USERS of controversial drugs – including spice – are returning to heroin because its street price has reduced to ‘claw back the market’.

A report on the public space protection order (PSPO) for new psychoactive substances (NPS) will come before the building stronger communities policy committee next Wednesday.

Often marketed as ‘legal highs’, public health chiefs say this term is incorrect as many are currently illegal.

In 2017, psychoactive substances were banned from sections of Warrington as part of a clampdown by the police and council.

A 12-month PSPO was introduced for the town centre and nearby areas in Bewsey, Whitecross, Fairfield and Howley.

It allowed the police to confiscate any substances, with those in breach of the order also facing a potential fixed penalty notice of up to £100, or £1,000 following a prosecution.

In Warrington, public health chiefs say NPS usage has resulted in an increased number of anti-social behaviour incidents in the town centre and some nearby areas.

But, since the order was brought in, several issues have changed.

Many NPS, including the drug spice, are now classified within the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a class B drug.

And the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 ensured it was illegal to supply, which made it impossible to buy NPS in shops and stores.

In her report, Dr Muna Abdel Aziz, the council’s director of public health, says: “This was certainly true for Warrington.

“Supply was then directed not through shops but through individual street dealers and anecdotally for sale on the internet.

“Due to this change, the availability of different drugs under the umbrella of NPS were reduced with the exception of spice, which still has a major effect in the town.

“Spice is chemically produced, mimicking the effects of the psychoactive element of cannabis, producing a longer impact than natural plant-based cannabis.”

Cheshire Police has closed down the ‘majority of the supply’ in the borough – but it is believed to have resulted in users heading elsewhere.

Dr Aziz adds: “Strong anecdotal evidence says that current Warrington NPS users are visiting Manchester city centre to purchase NPS.

Warrington Guardian: Director of public health Dr Muna Abdel Aziz

Dr Muna Abdel Aziz

“The street price of NPS still remains lower than street drugs, so for many users it is cheaper and had been without any legal repercussions to use, although there is some understanding to suggest that NPS users are going back onto heroin, as they will know what they are getting in their supply and that the street price of heroin has reduced to claw back the lost market.”

It is understood spice remains the main NPS used in the town centre but, as part of a review, it has been noted that other psychoactive drugs may appear in the borough in the future.

The review process recommended the PSPO remains in place, in case any future arrangements are needed for ’emerging’ substances.

In addition, the council says the order could be used in conjunction with new service models for NPS, or other emerging issues in the areas covered by the PSPO.