Angelus Foundation Welcomes Immediate Ban on Gogaine

LONDON, April 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

The only UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of the risks from 'legal highs', the Angelus Foundation, has announced it welcomes the Temporary ban on Gogaine and other substances. Headshops and internet suppliers are being forced to eradicate their stock of various legal stimulants before midnight tonight. The products affected by this ban include Gogaine, Psyclone, El Blanco, Ching and Burst.

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Angelus has long been calling for a fundamental legal change to disrupt the supply of these legal drugs. The Government is now committed to bringing in the necessary law "at the earliest opportunity" but that may be some months away. Angelus supports a greater commitment from schools and universities to ensure young people get the education they need to stay safe from these substances often called 'legal highs'.

Chief Executive of Angelus, Jan King said, "The harms from these stimulants, like Gogaine, have been shown to be very significant. So naturally we welcome the Temporary Ban, which will force headshops to immediately clear their shelves of these harmful products. But a Temporary Ban is just that and we need the next Government to introduce, as a priority, more comprehensive legislation to kill off the high street trade in legal drugs. Easy access to these 'legal highs' leads to dangerous experimentation by teenagers and addiction among vulnerable groups like the homeless. Angelus will continue to raise awareness of the risks to young people but we need local authorities, schools and universities to play their part too."

Notes to editors:

1. Maryon Stewart lost her 21 year old daughter, Hester, to GBL in 2009 and established the Angelus Foundation. It is the only drugs charity dedicated to combating legal highs and club drugs and has previously launched a national campaign including the website http://www.whynotfindout.org. There is also a site for families http://www.angelusfoundation.com which includes several films informing young people about how to stay safe.

2. Angelus has produced several films making young people more aware of the harms and unpredictability of substances such as Gogaine, Clockwork Orange, Pink Panther and Charley Sheen. Their schools film 'Not What it Says on the Tin' has been shown to strongly influence 95% of those who viewed it, away from 'legal highs'.

3. Angelus's latest film is 'Lab Rats' http://www.angelusfoundation.com/media/videos/angelus-pfc-film/

4. If you wish to interview Angelus CEO, Jan King or for any press enquiries please contact: Jeremy Sare at the Angelus Foundation on +44(0)7747-727-993,[email protected]

SOURCE Angelus Foundation