A YOUTH worker is calling for action to be taken on legal highs after witnessing the effects they have had on youngsters in the town.

Youth club organiser Lisa Farrell raised concerns about the dangers of the drugs at a town council meeting and asked Sergeant Clare Wallace from the Marlborough Neighbourhood Policing team if anything could be done to prevent shops in the town selling the substances.

The Government has proposed a new law banning the supply of legal mind-altering drugs and Mrs Farrell is hopeful that this legislation will be introduced soon.

Mrs Farrell says she has seen several teenagers under the influence.

She said: “I spoke to one lad who had taken a legal high and asked him what he was on because he was all over the place.

“It’s worrying because when they’re in that state they don’t know what they’re doing.

“It’s a difficult one for me because there is a drug problem in Marlborough, particularly with young people, but people don’t want to admit it.

“What worries me is that these legal highs are a gateway. People get hooked and then when they get pushed underground they’ll look to move onto something else.

“The government needs to change the law like in other countries where they’re banned. It’s shocking to hear that the police can’t do anything but it’s out of their hands.”

Legal highs are psychoactive drugs which contain various chemical ingredients, some of which are illegal while others are not.

They produce similar effects to illegal drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy and are sold in a variety of forms such as powder, pills, liquids, capsules, perforated tabs and smoking mixtures.

Because they cannot be labelled as being for human consumption, they are often marketed as plant food, bath salts or incense.

Justin Cook, who is also involved with the youth club, said: “Until they are made illegal there is not a lot that can be done.

“It’s part of a bigger problem. Some kids want to rebel and take drugs whether they’re legal or illegal just like some kids drink alcohol.”

Police have been patrolling areas frequented by youngsters but Sgt Wallace said that prior to the town council meeting no incidents of young people taking legal highs had been reported to officers.

She said: “People take substances that can be sold legally. Once the damaging effects come to light they are banned but then another substance which is legal comes on the market.

“We might not agree with it because the effects can be quite damaging but if the substances are being sold legally then there is nothing police can do.

“It’s not like cigarettes and alcohol where if shops are selling it to people under age we can step in.”