Police warn about ‘legal highs’ after fears that DNP may be being used in the Prestwood area

Thames Valley Police are warning residents in the Prestwood area of the danger of ‘legal highs’ after fears that DNP (dinitrophenol) may be being used in the area.

Although not illegal, DNP has been linked to the deaths of four people in the UK in recent years, including one case in High Wycombe in 2012.

The use of ‘legal highs’ can expose their used to serious dangers by taking the substances which are manufactured as chemical substitutes for illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.

The dangers include breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, paranoia, psychosis, hallucinations, coma, seizures and in some cases death.

Thames Valley Police are encourage parents to become more vigilant about legal highs and to keep an eye out for the packaging that the substance comes in.

Thames Valley Police are asking anyone with any information about legal highs in the Missendens area then please get in touch with the Missendens  neighbourhood policing team.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Further information can be found on the Thames Valley Alerts website.