Drugs policy In this feature psychoactive substances local action crackdown Unsafe and legal Unscrupulous manufacturers produce new psychoactive substances to get around existing drug laws, but government and trading standards are fighting back, writes Rob Coston WHat is an nPs? tHe iris H aPProacH Y es thats the simple answer, says Andy Wright, principal trading standards officer (TSO) for Lincolnshire, when asked whether new psychoactive substances (NPS) are a worry within the county. There are a lot of organisations within Lincolnshire that have serious concerns about these drugs. Lincolnshire is one of several areas trying novel strategies to tackle NPS, which are more commonly known as legal highs. This popular term is one of the many difficulties faced by those addressing the issue, because it implies the substances are regulated and safe for public consumption. Nothing could be further from the truth. According to the most recent figures (from 2012), 68 people died in one year after taking NPS. By comparison, ecstasy (alone or in combination with another substance) killed 20 people during 2011. the front line Trading standards is at the forefront of efforts to protect the public fromNPS, because it is one of the few agencies with powers that can be re-interpreted to reduce the sale and consumption of these substances. Issues with the UKs current legal framework make it difficult for central government to tackle the problem, although there is an increasingrecognition that this must change. The coalition governmentsCrime Prevention Minister, Lynne Featherstone, tells TS Today: We are considering proposals for a general ban, like that in Ireland. This would give law enforcement greater powers to tackle the market in so-called legal highs in general, instead of through a substance-by-substance approach. TAP TO NAVIGATE PAGES 1 Credits Published Rob Coston is a reporter for TS Today Tuesday 24 Feb, 2015 Images: Matt Craven / Getty Images 2 3 4 5 6 7 To share this page, click on in the toolbar "