Jump in calls to poisons centre after headshops publicity

The National Poisons Information Centre is reporting a jump in calls from emergency deartments in connection with "legal highs" on sale in headshops.

The number of calls has increased from an average of four a month to about 20 a month, with callers mostly concerned about the ingredients in products on sale in these shops.

While a ban on a range of legal highs is due to come into effect in June, the centre has expressed fears that new drugs will emerge with similar chemical structures.