An exploratory study of the health harms and utilisation of health services of frequent legal high users under the interim regulated legal high market in central Auckland

To explore health problems and the accessing of health services by frequent legal high users under an interim regulated legal market in central Auckland.Frequent legal high users (monthly+) were recruited from outside eight randomly-selected, licensed, legal high stores in central Auckland from 23 April-7 May, 2014. Eligible participants were emailed a unique invitation to complete an on-line survey; 105 completed the survey.Twenty-seven percent had suffered mental illness during their lifetimes. Eighty percent used synthetic cannabinoids (SC), and 20% 'party pills'. Forty-seven percent of SC users used daily or more often. Other drugs used included alcohol (80%), cannabis (59%), 'ecstasy' (18%) and methamphetamine (15%). Fifty-eight percent of SC users were classified as SC dependent. The most common problems reported from SC use were: insomnia (29%); 'vomiting/nausea' (25%); 'short temper/agitation' (21%); 'anxiety' (21%); 'strange thoughts' (16%); and 'heart palpitations' (14%). The health services most commonly accessed by SC users were: a 'doctor/GP' (9%); 'counsellor' (9%); 'DrugHelp/MethHelp' websites (7%); 'AlcoholDrug Helpline' (4%); 'ambulance' (3%); 'AE' (3%); and hospitalisation (3%).Frequent use of interim licensed SC products was associated with health problems, including dependency. Further research is required to determine the health risks of these products.