Psychoactive Substances Act 2016
ACAS have issued guidelines on Psychoactive Substances, formally known as Legal Highs.
New psychoactive substances (which were formally known as “legal highs”) are capable of producing a psychoactive effect in the person who consumes them. As with all drugs, they can have a range of effects on users and employers should consider their impact on their employees and workplaces.
- The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, introduced on 26 May 2016, makes drugs formally known as “legal highs” illegal.
- There are exemptions in the Act to cover things like medical products, food, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
- During 2014 in England, Scotland and Wales there were a reported 129 deaths where new psychoactive substances were implicated.
- Employers should consider new psychoactive substances when writing their drug and alcohol policies.
New Psychoactive Substances
In the past few years there has been an increase in the sale and use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), formally known as “legal highs”. They mostly contain synthetic, chemical compounds which imitate the effects of more traditional drugs, such as speed and cannabis.
Often they contain ingredients which haven’t been tested on humans and so the effects of human consumption are hard to predict. These drugs can have a range of effects on users and are generally used as stimulants, “downers”, hallucinogens or synthetic cannabinoids.
Users may not be aware that their use is probably banned in most workplaces under the organisation’s drugs policy.
The Psychoactive Substances Act
In an attempt to control the use of psychoactive substances the Government introduced the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
The Psychoactive Substances Act prohibits and disrupts the production, distribution, sale and supply of psychoactive substances in the UK.
The legislation places a blanket ban on all psychoactive (or mind altering) substances, and introduces a list of exemptions for those in everyday use, such as alcohol, coffee and medicines which are regulated elsewhere, as well as drugs already banned under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
More information on the Act can be found from GOV.UK – Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
Managing the use of drugs in the workplace
Alcohol and drugs policies don’t have to be limited to what is and isn’t allowed in the law. The use of alcohol is not illegal, yet most companies will have a ban or limit on alcohol consumption during working hours. New psychoactive substances should be built into Alcohol and drugs policies.
If an organisation’s policy includes drug testing this may be more challenging when trying to identify new psychoactive substances as the compounds they contain change regularly. It may be easier for the policy to focus on the effects the drugs have on employees in terms of their behaviours and ability to work, rather than the drugs themselves.
Policies should encourage users to seek help for their problems and educate staff and line managers on the signs of drug use and what to be aware of.
Dealing with someone who has a problem with using new psychoactive substances should be approached in the same way as any other workplace drug or alcohol misuse. Acas has produced advice on Dealing with someone who has a drug or alcohol problem.
Call to Action!
You need to ensure that your policies in relation to Alcohol and Drugs is updated to include this act. If you require assistance to do this please call me on 0121 296 2993 or email me.