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A community plagued by ‘legal highs’ is demanding action.

In less than a week emergency services have been called to 90 incidents in the west end of Newcastle to treat those affected by legal highs.

A majority of the calls have been for young people in the Fenham area suffering with symptoms ranging from seizures, unconsciousness, shortness of breath, vomiting, aggression, palpitations, agitation and foaming at the mouth.

One Westgate Road business owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The streets are filled with these things, you see people stumbling around all day after taking them. It’s terrible, we need urgent action to stop this before someone dies.”

Shopper Gloria Dunn added: “It’s really scary to think that kids are taking things like this, they are so dangerous.”

Syed Haque, who owns Avijat Confectionary on Longley Street, said: “It is a big problem in the area, I have been living in the city for nearly 20 years and have noticed a big increase in incidents.”

Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah said she has come across legal high wrappers in children’s play areas.

She said: “In a recent litterpick in Westgate I found many wrappers from legal highs in a children’s park and I am very concerned at the social and health implications.

“I hope police action will help retailers realise the risks to their business as well as to others of selling legal highs and raise awareness amongst potential customers.”

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Police believe they have located the source of the substances and a closure notice has been issued to a premises in Fenham.

Officers have also attended Westgate Primary School to inform staff about the action they have been taking in the area.

Chief Inspector Dave Pickett said: “Using legal highs, in the way they are intended or otherwise, isn’t safe and we would urge people to steer clear of them. They can kill or have a devastating impact on someone’s health as they often contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

“As people become unwell from taking legal highs it then puts an additional strain on emergency services, so it has wider implications than just your health. Just because the substance says it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s safe and our advice would always be to avoid using legal highs.”

Simon Swallow, Head of Resilience and Special Operations at the North East Ambulance Service, added: “We are urging people not to take these so-called legal highs as they are putting their own lives in danger and also endangering the lives of others because these calls are potentially delaying our response to someone else who is suffering a heart attack or other life-threatening condition.”

If you or anyone you know are affected contact Lifeline Newcastle on 0191 261 5610.