Legal Highs Addiction
Legal highs might sound like a way to have fun without the risks, but the truth is often much darker. Legal high addiction is a condition that often takes people by surprise as the term “legal” convinces them that these drugs are harmless. In reality, legal high addiction can cause a whole host of problems to health, relationships and well-being and, without professional help, can turn your life upside down.
What are legal highs?
Legal highs, sometimes called New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are drugs that are designed to replicate the effects of illegal drugs like cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine. While they are sometimes considered to be safer than illegal drugs, just because these substances are labelled “legal” doesn’t mean they are actually safer – or even legal for that matter.
In many cases, legal highs do not stay legal for long, as once the authorities see how dangerous they are, they are quickly banned. Part of the problem with legal highs is that you never really know what you are taking. They are often made from a mix of different chemicals, and each batch can be different, making them unpredictable and risky.
In some instances, these substances can be even more dangerous than illegal drugs, leading to serious health issues, legal high addiction or even death.
What is legal high addiction?
Legal high addiction happens when you start using these drugs all the time and feel like you can’t stop, even when you know they’re causing you harm.
There are a lot of reasons why people might get addicted to legal highs. Some people take them because they’re easy to get or because they think they’re safer than illegal drugs. Others might use them to cope with stress or anxiety or have fun on the weekends.
However, what might start as casual or experimental use can quickly become a habit that’s hard to break. Legal highs can be just as addictive as illegal drugs, and once you’re hooked, it can feel like they are controlling your life.
Addiction often starts with tolerance, where you need to take more of the drug to get the same effects. As you keep using, your body starts to rely on the drug to feel normal – this is called dependence. When dependent on legal highs, if you stop taking them, you might feel tired, anxious or sick, making it even harder to quit.
Eventually, legal high addiction takes over, and all your thoughts and actions start to revolve around getting and using the drugs. Legal high addiction symptoms include:
- Constant cravings for legal highs
- Losing control over how much you’re using
- Falling out with loved ones who are worried about your legal highs abuse
- Health issues due to chronic legal high abuse
- Continuing to use legal highs despite the obvious problems they are causing
Common forms of legal high addiction in the UK
Various legal highs are common in the UK, with new substances emerging all the time. These drugs vary in their addictiveness, but some of the most commonly seen legal highs addictions include:
Spice addiction
Spice is a synthetic drug that’s made to act like cannabis but is often much stronger and can be incredibly dangerous. Spice has become a major issue in many places in the UK, causing serious mental health issues like paranoia, hallucinations, violent behaviour, seizures and sometimes even death.
Benzo Fury addiction
Benzo Fury is designed to mimic the euphoric effects of ecstasy (MDMA). However, it also carries serious risks like dangerously high blood pressure, extreme anxiety and confusion, psychosis and potentially fatal heart issues.
Mephedrone addiction
Often referred to as “meow meow” or “M-CAT,” this drug is a stimulant that can make you feel energetic but can also cause intense cravings, agitation and severe heart problems.
Why are legal highs more addictive for some people than others?
This is a question that research has now gone a long way to answering. While most legal highs have the chemical ability to cause tolerance and dependence, it is actually a combination of several factors that determines how addictive they can be for each person.
One of the key factors is genetics and some people are more prone to legal highs addiction just because of their genetic makeup. If addiction runs in your family, you might be more likely to develop an addiction to legal highs more quickly than others.
Another important factor is mental health. If you are struggling with issues like anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions, you might turn to legal highs as a way to cope with the symptoms. This can be a slippery slope and leave you relying on legal highs without resolving the underlying issues. .
Your environment can also play a big role. If you are in a situation where legal highs are easily available or where drug use is common, you might be more likely to start using and become addicted. Stressful life circumstances, such as relationship problems, difficulties or work or financial issues, can also push you towards using legal highs as an escape, making addiction more likely.
Age and personality traits can also be major factors. Young people, whose brains are still developing, are often more susceptible to the effects of drugs, including legal highs. Personality-wise, impulsiveness or a tendency to take risks can make you more likely to try legal highs and potentially become addicted.
What are the dangers of legal high addiction?
Legal highs abuse and addiction can lead to a wide range of serious problems that affect nearly every aspect of your life. Legally, you could be at risk of fines and even prison as many legal highs quickly become illegal once their dangers are understood. Lying and being secretive can ruin relationships, isolating you from the people best positioned to help, as trust is broken, and conflicts arise. Socially, you might find yourself isolated, as addiction can push you away from the people and activities you once enjoyed.
But perhaps the most serious dangers of legal high addiction are the health risks. These can vary depending on the type of legal high you’re using but can include:
Mental health issues
Many legal highs can cause anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations and even psychosis. Over time, these effects can become more intense, and you may end up increasing legal highs abuse to cope.
Heart problems
Some legal highs, especially stimulants, can put a lot of strain on your heart. This can lead to high blood pressure, heart palpitations or even heart attacks and strokes.
Liver and kidney damage
Many of the chemicals in legal highs are processed by your liver and kidneys, which can cause these organs to become overworked and damaged. This can ultimately lead to serious health problems, including liver failure and kidney disease.
Respiratory issues
Smoking or inhaling certain legal highs can damage your lungs, leading to respiratory problems like chronic coughing, shortness of breath and even more serious conditions like lung infections or respiratory failure.
How is legal high addiction treated?
At Banbury Lodge, legal high addiction treatment begins with detox, which breaks physical dependence and provides medical guidance and support during withdrawal. After that, you will begin rehab treatment, which combines different types of therapy to deal with the emotional and psychological reasons for your ongoing legal high abuse. Once initial treatment is finished, we then offer aftercare planning and relapse prevention support to help you stay legal highs-free as you begin your new sober life.
Get help for legal highs addiction today
The dangers of legal high addiction are serious and far-reaching, but Banbury Lodge can help you take back control of your life. We provide treatment that addresses every aspect of legal high addiction to give you the best chance possible of a successful recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out to us today to find out more about how we can help.