, it is important to make the point that the problem is far outweighed by adverse consequences of drinking alcohol."

If there was an increase in people with problems coming off the drug, staff would deal with it.

Miss Wilkie said community help was available at Te Utuhina Manaakitanga Trust which provided addiction services funded by the Lakes District Health Board and the youth team had won awards for its work.

She said people could go to the clinic at 1154 Hinemoa St, Rotorua or phone the service on (07) 348 3598.

Each case is assigned to a duty counsellor for a preliminary assessment and is allocated to a programme.

The organisation offers a residential programme in Rotorua for those over 18. Te Utuhina covers all of the Lakes DHB area and has a presence in all secondary schools, Turangi, Taupo and Rotorua doing education and health promotion.