Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Director of Public Health.

The purpose of this report is to provide an introduction to new psychoactive  substances, consider the law and trends, and outline what is being done in Stockport to address this issue.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the report.  

Officer contact: Donna Sager, 0161-474-3928, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Director for Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with information relating new psychoactive substances (NPS), including an update on legal measures introduced to control NPS, usage trends, and an outline of what was being done in Stockport to address this issue.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The introduction of legislation to tackle NPS was welcomed, although there were concerns about whether the legislation was right and robust enough.

·         It was suggested that the problems with NPS were not new, as young people had been experimenting with similar substances for many decades and that unscrupulous people would seek to exploit this opportunity to make money.

·         A robust response was needed both nationally and locally to the growing danger NPS use represented, particularly to young people. A hard line had been taken with tobacco, including banning advertising and requiring products to be kept behind screens.

·         A Greater Manchester-wide approach was needed to address the selling of these products as customers could easily shop elsewhere in the conurbation should one local authority restrict sales.

·         Targeting preventative work at colleges would be useful as young people were often most at risk of taking NPS.

·         The Committee would welcome further feedback from the ‘Lethal Highs’ Working Group.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Director of Public Health be recommended to submit the report to the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee in view of the particular risk that new psychoactive substances posed to young people.